CrazyEddie20
Hey RuZZia - Cut Your Losses and Go Home.
For NCAA players, the same rules would apply to the AIHL as would apply to attending an NHL rookie/development camp, I'd imagine. Pay your own way if you're there more than 48 hours, can't play games, can't miss class.
Drummer
Better Red than Dead
I don't know what you mean by 'sanctioned' as USPORTS would not brand a league as sanctioned vs non-sanctioned. USPORTS would focus on whether it's a professional league or not. In the case of the AIHL, I believe they would classify it as Professional and as such any player over 21 would be hit with the 365-day rule and would have to red shirt for a season.
USPORTS 21
Before people ask about 21 or older - USPORTS will allow hockey players to play professional hockey (any level) without penalty (no 365-day rule and no loss of eligibility) provided they end such activities by the second week of January, in the current active playing season, and their age on Dec 31st (2 weeks prior) is 21 or younger. The idea here is 'life's short, give it a try and if doesn't workout, you're welcome to go to school - no worries, but you have to decide by the time you're 21).
Example 1
A typical example is a 20 year-0ld ends his CHL career in April. In the Fall, he tries out for AHL and is not picked and signed to an ECHL deal or 2-way ECHL/AHL deal but spends most of his time in the ECHL. He turns 21 in October and at Christmas he leaves the ECHL and enrolls in a USPORTS program and begins his USPORTS career in the second half of the season. He is successfully enrolled by the second week of January and he's 21 as of Dec. 31s two weeks prior. This happens a lot.
Example 1 extended
In this example, he could go to Australia and play in the AIHL, then return to NA and play ECHL/AHL and then leave it all at Christmas without penalty.
If his birthday was in March - same outcome as he's 21 of Dec. 31st of the academic season and USPORTS doesn't care when he turned 21, just that he's 21 on Dec. 31st. If you're 22, that's a problem.
Example 2
Now - if he's 19 in April and not looking to play his over-age year, he could go to the AIHL, Europe, anywhere, return to NA and tryout for AHL/ECHL and leave it behind at Christmas and start at USPORTS in the second half as he'd be 19 or 20 on Dec. 31st - all good.
But - he could not do it again in the next summer, despite being 20 and ending the year as a 21 year-old as once you start playing USPORTS, you can not play professional hockey in the summer (this is considered playing 'pro' in the same competitive season as you played USPORTS). Once you do this, you are out for the remainder of that season and the next. So, when a USPORTS player leaves school to play in the ECHL or AHL - there is (basically) no returning to USPORTS.
Example 3
You're 19, go to AIHL in the summer then return to NA and play ECHL most of the year and 2-3 AHL games. Return to the AIHL the next summer then back to NA for 3 months of ECHL up to Christmas. You can leave it behind and enroll and play USPORTS in January without penalty as you're 21 as of Dec 31st and all of that 'pro' hockey is forgiven.
USPORTS 21
Before people ask about 21 or older - USPORTS will allow hockey players to play professional hockey (any level) without penalty (no 365-day rule and no loss of eligibility) provided they end such activities by the second week of January, in the current active playing season, and their age on Dec 31st (2 weeks prior) is 21 or younger. The idea here is 'life's short, give it a try and if doesn't workout, you're welcome to go to school - no worries, but you have to decide by the time you're 21).
Example 1
A typical example is a 20 year-0ld ends his CHL career in April. In the Fall, he tries out for AHL and is not picked and signed to an ECHL deal or 2-way ECHL/AHL deal but spends most of his time in the ECHL. He turns 21 in October and at Christmas he leaves the ECHL and enrolls in a USPORTS program and begins his USPORTS career in the second half of the season. He is successfully enrolled by the second week of January and he's 21 as of Dec. 31s two weeks prior. This happens a lot.
Example 1 extended
In this example, he could go to Australia and play in the AIHL, then return to NA and play ECHL/AHL and then leave it all at Christmas without penalty.
If his birthday was in March - same outcome as he's 21 of Dec. 31st of the academic season and USPORTS doesn't care when he turned 21, just that he's 21 on Dec. 31st. If you're 22, that's a problem.
Example 2
Now - if he's 19 in April and not looking to play his over-age year, he could go to the AIHL, Europe, anywhere, return to NA and tryout for AHL/ECHL and leave it behind at Christmas and start at USPORTS in the second half as he'd be 19 or 20 on Dec. 31st - all good.
But - he could not do it again in the next summer, despite being 20 and ending the year as a 21 year-old as once you start playing USPORTS, you can not play professional hockey in the summer (this is considered playing 'pro' in the same competitive season as you played USPORTS). Once you do this, you are out for the remainder of that season and the next. So, when a USPORTS player leaves school to play in the ECHL or AHL - there is (basically) no returning to USPORTS.
Example 3
You're 19, go to AIHL in the summer then return to NA and play ECHL most of the year and 2-3 AHL games. Return to the AIHL the next summer then back to NA for 3 months of ECHL up to Christmas. You can leave it behind and enroll and play USPORTS in January without penalty as you're 21 as of Dec 31st and all of that 'pro' hockey is forgiven.
Sanctioned means an officialeague that seeks profit, provides insurance, etc etc
What's the 365 rule? New to this tangled mess of rules..
OK so after 48hrs can the league pay room and board? Does player cover everything? Under what circumstances can their eligibility be retained while playing?
Can NCAA guys wear half shields in off-season sanctioned league?
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For some reason I just noticed this only a few days ago. Thanks for this scenario breakdown..
What are the implications for a player 21 and over? Is it same or are the restrictions loosened?
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