First, Rick, what kind of Junior "A" are you talking about? In Canada there
are two levels of hockey commonly called Junior "A". There is the Canadian
Hockey League (the Ontario, Western and Quebec leagues), that is *Major
Junior*. It is sometimes called (esp. in Ontario) "Major Junior A". Then,
below that, there is Junior "A" hockey, commonly (though incorrectly)
called Tier II Junior "A". There are many differences between the two levels.
Basicaly, Major Junior is independent, sets its own rules, etc. Junior A
(Tier II) falls under CHA guidelines.
>> >How does the Junior A level work?
>>
>> >Can someone still be in high schooland play in Junior A?
>> Answer: Yes, if you have the ability, you can play Jr A while in Jr. High.
>
>-* Correction: Only if you're a really old Jr. High student. Junior "A"
>-* (i.e. USA Hockey's Junior "A", not the CHL's Major Junior A) is for
>-* amateur players between the ages of 16 and 20.
>
>Correction of the Correction:
>USA Hockey only mandates a maximum age limit for all age brackets it oversees.
>If there is a 12-13 year old player with the size, skills and desire to play at
>this level, there is nothing in the USA Hockey, CHL, or CAHA rules which
>prohibit this.
Wrong, as far as the CHL, and I believe the CAHA are concerned. You must be
*16* to play Junior A or Major Junior. The rules for Major Junior have changed
in the last few years, 14-year-olds were able to play before, but not now.
>> >How does Junior A enable a player to keep his NCAA eligibility?
>> Answer: Defer this answer to the college elig professionals
>
>-* Because they are not paid to play. The players in Junior "A" are playing
>-* to earn scholarships and get noticed/drafted by the NHL.
>
>This is also not correct, some players on Canadian Jr. "A" teams are paid. I
>know this from expirence, I played there. How does a player under contract to
>an NHL club then get sent back to his Jr. "A" team? Do they quit paying him
>during this time? I doubt to many agents would let this slip by in negotiations.
This also would depend on what level you are talking about. Major Junior
players are paid, that's why they lose their NC$$ eligibility. Junior "A"
players are not paid, so they keep their eligibility.
>> >I assume they are not paid.
>> Answer: Some do get paid, some are provided with jobs, all get a weekly/daily
>> stipend for food etc.
>
>-* Correction: None are paid for playing. Players that have not graduated
>-* from high school are required to attend. Players that have graduated
>-* high school are required to attend college at least part-time. If they
>-* only go part-time, they're required to hold a part-time job. You're not
>-* allowed to just play hockey once or twice a week and then sit on your
>-* butt the rest of the time.
>
>Again, this is not the case in Canada where the majaority of Jr. "A" teams are
>loacted. Some individual teams may require this, but it is not mandated by the
>league unless it has been changed in the last few years. The players don't sit
>on their butts "the rest of the time.", they work out and prepare for their next
>"once or twice a week" hockey. On most Jr "A" teams in Canada, players practice
>or have team workouts everyday, so this once or twice a week is really 6-7 days
>a week.
That depends on the team, and on whether it's Major Junior or Junior "A".
Major Junior teams are probably on the ice every day. I don't know. Some
Junior "A" teams are also on the ice every day, but not all. For them,
it depends on ice availability. The team I work for practices on Mondays
for 2 hours, Thursdays for 1 hour and plays its home games on Wednesday
nights. Road games obviously vary. If there is a road game on a Monday or
a Thursday, that practice time is lost. I think most of the teams in the
Ottawa area are like that.
>> >Are the players mainly high school graduates?
>> Answer: No, many of them never graduate from college. At least in the past.
>> This seems to be changing though.
>
>-* Correction: Players are mainly high school students (see above).
>
>Players are manily high school age, and as I said, it does appear that the trend
>has shifted to players staying in school. This was not the case up to a few year
>ago.
Yes, the Major Junior leagues have become more concerned with making sure a
player continues his education. Nowadays you see quite a few ex-CHLers in the
Canadian University leagues.
Junior A players are also mostly in school. If they are looking for scholar-
ships, they will stay in school. Of course, Ontario has 13 grades, so students
don't graduate until 18 or 19. I'm not sure how the situation changes
everywhere else, where there are only 12 grades.
See you later,
John
--
John C.K. Edwards Stats Geek, Ottawa Jr Senators (4-2-1 9pts) (CJHL)
Law IV, CUSA Arts/SS Rep Owner: Ottawa Polar Bears (WIFFL) (4-2)
[log in to unmask] I don't give a damn about being liked,
but I sure as hell intend to be respected.
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