NCAA / CHL Lawsuit

[UNB Bruins Fan]

NS native Luke Woodworth (Drummondville) has committed to Omaha

 

[Lakeheadfan95]

For example, if the MJHL and SJHL both stand to lose a few of the weaker teams as a result of this, could we see the leagues merge with the remaining teams? Schedules could still be weighted to intra-divisional play to reduce the amount of travel overall. I could see the same with other leagues close to each other like CCHL/OJHL, NOJHL/SIJHL, BCHL/AJHL, LHJAAQ/MHL.

I don't think their is a possible way for the si and noj to merge the travel would be brutal no way a team from Kenora or red Lake is travelling to timmins

 

[MiamiHockeyII]

It seems that athletics at the university level in Canada take a back seat to academics.....imagine that.
I brought this up because believe it or not, there is some "talk" (none coming from any University administrators however) about the potential for some U-Sports teams to look at joining the NCAA but as you've said, no way they could do so due to budgetary constraints.

That's not entirely accurate.

US Colleges see athletics as a way to recruit students and attract donors. And, there is a lot of data to support that, which is why you see US schools so aggressively pursuing a bigger/better Div I Football Conference. Football success increases applications, and athletic success brings donations.

Sacred Heart is a private university ... if you look at that new hockey facility, it's design is as much about attracting alumni and donors as it is about the hockey.

In Canada there is no such culture. Outside of a few unique programs (e.g. McGill hockey, Western Football), few donations pour in to support specific programs. Part of that is because we don't have private university in Canada, and we also have greater government support, and part of it is that most university students just don't support their athletic teams. It's not part of the culture.

But it's not fair to say that US colleges prioritize athletics over academics ... it's just that they see athletics as the fastest / best way to support their academics.

I don't think their is a possible way for the si and noj to merge the travel would be brutal no way a team from Kenora or red Lake is travelling to timmins

This is true. If SIJHL teams wanted to merge with anyone, the MJHL makes infinitely more sense. In fact, there was once a Kenora team in the MJHL.

 

[jetsmooseice]

I don't think their is a possible way for the si and noj to merge the travel would be brutal no way a team from Kenora or red Lake is travelling to timmins

Sure. It's not so much about which specific leagues will merge with each other, that can be worked out, but rather the idea that there will be an overall reduction in the number of junior A leagues.