| AJHL Defections & the NCAA Eligibility Rule [message #828953] |
Sat, 20 January 2024 17:29  |
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 CrusaderPi
Messages: 8098
Registered: December 2003
Location: Downtown Edmonton
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The BCHL announced this afternoon that 5 AJHL teams have been accepted to play in the BC league next year, including sherwood park and spruce grove. In response the AJ may have suspended the 5 rogue teams for the rest of the season. Interesting times watching leagues and now teams leave the hockey Canada umbrella.
Personally I was gearing up to watch the Cru make a playoffs run but that’s looking unlikely. Feel bad for the kids being caught in this.
[Updated on: Mon, 18 November 2024 14:08]
Please do not feed the bears. Feeding the bears creates a dependent population unable to survive on their own. Bears.
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Skookum Jim
Messages: 5297
Registered: March 2006
Location: Burnaby, BC
5 Cups
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| CrusaderPi wrote on Sat, 20 January 2024 16:29 |
The BCHL announced this afternoon that 5 AJHL teams have been accepted to play in the BC league next year, including sherwood park and spruce grove. In response the AJ may have suspended the 5 rogue teams for the rest of the season. Interesting times watching leagues and now teams leave the hockey Canada umbrella.
Personally I was gearing up to watch the Cru make a playoffs run but that’s looking unlikely. Feel bad for the kids being caught in this.
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Have no idea what prompted the jump.. is this all about playing NCAA easier?? .. imports?
McDAVID! Oh YEAH Baby!! (Thank you Lord!)
Tic-Tac-Tao!
Keep on Rockin' in the Free World
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CrusaderPi
Messages: 8098
Registered: December 2003
Location: Downtown Edmonton
6 Cups
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| Skookum Jim wrote on Sun, 21 January 2024 17:03 |
| CrusaderPi wrote on Sat, 20 January 2024 16:29 |
The BCHL announced this afternoon that 5 AJHL teams have been accepted to play in the BC league next year, including sherwood park and spruce grove. In response the AJ may have suspended the 5 rogue teams for the rest of the season. Interesting times watching leagues and now teams leave the hockey Canada umbrella.
Personally I was gearing up to watch the Cru make a playoffs run but that’s looking unlikely. Feel bad for the kids being caught in this.
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Have no idea what prompted the jump.. is this all about playing NCAA easier?? .. imports?
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Yeah as far as I can tell the BCHL left Hockey Canada before last season to become a better path to college and have more control over the players they can take. Plus people are unhappy with Hockey Canada right now.
Please do not feed the bears. Feeding the bears creates a dependent population unable to survive on their own. Bears.
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Skookum Jim
Messages: 5297
Registered: March 2006
Location: Burnaby, BC
5 Cups
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After some digging it seems its all about where you can recruit from..
BCJHL left in 2022/23 and have been recruiting from everywhere..
CJHL rules (AJHL)
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CJHL General Rules:
- A team may only have six import players on their roster at any one time. An import is defined as an American-born player. No Canadian-born players who are age-eligible to play in any Junior A leagues across the country are considered imports. For American based teams they can only carry 2 Canadian born players.
- Teams are limited to two 16 year olds per team.
- Maximum of 9 over-agers (20 year olds).
- Transfer deadline is January 10.
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So allowed 6 imports.. doesn't sound that restrictive.. actually surprised its so much.. I mean it is supposed to be a Canadian JUNIOR league not an International pro league..
Not sure what the BCJHL now has.. has to be more lenient in that regard.. maybe no limit.. ?
So far I'm thinking F the BCJHL and its owners..
McDAVID! Oh YEAH Baby!! (Thank you Lord!)
Tic-Tac-Tao!
Keep on Rockin' in the Free World
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CrusaderPi
Messages: 8098
Registered: December 2003
Location: Downtown Edmonton
6 Cups
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| Skookum Jim wrote on Tue, 23 January 2024 01:56 |
After some digging it seems its all about where you can recruit from..
BCJHL left in 2022/23 and have been recruiting from everywhere..
CJHL rules (AJHL)
| Quote: |
CJHL General Rules:
- A team may only have six import players on their roster at any one time. An import is defined as an American-born player. No Canadian-born players who are age-eligible to play in any Junior A leagues across the country are considered imports. For American based teams they can only carry 2 Canadian born players.
- Teams are limited to two 16 year olds per team.
- Maximum of 9 over-agers (20 year olds).
- Transfer deadline is January 10.
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So allowed 6 imports.. doesn't sound that restrictive.. actually surprised its so much.. I mean it is supposed to be a Canadian JUNIOR league not an International pro league..
Not sure what the BCJHL now has.. has to be more lenient in that regard.. maybe no limit.. ?
So far I'm thinking F the BCJHL and its owners..
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I see it a more of another step in the evolution from community based minor sports organizations to club organizations. Already teams, even the teams who aren't going west, have surprisingly few local or provincial players.
The real shame to me is Hockey Canada refusing to adapt to the reality of the situation and allowing a schism to form that walls off the best players from the Centennial Cup and the World Junior A tournament. But players wants a clearer path to college and it's looking like the BHJL (they dropped the J when they split from Hockey Canada) is now that path. I heard they and the 5 defecting AJ teams had an unbelievably high number of NCAA commits this year compared to the rest of junior A, but obviously can't confirm that.
The most telling part of this story was that Okotoks was (is?) scheduled to host the Centennial Cup next year. They had a free ticket to the national championship, didn't have to worry about getting steamrolled by Brooks in the playoffs for the millionth time, and still decided to leave.
Please do not feed the bears. Feeding the bears creates a dependent population unable to survive on their own. Bears.
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Adam
Messages: 7504
Registered: August 2005
Location: Edmonton, AB
6 Cups
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| CrusaderPi wrote on Tue, 23 January 2024 09:47 |
| Skookum Jim wrote on Tue, 23 January 2024 01:56 |
After some digging it seems its all about where you can recruit from..
BCJHL left in 2022/23 and have been recruiting from everywhere..
CJHL rules (AJHL)
| Quote: |
CJHL General Rules:
- A team may only have six import players on their roster at any one time. An import is defined as an American-born player. No Canadian-born players who are age-eligible to play in any Junior A leagues across the country are considered imports. For American based teams they can only carry 2 Canadian born players.
- Teams are limited to two 16 year olds per team.
- Maximum of 9 over-agers (20 year olds).
- Transfer deadline is January 10.
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So allowed 6 imports.. doesn't sound that restrictive.. actually surprised its so much.. I mean it is supposed to be a Canadian JUNIOR league not an International pro league..
Not sure what the BCJHL now has.. has to be more lenient in that regard.. maybe no limit.. ?
So far I'm thinking F the BCJHL and its owners..
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I see it a more of another step in the evolution from community based minor sports organizations to club organizations. Already teams, even the teams who aren't going west, have surprisingly few local or provincial players.
The real shame to me is Hockey Canada refusing to adapt to the reality of the situation and allowing a schism to form that walls off the best players from the Centennial Cup and the World Junior A tournament. But players wants a clearer path to college and it's looking like the BHJL (they dropped the J when they split from Hockey Canada) is now that path. I heard they and the 5 defecting AJ teams had an unbelievably high number of NCAA commits this year compared to the rest of junior A, but obviously can't confirm that.
The most telling part of this story was that Okotoks was (is?) scheduled to host the Centennial Cup next year. They had a free ticket to the national championship, didn't have to worry about getting steamrolled by Brooks in the playoffs for the millionth time, and still decided to leave.
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Is playing BC teams going to make a lot of sense though? That's a whole lot of bus travel. The economics of a more spread-out league can't be great. Not like any of these teams prints money. I grew up in Sherwood Park and went to several Crusaders games - it was never a hard ticket to come by.
"Thinking that a bad team's best players are the reason the team is bad is the "Tambellini re-signing Lennart Petrell" of sports opinions." @Woodguy55
#FireBobbyNicks
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CrusaderPi
Messages: 8098
Registered: December 2003
Location: Downtown Edmonton
6 Cups
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| Adam wrote on Tue, 23 January 2024 14:11 |
Is playing BC teams going to make a lot of sense though? That's a whole lot of bus travel. The economics of a more spread-out league can't be great. Not like any of these teams prints money. I grew up in Sherwood Park and went to several Crusaders games - it was never a hard ticket to come by.
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I imagine they're going to make two longish tours of BC... like 7 games in 11 days. Then play half their games against the other Alberta teams. A lot of Wednesday night games against Blackfalds and SG, weekend trips to Brooks and Okotoks. The only really screwy trip will be heading out to Prince George.
The Cru has gotten better attendance, sponsorship, and results over the last ~10 years. Plenty of tickets still available. Who knows, they might get their new arena built.
Please do not feed the bears. Feeding the bears creates a dependent population unable to survive on their own. Bears.
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Adam
Messages: 7504
Registered: August 2005
Location: Edmonton, AB
6 Cups
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| CrusaderPi wrote on Tue, 23 January 2024 14:50 |
| Adam wrote on Tue, 23 January 2024 14:11 |
Is playing BC teams going to make a lot of sense though? That's a whole lot of bus travel. The economics of a more spread-out league can't be great. Not like any of these teams prints money. I grew up in Sherwood Park and went to several Crusaders games - it was never a hard ticket to come by.
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I imagine they're going to make two longish tours of BC... like 7 games in 11 days. Then play half their games against the other Alberta teams. A lot of Wednesday night games against Blackfalds and SG, weekend trips to Brooks and Okotoks. The only really screwy trip will be heading out to Prince George.
The Cru has gotten better attendance, sponsorship, and results over the last ~10 years. Plenty of tickets still available. Who knows, they might get their new arena built.
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Aren't a lot of those kids still in school?
It'll be interesting to see how it goes. There will be some massive hate-ons if 5 teams play the majority of their games against each other.
"Thinking that a bad team's best players are the reason the team is bad is the "Tambellini re-signing Lennart Petrell" of sports opinions." @Woodguy55
#FireBobbyNicks
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CrusaderPi
Messages: 8098
Registered: December 2003
Location: Downtown Edmonton
6 Cups
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| Adam wrote on Tue, 23 January 2024 17:26 |
Aren't a lot of those kids still in school?
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I don't think it'll be much of a problem. Junior hockey is already an 18, 19, and 20 year old game. Plus they've split from Hockey Canada they won't be able to call up affiliate midget (I think) players who are still in high school.
Please do not feed the bears. Feeding the bears creates a dependent population unable to survive on their own. Bears.
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CrusaderPi
Messages: 8098
Registered: December 2003
Location: Downtown Edmonton
6 Cups
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Last week the NCAA changed their rules expanding eligibility to major junior players. This week a trickle of players reapplying for Hockey Canada status has turned into a steady stream of guys leaving the USHL and BCHL to go to major junior squads. Now that the BCHL isn't the best and most direct pipeline to get to the NCAA, I'm not sure it needs to exist.
There's probably a way to unring the BCHL bell in BC and reform a Junior A league (while including the new Junior A leagues) but the 5 Alberta teams that jumped ship? I have no idea why BC would want them or the AJ would take them back. Other than money.
Please do not feed the bears. Feeding the bears creates a dependent population unable to survive on their own. Bears.
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Skookum Jim
Messages: 5297
Registered: March 2006
Location: Burnaby, BC
5 Cups
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| CrusaderPi wrote on Mon, 18 November 2024 13:14 |
Last week the NCAA changed their rules expanding eligibility to major junior players. This week a trickle of players reapplying for Hockey Canada status has turned into a steady stream of guys leaving the USHL and BCHL to go to major junior squads. Now that the BCHL isn't the best and most direct pipeline to get to the NCAA, I'm not sure it needs to exist.
There's probably a way to unring the BCHL bell in BC and reform a Junior A league (while including the new Junior A leagues) but the 5 Alberta teams that jumped ship? I have no idea why BC would want them or the AJ would take them back. Other than money.
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Will be interesting.. most of the best BCJHL guys were only there because they couldn't play CHL and then go to NCAA.. been happening since Brett Hull.. even a lot of USA guys coming up to play in a higher skill league as a brief stopping point prior to transferring to the NCAA..
McDAVID! Oh YEAH Baby!! (Thank you Lord!)
Tic-Tac-Tao!
Keep on Rockin' in the Free World
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Skookum Jim
Messages: 5297
Registered: March 2006
Location: Burnaby, BC
5 Cups
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Gavin McKenna defects from the WHL and goes to Penn State..
He won't be there long, he's a 2026 draft.. he'll be playing draft+1
He'll be at Penn barely long enough to know the coaches' and players names..
McDAVID! Oh YEAH Baby!! (Thank you Lord!)
Tic-Tac-Tao!
Keep on Rockin' in the Free World
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CrusaderPi
Messages: 8098
Registered: December 2003
Location: Downtown Edmonton
6 Cups
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| Skookum Jim wrote on Wed, 09 July 2025 16:23 |
Gavin McKenna defects from the WHL and goes to Penn State..
He won't be there long, he's a 2026 draft.. he'll be playing draft+1
He'll be at Penn barely long enough to know the coaches' and players names..
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Hopefully this causes a big enough splash that the CHL figures out the needs a major reformation. I doubt it but one can hope. It'll probably take an eastern player like McDavid or MacKinnon leaving for anything to happen.
Kid has balls to leave despite the emotional manipulation of a WHL exhibition game in Whitehorse.
Please do not feed the bears. Feeding the bears creates a dependent population unable to survive on their own. Bears.
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Skookum Jim
Messages: 5297
Registered: March 2006
Location: Burnaby, BC
5 Cups
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| CrusaderPi wrote on Thu, 10 July 2025 07:25 |
| Skookum Jim wrote on Wed, 09 July 2025 16:23 |
Gavin McKenna defects from the WHL and goes to Penn State..
He won't be there long, he's a 2026 draft.. he'll be playing draft+1
He'll be at Penn barely long enough to know the coaches' and players names..
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Hopefully this causes a big enough splash that the CHL figures out the needs a major reformation. I doubt it but one can hope. It'll probably take an eastern player like McDavid or MacKinnon leaving for anything to happen.
Kid has balls to leave despite the emotional manipulation of a WHL exhibition game in Whitehorse.
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Not sure why he's going for one season.. any money is going to be trivial compared to his NHL career.. plus much less games.
What do you think the CHL can do to compete?
The CHL teams are too small to afford NCAA payouts.. NCAA schools get all their money from football .. and rich alumni.. it funds every other sport on campus.. not that sport's ticket sales.. not sure what the CHL can do money-wise (?) ..
CHL rule or regulation changes ?
One big change is going to be for the NHL in retaining their draft picks .. players have options to play until, and past 22 in NCAA and void their draft rights.. if its a good player they'll pull a Howard, go play where they want..
In the CHL if you're higher level NHL draft pick, you don't play your 20 year old season in the CHL you go to the AHL and sign a contract with your NHL team.. and the NHL teams have more leverage in that situation.. now the players can transfer to the NCAA and play longer if they want and avoid the AHL..
.. that's what I've gathered anyway (?).. retention/signing of draft picks is going to be a lot more "fluid"
[Updated on: Thu, 10 July 2025 12:28]
McDAVID! Oh YEAH Baby!! (Thank you Lord!)
Tic-Tac-Tao!
Keep on Rockin' in the Free World
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CrusaderPi
Messages: 8098
Registered: December 2003
Location: Downtown Edmonton
6 Cups
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| Skookum Jim wrote on Thu, 10 July 2025 12:16 |
| CrusaderPi wrote on Thu, 10 July 2025 07:25 |
| Skookum Jim wrote on Wed, 09 July 2025 16:23 |
Gavin McKenna defects from the WHL and goes to Penn State..
He won't be there long, he's a 2026 draft.. he'll be playing draft+1
He'll be at Penn barely long enough to know the coaches' and players names..
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Hopefully this causes a big enough splash that the CHL figures out the needs a major reformation. I doubt it but one can hope. It'll probably take an eastern player like McDavid or MacKinnon leaving for anything to happen.
Kid has balls to leave despite the emotional manipulation of a WHL exhibition game in Whitehorse.
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Not sure why he's going for one season.. any money is going to be trivial compared to his NHL career.. plus much less games.
What do you think the CHL can do to compete?
The CHL teams are too small to afford NCAA payouts.. NCAA schools get all their money from football .. and rich alumni.. it funds every other sport on campus.. not that sport's ticket sales.. not sure what the CHL can do money-wise (?) ..
CHL rule or regulation changes ?
One big change is going to be for the NHL in retaining their draft picks .. players have options to play until, and past 22 in NCAA and void their draft rights.. if its a good player they'll pull a Howard, go play where they want..
In the CHL if you're higher level NHL draft pick, you don't play your 20 year old season in the CHL you go to the AHL and sign a contract with your NHL team.. and the NHL teams have more leverage in that situation.. now the players can transfer to the NCAA and play longer if they want and avoid the AHL..
.. that's what I've gathered anyway (?).. retention/signing of draft picks is going to be a lot more "fluid"
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I think there are two reasons why McKenna is going. 700k (or whatever) right now is a lot of money. Even if he'll earn 100M later. More important than that is he's already too good for the WHL. What purpose does going back to Medicine Hat serve? What benefit is gained from scoring 3 points per game and trying to win the one game in May he didn't win? The level of competition in the NCAA, especially once you're into divisional games, is higher than the dub and there's less of an injury.
If I'm the CHL I'm probably looking at doing away with the Bantam draft so players can take back some control over where they play. I'd also start a ~16 team premiere league, either full season or after Christmas, to try for TV money and to increase the level of competition. I agree they'll now need to figure out something new for NHL drafted players.
Please do not feed the bears. Feeding the bears creates a dependent population unable to survive on their own. Bears.
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CrusaderPi
Messages: 8098
Registered: December 2003
Location: Downtown Edmonton
6 Cups
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Out of no where Athletic Reporter Scott Wheeler is saying there's chatter about the CHL / AHL agreement being revised. We might see 19 year olds moving from junior to the minors in a couple years.
Please do not feed the bears. Feeding the bears creates a dependent population unable to survive on their own. Bears.
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Skookum Jim
Messages: 5297
Registered: March 2006
Location: Burnaby, BC
5 Cups
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| CrusaderPi wrote on Thu, 10 July 2025 14:36 |
Out of no where Athletic Reporter Scott Wheeler is saying there's chatter about the CHL / AHL agreement being revised. We might see 19 year olds moving from junior to the minors in a couple years.
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That might solve the drafted player too good for the CHL issue.. gonna be a lot of AHL vet players lose roster spots.. teams will want space for their younger developing CHL draftees.
I still like the bantam draft.. gives small ton teams a chance to win a Memorial Cup, and rep an NHL player someday.. plus its the only team in town.. its a part of Canadian small town culture.. like Texas high school football.. hate to see it be dismantled..
Update:
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Per Seravelli:
Sources say a new provision in the CBA will allow each #NHL team to place one 19-year-old CHL player in the #AHL per season.
One per organization per season and 18-year-olds are ineligible.
Begins in 2026-27 season
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[Updated on: Fri, 11 July 2025 00:35]
McDAVID! Oh YEAH Baby!! (Thank you Lord!)
Tic-Tac-Tao!
Keep on Rockin' in the Free World
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CrusaderPi
Messages: 8098
Registered: December 2003
Location: Downtown Edmonton
6 Cups
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| Skookum Jim wrote on Thu, 10 July 2025 17:35 |
I still like the bantam draft.. gives small ton teams a chance to win a Memorial Cup, and rep an NHL player someday.. plus its the only team in town.. its a part of Canadian small town culture.. like Texas high school football.. hate to see it be dismantled..
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The WHL going to the big cities is my junior hockey regret. I understand why it happened and maybe why it had to happen, but I still think the WHL is a better watch in Red Deer than Edmonton.
Please do not feed the bears. Feeding the bears creates a dependent population unable to survive on their own. Bears.
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Skookum Jim
Messages: 5297
Registered: March 2006
Location: Burnaby, BC
5 Cups
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C-Pie.. here is a good thread on X discussing the new CHL-NCAA-AHL options for draftees..
https://x.com/JhanHky/status/1943618827075363143
some clips..
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..Do you think it’s a huge advantage with the NCAA that the players get to decide where they want to play, as opposed to the CHL?
.. yes. but the flip side is that once you're there the D1 team can also decide if they dont want you anymore & cut you at any moment.
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... It will be tempting for teams to put players like Roger McQueen or Matthew Schaefer in the AHL as soon as possible, but over-exposing a young player 1) makes them play on survival mode, which isn't great for their offensive ceiling, 2) creates frustration on the team's part
..Think of all the great players FLA got for pennies on the dollar (Reinhart, Bennett, Forsling, etc.). The common denominator is that the teams that drafted them got "prospect fatigue" and gave up on them after overexposing them too early.
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McDAVID! Oh YEAH Baby!! (Thank you Lord!)
Tic-Tac-Tao!
Keep on Rockin' in the Free World
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