CHL getting called out for their scholarship package policies
Article looking at the short time limit that players have to use their school scholarship money that they get from playing in the CHL. Often talked about here in relation to NCAA scholarships, so I thought people might be interested. I hope at the very least, the policies change so that these kids get some school paid for. If the extra pub this issue gets pushes a couple more kids to College hockey, so much the better.
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl-player-agents-call-for-changes-to-chl-s-dirty-lit…
Great to see from these NHL agents. Hopefully gets more attention and more players thinking to go the US college route.
Won't change much...
What the hell does that even mean and what purpose does it serve? Having "older" players around the younger would only benefit the teams, schools and league.
And the NCAA blocks kids who played in the CHL from playing in the NCAA. Both the NCAA and the CHL have lots of issues and each also has their benefits despite what fans of each think
Don't want the former chl players in NCAA. Would rather have the youngsters.
You realize guys can start playing in the CHL at 15 right? And that the average age is just over 17?
Yes I'm well aware. When they are done in the chl they are 20/21 years old. At that time if they are good enough they move on to professional hockey to earn a living. I don't really see those kids making the decision to then come down to the NCAA to make no money for another 3 or 4 years.
The kids you'd get are the ones who currently play in the CIS.
But if they could come down at 18 after a year or two in the CHL, do you not think some guys would? I played two years in the WHL and I can assure you, if I could have come down and played for somebody at 20 I would have. And if I was good enough to get drafted at 16, but realized I probably wasn't going to the NHL, I'd have loved the chance to come down and play, and I know a lot of players feel the same.
A story. Guy I played hockey with had a scholarship offer to Brown (this was back in the 90's). He ended up getting invited to training camp with the Regina Pats. He was 17 years old. Wasn't paid for training camp. The NCAA ruled him ineligible to play because he went to a couple training camp practices.
I honestly don't think so. NCAA hockey doesn't get any exposure in Canada (until this year, I guess tsn has a game a week usually from ecac or hockey east). I live in the Windsor area and a surprising number of people around here don't know anything about NCAA hockey.
This area is saturated with Junior hockey (OHL, couple Junior B teams, and a handful of Junior C squads).
I was actually asked by a guy I know if I've ever heard of Michigan Hockey. He knew I was a season ticket holder for football but had never heard me talk about the hockey.
Plus, we're not just talking about Michigan here. Yes, Michigan should be going after the top 18 year olds out there. But do you honestly think there isn't a single team in college hockey that could use a guy 20 year old with CHL experience?
I know there are teams that would want these guys I'm just not a fan of kids who played in the CHL coming down and being freshmen who are three years older than incoming high schoolers. Now if the NCAA were to put in a rule that a school can have two former CHL players on roster per season and allow a third to be on a redshirt season (must be under 20 to redshirt) I'd be interested. It's like the Junior Overage rule (can have one or two overagers a year iirc). Obviously there's flaws with this but if you just open the doors that means you are taking away scholarships from the kids who make the choice to go the college route.
I doubt much will change as long as Canadian kids continue to dream of playing in the OHL as kid which absolutely will continue. People will complain, but a lot of kids are still more than happy to play for free in Sault Ste Marie on the hopes of making it into the NHL
Only if Canadian kids start seeing the benefit of a college scholarship and begin to choose college over CHL in significant numbers will it change
Won't change much because the CHL is like the mini NHL. It's a lot better hockey and prepares players better for the NHL.