Eastern Ontario Junior B Hockey League....three divisons, Ottawa Valley, Metro (basically City of Ottawa and communities close to the City including two teams from Gatineau) and Rideau....full of good, hard working kids and it is very good hockey.
The GOJHL is a Jr. B league which is a very strong Jr. B league and much stronger than that of the Eastern Jr. B (Ottawa and Quebec) but is still below the OJHL, with teams ranging from Niagara Falls all the way to Sarnia!
Jr.B is a great level to develop and prepare for Major Junior, Jr.A, and NCAA hockey.
Yes Riley Sheahan did not get drafted out of the GOJHL to the NHL, however he did get SCOUTED by the University of Notre Dame while playing in the GOJHL and then was drafted the following season in the first round.
Guess what happened in 2008? A Jr.B player from the GOJHL was drafted 29th overall (1st round); Daultan Leveille. He too was scouted by a NCAA D1 school, Michigan State University.
This year a former GOJHL Jr.B player was drafted 7th overall by the Winnipeg Jets, Mark Scheifele.
Where did Shea Weber play? Oh that's right, Jr.B with the Sicamous Eagles. Where did Ray Emery play? Jr.B in Ontario. I could go on and on about so many more more players that have gone on to pro careers after starting in Jr.B
There were 7 Canadian Jr.A players selected in the 2011 NHL Draft.
NCAA schools scout the Canadian Jr.A leagues religiously (and yes they do scout the Ontario Jr.B leagues as well). Click HERE for an example. You'll find that the BCHL had 80+ NCAA Division 1 commitments from last season. Here is the list of college commitments for the CCHL.
Also, Major Junior teams follow Jr.B leagues just as much as other leagues.
You might want to check facts before making statements like that.
I have a couple of boys with aspitrations to play college hockey. Juniors is a necessary step in there developemnt and exposure. how do the Canadian junior leagues take to Americans? Are certain communities more USA friendly than other teams? We are looking at 3 leagues, GOJHL, OJHL and CCHL. If anyone cans hare any insight that would be great. Thanks in advance
Everett,
Thanks fo the reply. My one son is a 17 year old and want to look at leagues where he can get soem time, I am looking at this as a 2 year program before we see if he iscapable to play at thecollege level. CCHL seems like an older league
I have a neew who is stewing over playing in the GOJHL vs the NA3HL. He sees the chance to play in Canada as a pretty big oppty, but knows what he is getting in the NA3HL. Can anyone help with comparisons of style and quality of hockey between the 2 leagues? Thanks in advance
What's your issue with Eliteprospects? Joel Ward, uh, thanks? What is your point? Also, you can hyperlink names, like this; Joel Ward
Regardless, scouts are still at the game. They might be at the game with a player(s) they have in their sights, but they are still AT the game, watching the game. And if an NCAA D1 coach/recruiter is watching the one prospect, he will most likely evaluate everyone on the ice, because he just used up one of his allotted NCAA evaluations for all those players.
I didn't say they rigorously scout Jr.B, but they will watch select games.
A lot of players have had their starts in Jr.B and were scouted by Major Junior, Jr.A, NCAA, and yes even NHL teams.
Here are some more players who played Jr.B and managed to move up despite what you said:
Chuck Kobasew
Justin Pogge
Barret Jackman
Cody Franson
Kevin Koopman - Drafted by Ottawa out of Jr.B, scholarship to Brown, but decided to be a doctor.
Alex Nikiforuk
Kyle Hood - Played for Osoyoos Heat (KIJHL)
Jamie Benn
Torrie Jung
Derek Mathers
Ryan Jones - Scholarship to Miami (Ohio) out of Jr.B
Brett Westgarth - Scholarship to Princeton out of Jr.B
Wes O'Neill - committed to Notre Dame while playing Jr.B, played season in USHL, Drafted by NY Islanders
Tyler Roeszler - committed to Cornell while playing Jr.B
Max Campbell - committed to Western Michigan while playing Jr.B, Drafted by NY Rangers
Is that enough?
What is your point? I pointed that out to you because you said:
How many Jr.B games have you ACTUALLY seen in Canada? When you are comparing Jr.B to CHL/NCAA, then yes, the hockey is not nearly the same level. Doesn't take away the fact that there are good hockey players who move up to the higher levels of hockey after playing Jr.B. It is entertaining hockey and a good stepping stone for players. Some move up to CHL/NCAA and pro; and yes there are a lucky few who get to skate in the NHL.
Why do you hate Jr.B so much?
And what Jr.A are you talking about that is awful? I know the SIJHL is not the best, but it certainly isn't awful.
This is where you lost me, and by the sounds of it, many others.
I'm not sure how to respond to your post since you're all over the map. Since you have so many eliteprospect sources. Wanna see a cool path? Eliteprospects.com - Joel Ward.
So here I go...
No - you're wrong. Scouts follow players, not teams. They are informed by coaches and word of mouth and this is only when they will go watch specific players. Unless your team has a Logan Couture on it at age 15, why would a scout be there?
So lets take your Mark example...just because I don't know anything about hockey.
Mark was drafted from his Kitchener Minor Midget team in the 2009 OHL Priority Selection Draft (7th round, 134th overall). From here, Mark refused to play for the Saginaw Spirit, saw Cornell as an opportunity (received letters) and opt'd to play Jr. B in Kitchener (his home town).
During his tenture there, Mark led his team in scoring and grew about 3-4 inches to become 6'2-6'3 without skates, 170lbs roughly. From here, Saginaw decided to trade his rights to the Barrie Colts. Because of their recent NHL'er hiring, Mark was talked into attending camp. Within their 48 hour window at camp Dale realised Barrie had a REAL LIFE prospect. The staff talked Mark out of the NCAA route, and into being taught by Dale - excellent choice for someone who is fast-tracked to the NHL.
Now just to continue, because I know nothing about hockey. Scouts would watch MARK play Jr. B - OHL scouts, Cornell scouts - sure, why wouldn't they? Mark was already on their radar, and a '93 leading his Jr. B team in scoring with such size.. is a magnificient thing.
To continue, I know the committment rates for all leagues across both boarders. Jr. B does not get scouted rigorously by NCAA D1 scouts. I highly doubt any scouts would ever watch a random game. They are there to see a player. But they're scouts, who can really trust anything they say. Isn't every player the next Gretzky in their eyes? Jr. A - BC, OJ, CC etc..is a bit different. Top BCHL teams are almost on par with the USHL. These top teams attract scouts - Pentiction Vees, because they have a history of attracting talent, because they have a system that works to produce NCAA'ers/NHL'ers.
Please continue your list though of Jr. B players who got "sighted". But what do I know?..I'm just an unknowledgable hockey advisor. Oh, and the 7 Jr. A players selected in the NHL draft are committed to NCAA Div1 schools, same with all those players selected from the USHL & USNDP.
OH AND, Jr. B/Jr.A is awful hockey. Not even comparable to the USHL, CHL, NCAA. Players play in these leagues because they're forced to - no where else to go, or they want to stay in Canada, or they are set on the NCAA route.
I'm not sure how to respond to your post since you're all over the map. Since you have so many eliteprospect sources. Wanna see a cool path? Eliteprospects.com - Joel Ward.
So here I go...
No - you're wrong. Scouts follow players, not teams. They are informed by coaches and word of mouth and this is only when they will go watch specific players. Unless your team has a Logan Couture on it at age 15, why would a scout be there?
So lets take your Mark example...just because I don't know anything about hockey.
Mark was drafted from his Kitchener Minor Midget team in the 2009 OHL Priority Selection Draft (7th round, 134th overall). From here, Mark refused to play for the Saginaw Spirit, saw Cornell as an opportunity (received letters) and opt'd to play Jr. B in Kitchener (his home town).
During his tenture there, Mark led his team in scoring and grew about 3-4 inches to become 6'2-6'3 without skates, 170lbs roughly. From here, Saginaw decided to trade his rights to the Barrie Colts. Because of their recent NHL'er hiring, Mark was talked into attending camp. Within their 48 hour window at camp Dale realised Barrie had a REAL LIFE prospect. The staff talked Mark out of the NCAA route, and into being taught by Dale - excellent choice for someone who is fast-tracked to the NHL.
Now just to continue, because I know nothing about hockey. Scouts would watch MARK play Jr. B - OHL scouts, Cornell scouts - sure, why wouldn't they? Mark was already on their radar, and a '93 leading his Jr. B team in scoring with such size.. is a magnificient thing.
To continue, I know the committment rates for all leagues across both boarders. Jr. B does not get scouted rigorously by NCAA D1 scouts. I highly doubt any scouts would ever watch a random game. They are there to see a player. But they're scouts, who can really trust anything they say. Isn't every player the next Gretzky in their eyes? Jr. A - BC, OJ, CC etc..is a bit different. Top BCHL teams are almost on par with the USHL. These top teams attract scouts - Pentiction Vees, because they have a history of attracting talent, because they have a system that works to produce NCAA'ers/NHL'ers.
Please continue your list though of Jr. B players who got "sighted". But what do I know?..I'm just an unknowledgable hockey advisor. Oh, and the 7 Jr. A players selected in the NHL draft are committed to NCAA Div1 schools, same with all those players selected from the USHL & USNDP.
OH AND, Jr. B/Jr.A is awful hockey. Not even comparable to the USHL, CHL, NCAA. Players play in these leagues because they're forced to - no where else to go, or they want to stay in Canada, or they are set on the NCAA route.