Even Strength
Registered User
- Sep 25, 2015
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...If it were my decision, I would try to see if there were an alternate league that would allow your Son to play with them after the Holiday break under a billeting situation. For example, the team that drafted your Son will have a team or two at the Jr A or Jr B level that would probably have an opening in the 2nd half of the season. It would be an opportunity to build a relationship with the CHL team that owns his rights and allow your Son to keep his NCAA eligibility. Feel it out.
I have never actually watched a Canadian Jr. A or B game. This may seem like a ridiculous question, but what would you say is the major difference between those levels and Major Junior? I would imagine the straight line speed of the games are pretty similar and that the skill level is the main difference? Is there more or less fighting in Jr. A and B than Major Junior? Tier 2 and 3 Juniors in US is filled with over-agers, unlike Tier 1 and Major Junior, and they can be like Slap Shot. Is that also the case in Jr. A and B? If one has the opportunity to play Major Junior, besides retaining NCAA eligibility, is there any reason to play Jr. A or B instead?
I have never actually watched a Canadian Jr. A or B game. This may seem like a ridiculous question, but what would you say is the major difference between those levels and Major Junior? I would imagine the straight line speed of the games are pretty similar and that the skill level is the main difference? Is there more or less fighting in Jr. A and B than Major Junior? Tier 2 and 3 Juniors in US is filled with over-agers, unlike Tier 1 and Major Junior, and they can be like Slap Shot. Is that also the case in Jr. A and B? If one has the opportunity to play Major Junior, besides retaining NCAA eligibility, is there any reason to play Jr. A or B instead?
There are many Canadian players that prefer the NCAA route over Major Junior for various reasons. Those players typically play Jr. A.
I'm in Ottawa. The Jr. A loop in my area is pretty solid. It isn't the best in Ontario, I'd probably say it's #2. Fighting is discouraged as it is in many reputable leagues now.
The key is to go to a team that encourages the younger players development. Many of the 16 and 17 year old players in Jr A are trying to earn NCAA offers. Some are current OHL prospects. Others are just playing because it is the highest level they can play and want o compete.
The drop off between Major Junior and Jr A is pretty big. The drop off between Jr A and Jr B is not nearly as big.
I would say that the USHL is probably positioned (skil wise) between the CHL and Canadian Jr A. It would be similar to where the KHL fits between the NHL and the AHL professionally.
But, as was mentioned previously, it depends on what league we are talking about. Another poster mentioned the BCHL in British Columbia. That league is highly regarded as well with loads of Western kids coming out of there to NCAA programs and on to the NHL.
Most OHL draft picks that don't make their OHL team play Jr A with a few going Jr B. I am not sure exactly what the politics are behind eligibility to move around are. I know that there are some territory rights and even some drafting. I know kids move around a bit to gain flexibility too. Of course, each OHL team has their own development team. That is why I recommend you speak to your OHL team to see what the options are. Usually they have some leverage with respect to playing time and development of their prospects.
My view is that if the coach thinks he can play Major Junior, who am I to question it? He's going to have to invest time and money into my son's development and he seems excited to do so. Like I've said, college coaches aren't exactly knocking down our door right now--they're not really in the business of developing players anyhow--and to have a highly-regarded Major Junior coach actually really want him is much more encouraging than the prospect of battling through lower Jr. levels for a few years hoping to get an NCAA bid. You never know what could happen in that time.
The prevailing view here is that we are crazy to even think about letting him go the CHL route but, as I've said, we're not so hung up on NCAA. He's a smart kid and can get into college without a hockey coach's influence. If he gives it his best shot and doesn't go any further then he can either say that's that or he can play CIS if he still wants to lace 'em up. My biggest concern, honestly, is that as a 16 year old I don't really want him having to fight too many of the kids who are past their expiration date. He's a big kid and clearly would be tested.
Fighting is DONE. Twenty years ago, you'd easily see at least one per game. Now you see one every five games or so. The lug heads are gone now too. So, if you don't go looking for fights, there is no reason to ever worry about having to fight.
Someone else may correct me but I thought the education packages covered tuition for US based schools if you are an American as opposed to having to go the CIS route. Going CIS is good if you want to continue to play hockey though.
Fighting is DONE. Twenty years ago, you'd easily see at least one per game. Now you see one every five games or so. The lug heads are gone now too. So, if you don't go looking for fights, there is no reason to ever worry about having to fight.
Someone else may correct me but I thought the education packages covered tuition for US based schools if you are an American as opposed to having to go the CIS route. Going CIS is good if you want to continue to play hockey though.
I didn't mention earlier but if he's only 16 years old then why not finish out the year with the team he is on then come back to the camp that he performed so well at and try to join the OHL team next season?
If they wanted him this past camp then they will surely give him a long look next time around as well. He's still very young.
At this point that's what we're thinking about for the rest of this year and they've already told us he has a spot next year if he comes, which is looking more and more likely.
To me, that is what Major Junior hockey is all about. Play four years, then translate that into a four year honours Degree and start your adult life off armed with advanced hockey skills and a Degree.
This should be the goal of every Major Junior player. If another opportunity presents itself like an NHL Contract then do it but if it doesn't, I don't understand why players toil in the ECHL for crap money and abandon their scholarships.
100% correct--get your education, CIS hockey is very good hockey---then go try whatever you want, Europe etc and when you are done hockey you have a fully paid for degree to start the rest of your life. If you do that in reverse heavy odds are you will never go to school as you have been out too long and you have to pay for it.
I'm not a Dave Branch fan - not even a little bit. But that is exactly what he preaches when it comes to the OHL and education packages an their value.
If the above is the worst that could happen signing and making an OHL team, then that's pretty good if you ask me.
May I ask, what team did he attend camp for?
Or apparently someone is wise enough not to answer itWhat he said.
Or apparently someone is wise enough not to answer it
Or apparently someone is wise enough not to answer it
Not trying to start anything - I wouldn't have answered the question either.Point coming on here was for advice, not to boast or be roasted.
True but it is one of those things I don't really need to know.Meh it's not that hard to figure out when you see the name Even Strength used to have and spend five minutes on Google.