Tom ServoMST3K
In search of a Steinbach Hero
Western Canadian Junior Hockey Pilot to launch in 2024-25 season - Western Hockey League
The WCDM pilot project focuses on strengthening the delivery of sanctioned junior hockey to participants across Western Canada and will create unprecedented choice and flexibility for players and their families
chl.ca
Not sure how big the changes are - but they're making a big hubbalo about this partnership.
For WHL teams, it's obvious - more flexibility with younger players.
- All 15-year-old affiliate players will be eligible to play up to 10 games with their WHL Club, the same as 16-year-old affiliate players.
- Instead of rostering a maximum of five 15-year-old affiliate players in a season, WHL Clubs will be allowed to name up to nine by January 10.
- If a WHL Club cannot dress a full roster of 20 players for a game, the team will now be eligible to dress two 15-year-old affiliate players.
- WHL Clubs will be able to designate one 16-year-old player, who upon being returned to a Junior A, Canadian Sport School Hockey League or U18 team, will be allowed to play up to 15 games in the WHL.
- If one of the four Members participating in the pilot has granted a 12-, 13- or 14-year-old player special status to play in an advanced age category, any such player must be evaluated to ensure they currently meet and are deemed to continue with special player status in their 15-year-old year to qualify and continue to be eligible to play up to 34 games in the WHL.
(Also I'm trying to get a feel on how this affects Jr A, and have yet to figure it out, so if anyone could assist me, that'd be great - so far all I've come up with is this is about leagues preparing for when the ncaa shoe drops and being ready to be flexible when the time comes)