The question was asked:
 
>Does anyone know how the NCAA is treating those HS players born after
>9/15/76 and before 12/31/76.  They are 18 by NHL standards (using the
>9/15 cutoff date) and were not eligible last year.  However the Major
>Junior players in the same group are considered 19.
 
The NHL treats all players born between 9/15/76 and 9/14/77 as 18 year olds.
 The new collective bargaining agreement has not changed the "calendar" used
by the NHL for draft purposes.  Under the new collective bargaining
agreement, all players born between 9/15/76 and 9/14/77 are not eligible to
be drafted until 1996 unless they opt into the 1995 draft. However, under
NC$$ rules college players may not asked to be drafted without jeopardizing
their NC$$ eligibility.
 
Hope this answers your question.
 
Jack Berenzweig