The cross-section of people who watch AMBHL games and GTHL games is probably pretty limited...
LW Tyler Benson (2016, 32nd, EDM)
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The cross-section of people who watch AMBHL games and GTHL games is probably pretty limited...
22 teams in this league, is that correct?? Does every team play each other?
Seems to me that is a bit high, has it grown in the last number of years?
KidLine93
Registered User
- May 15, 2012
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You play every team, but you obviously play the teams in your division more often.
Its the only AAA league in the province so you have all the top end guys in one league. the odd team in each division is weak (when I played back in 2007 fort Mcmurray was awful) but for the most part any team can beat another. SSAC and Airdrie seem to have dominant bantam teams usually due to a larger population to draw from. I remember a lot of road trips and travel in the AAA leagues (bantam and midget).
Well the league has grown because Calgary used to have their own league within their city for Bantam AAA (Taylor Hall played there in bantam) but I want to say maybe 3 or 4 years ago they joined the AMBHL. Camrose also got a team like 4 years ago. Each organization, which is a specific area of the province, only has one team other than Red Deer.
North only plays North for regular season and South only plays South, the winner of North plays the winner of South in the provincial championship and the winner goes to Westerns.
Midget AAA is where there is travel on the weekends, etc. where North plays South on a regular basis. These kids in bantam are only 13/14 it is not cool to expect them to be going on road trips every second weekend when they have school and should be having lives with friends, etc. outside of hockey.
There's also 3 big tournaments where teams from Western Canada compete against each other, Medicine Hat in November which was last weekend actually, Edmonton Bantam Invitational which is the Christmas Tournament, and the John Reid Memorial which is probably the biggest.
So, does anyone think he could be the first WHL exceptional status player?
I mean, I've never seen him personally but everyone from regular fans to WHL scouts are raving about him, he's absolutely dominant statistically, and has acceptable size (listed at 5'11'' and anywhere between 165 and 180).
It doesn't seem to be a case of dominating because of he's somewhat physically mature either, as the most frequently cited strength of his seems to be hockey sense.
He retweeted Bob Stauffer tonight (an Edmonton radio personality) who said he could "easily" play in the WHL at 15 "if they let him", which gave me the idea to ask here with the hope that scouts can weigh in.
I mean, I've never seen him personally but everyone from regular fans to WHL scouts are raving about him, he's absolutely dominant statistically, and has acceptable size (listed at 5'11'' and anywhere between 165 and 180).
It doesn't seem to be a case of dominating because of he's somewhat physically mature either, as the most frequently cited strength of his seems to be hockey sense.
He retweeted Bob Stauffer tonight (an Edmonton radio personality) who said he could "easily" play in the WHL at 15 "if they let him", which gave me the idea to ask here with the hope that scouts can weigh in.
It's hard to know the league's feelings on full time players at 15. I imagine he applies to the league and hopes for the best. The OHL has done it three times without it backfiring so I'd like to see him get a shot if he's as good as his gaudy numbers suggest. Just can't predict the WHL's decision without any past cases (at least successful, has Barzal or anyone ever applied?) whereas we have a track record for the OHL (Tavaras, McFarland, Ekblad, Ho-Sang I believe, McDavid) of kids who have been accepted and denied. I imagine the WHL would be open to it since they're the only league to draft out of bantam and those kids can play a handful of games anyways that first year.
Not sure if Barzal applied with the intention of playing in the WHL, but I did read that he apparently tried to get an exception to play in the BCHL this year.
He's an affiliate with Coquitlam but has only played in special cases (opening weekend and when the Express were missing players due to the WJAC).
I don't believe Ho-Sang applied either and that he was only contemplating it, but I forget where I read it and won't say it's fact.
New article on Tyler.
http://www.edmontonsun.com/2012/12/...n-keeping-early-season-success-in-perspective
http://www.edmontonsun.com/2012/12/...n-keeping-early-season-success-in-perspective
Leviathan
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- Nov 25, 2008
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Here's my take on the increase in players getting exceptional status and applying for it: I'm all for it. I don't see any reason to put arbitrary guide lines like having to be a generational prospect or only letting a player receive it every few years so it doesn't lose it's luster. I don't care about these things. If the players are good enough to excel in junior hockey, that's where they should be. No reason for these guys to waste a year in AAA.
Aceboogie
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- Aug 25, 2012
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Hockey Canada has a vested interest in seeing these kids develop. Development in young players like these is very tricky. One off year of development can have a huge negative impact on their future. I see where HC comes from in trying to keep these kids in Midget to develop. HC wants to ensure players like this develop properly so that in the future theyll play in the WJC, NHL etc. If any good player in Midget could play in the WHL youd see a fair amount go up but not suceed immedialty and maybe even fail.
I agree this kid can play in the WHL soon and should. But overall, keeping them in midget doesnt hurt their development, but rushing them into the WHL can. I support the strict exeptional player status rule because what 15 y/o kid is gunna say no to playing in the WHL if their really good even if though they dont even know whats best for them.
The kids will get 4 years in the WHL irregardless, no use rushing them.
Benson is too good for Bantam though
Right, but i'm not talking about rushing. I'm saying that if the player can excel in juniors as an underager, that's where they should be.
For example, it looks like there could be two exceptional players(Benson and Day) this year. Some people would say that only one or neither(because of Ekblad and McDavid getting it in the past two years) should be given the status. I'm saying that if both are good enough and on the level of the aforementioned players, they should receive it.
For example, it looks like there could be two exceptional players(Benson and Day) this year. Some people would say that only one or neither(because of Ekblad and McDavid getting it in the past two years) should be given the status. I'm saying that if both are good enough and on the level of the aforementioned players, they should receive it.
Joe Hallenback
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- Mar 4, 2005
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They'll both get it. If Hockey Canada was concerned about handing it out too often they wouldn't have done it back-to-back years. If they deem the player good enough and mature enough, they'll be granted exceptional status. Plus, they're in the business of making money. These guys generate serious interest/increased ticket sales.
Leviathan
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- Nov 25, 2008
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Leviathan
Registered User
- Nov 25, 2008
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I don't think that's part of the calculation really, but I could be wrong. I feel like those theories are something that get made up on this board. The OHL granted Ekblad and McDavid exceptional player status to years in a row, so obviously they weren't worried they would look like they were opening the floodgates. I could see the number of players getting the status going up if anything, as kids are growing bigger and stronger earlier these days. Offseason training has a big part to that, as well as advanced nutrition, etc. I could see a time where there are a bunch of players who get the status every year or, and I'm going about out on a limb here, maybe they lower the age requirements eventually. Part of the reason this could happen is because the exceptional player status thing is a big deal for the teams with the first pick that year, and it could get political for the OHL brass to be hand picking the top picks every year.
Ainec
Panetta was not racist
- Jun 20, 2009
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I really think we will see this trend continue, a phenom every 2 year rather than 4 years. Not saying they will have as much impact or success in the NHL when they do get there like Tavares, Stamkos, etc because how they develop in the next 2-3 years is anyone's guess
Leviathan
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- Nov 25, 2008
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"Come this time next year, he could be an inch taller and 10-15 pounds heavier. He could survive (the WHL), no question," said his coach, Taylor Harnett. "I've been with the SSAC since 1999, and I've seen a lot of good players come and go. I remember Jordan Eberle, how he stood out when he played for the Notre Dame Hounds. He stood out, but it was nothing like what Tyler's doing. He's the full package."
from the article.
from the article.
pretty much. But wish I could see this kid live, too far to drive, he sounds incredible. Guess Sean Day will do to watch
Breakfast of Champs
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- Apr 15, 2007
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I've only saw him once but he honestly reminded me of a mixture of Nathan Mackinnon and Jason Spezza. Not the Most typical comparison, but he is extremely explosive, probably as explosive as Barzal, and what he can do with the puck is just filthy. Sam Steel is also an outstanding young prospect. Kale Clague, and Quenneville. Just the big names I've seen from WHL Prospects Camp
