----- Original Message -----
From: <[log in to unmask]>
To: <>
Sent: Thursday, February 28, 2002 8:42 AM
Subject: Re: Major Junior questions



> > Just what we need; a system more cynical than the NCAA that could prey
upon
> > the dreams of 17 and 18 year olds and interrupt their education. Major
> > juniror is professional in every sense of the word and is an
apprenticeship
> > for NHL hockey. The sudden interest in scholarship is due to the fact
that
> > US College hockey is the best deal for a Canadian really interested in
good
> > hockey and a first class education.

It is not a "sudden interest in scholarship", as you say. The CHL has long
provided the athletes that participate in that league with education options
after their time playing in the league is expired. Just take a look at the
rosters of the CIAU teams and count the number of former CHL players.

As far as major junior being an apprenticeship for the NHL, that can be
debated forever. While the % of players in the NHL that have played major
junior is quite high, the % of players that compete in major juniors that
actually move on to the NHL is quite low. The CHL provides an education to
the guys that don't make it (the guys who WANT an education).

I guess I don't see the CHL 'preying upon' that many US-born 17 & 18 year
olds. The CHL is by a far majority Canadian kids. Face it, the stigma is
still there that says that if you want to make it to the NHL, you have to
play in the CHL. I feel that the best US born kids are still going to US
colleges. Of course there are exceptions. But as more guys that are recent
US college hockey players have NHL success (Heatley, Mike York, Chris Drury,
Mark Parrish, etc.), stepping from US college hockey to the NHL will not be
nearly as rare as in the past. Maybe that unwritten 'major junior experience
required rule of NHL gm's will disappear....