Mike Machnik writes:
> Someone else wrote:
> >little silly. Take into consideration that just about ALL of these players
> >are coming out of junior hockey programs, and it makes you wonder just what
> >the motivation is for these players to go get an education.
Probably the same as anybody's motivation for getting an education.
Getting a job. I don't believe that hockey players are mercenary creatures
while everybody else is there "to better themselves."
> >What do they
> >do, wait until their college eligibility is at stake before going to
> >school?
First, the last year one can play Junior is when one is 20. (This year,
that means anyone born in 1975 or later is eligible) If I knew that I had
enough talent to play Div. I hockey, I'd wait until I got an offer. Our
team has 2 20-year-olds who want to go south next year (and have the
ability to). They are both in University now. I doubt that most players, in
between High School and the NCAA are sitting around on their butts.
When I was starting University, if someone had said to me that I could get
more scholarship money by waiting one year, I'd probably have waited.
> I think there is a risk here of sounding quite provincial. As regards
> Canadians, it is quite typical for them to go to school for one or two
> extra grades beyond what most US students do. Thus it is natural for
> them to be older when they enter college. We should not expect them
> to do things the same way we do them.
The extra grade is only true in Ontario, and to some degree in Quebec.
Ontario has a Grade 13, Quebec has a system of mandatory Community
Colleges (called CEGEPs) that one must attend before University.
The other provinces all only go to Grade 12.
> I would disagree with the idea that if a player goes to junior hockey
> and then college, he must not be committed to academics.
I agree, if Junior hockey <> academic commitment, then I guess no
Canadians have academic commitment. (Say, isn't it time for some doofus
sportswriter in St. Paul to say just that?)
See you later,
John
--
John Edwards Stats Geek, Ottawa Senators Jr. A Hockey Club (17-9-1)
Email: [log in to unmask] URL: http://chat.carleton.ca/~jedwards
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