>On Tue, 28 Mar 1995, Craig Woods - SHTM/W94 wrote:
 
>>         I would like to know all of the opinions of the knowledgeable
>>hockey-L subscribers out there.  I have a question that has been posed
>>many times.  Do you feel that entering collegiate hockey as opposed to
>>junior hockey (CHL) is beneficial to a players development and
>>maturity?  Do you believe that the collegiate league better prepares a
>>player for professional hockey?
>
>There are many more games and the focus is almost exclusively
>on hockey at the expense of education.  Having said that, most kids who
>participate in juniors or college hockey never draw a paycheque from the
>pros.  Juniors are therefore a trap for naive 16 year olds (and sometimes
>parents with stars or dollar signs in their eyes.)  Kids sign with
>juniors and leave with nothing if they don't have the talent to go pro.
>At least at the responsible and ethical schools kids will leave with a
>degree even if they disappoint themselves by not making it in the pros.
>This is an important factor, as I'm sure most on this list will agree.
 
>>Arthur Berman [log in to unmask]
>>GO BU!!!
 
?MAYBE? that is true for Canadian Junior Hockey, but not for the USHL.
Most of our kids play junior hockey as a stepping stone to college hockey.
While the game schedule is heavier, these kids still have jobs, go to school
(High school or the local college) and plan on college.
This year we have (at least) ten kids going on to college.  Many of the others
will return to play one more year.  Junior Hockey gives them time mature and is
very high profile so that they are more likely to get a scholarship at a good
college.
 
Let s not sell these kids short.
Nan
Junior A Hockey Fan
Des Moines Buccaneers:  Good luck in the playoffs!