You guys have two great threads going,  and if you follow them out,
they are going to intersect--because the two issues are related in terms
of dilution of the game.
 
A few quick observations from someone who travels the USHL and NAHL:
 
1. A player does NOT have to stay in junior hockey until he's 20 to be
prepared to make an impact in college (witness: Gionta/Leopold--and many
more).  Depending on the program he is with and the player's dedication
to improve,  he can go right out of high school and be an impact
player.  And there are players who are late bloomers--but every
20-year-old frosh is not that.
 
2. There are some excellent junior programs,  and some poor ones (same
as college).  Keep in mind,  the goal at the junior level--and the
college level (on the ice) is supposed to be player DEVELOPMENT--not
simply winning.  One of the problems in US junior right now is that many
good young players join a team and sit on the bench for a year--because
owners want the team to win NOW(thus deterring development at a CRITICAL
time).  And at both levels,  the teams that suffer with younger,
more-talented players,  tend to have the most success over the long
haul.
 
3.  If you go to 16 teams in the NCAA tourney--why not go to 24, 48,
etc.? Let the influx of new leagues and programs catch up in talent and
competitiveness before making that move.  BUT,  maybe plan a 16-team
tourney for 3-4 years down the line (one recruiting cycle) and let
everyone know it's coming.  Just a thought from someone who participated
in seven NCAA tournaments.
 
4.  Many at both the junior and college levels need to look,  again,  at
the commitment to developing players.  In college,  there is also the
academic mission,  and this separates it from "Major" junior,  but major
A is still better at developing players because it will take a top
16-year-old and play that kid every night.
 
I could go on,  but it would get more boring than the NHL All-Star Game.
 
S. Monaghan
 
HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey;  send information to
[log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.