DominicT
Registered User
I haven't heard anything. The last territorial change occurred in 2005 when St John's Newfoundland got a team in the QMJHL. Previously, Newfoundland players could play anywhere. There are whispers of a possible expansion into New England, but they are just whispers. And I am not sure that will have a territorial effect.
There are ways around the territorial thing however. First and foremost, as a hockey player, your parents have to have money and secondly, you have to be good enough at the game.
Territory isn't determined by place of birth, and not even where you played the previous season. It is determined by your parents permanent address. I can think of several NHL players where, during the season prior to their junior draft, the father would stay home and work while mother and son moved into a different territory making that their permanent address and getting drafted into the league of their choice.
I'll use Stefan Noesen as an example. He was born in Texas and played his Bantam hockey there. Until then he was in WHL territory. In 2007 he and his mother moved to Michigan where he played his Major Bantam, and then played for Compuware Under 16 prior to his OHL draft. Because they had taken permanent residence in Michigan, he was eligible for the OHL Draft.
There are unconfirmed stories about Taylor Hall as well (Calgary - WHL). They say his father (who played pro football in Canada) ad his agent (Bobby Orr) wanted him in the OHL rather then the WHL , so they moved to Kingston, Ontario and he played one or two (can't remember off hand) years there to be eligible for the OHL draft.
But you can't just ship your kid out across country to live with an aunt and uncle. One of the parents have to be living there.
Many Europeans have done the same thing to avoid the CHL Import Draft so that they could be sure to be in the league of their choice.
Apologies for the long winded response.
