I agree with the statement that the USHL should try and be more of a
developmental league for college hockey. I also need to say that Canada,
and you alll know that's where I'm from, just simply has a much larger
number of players playing hockey than in the US. Is this changing,
absolutely.
 
Major Junior hockey players in Canada, as everyone refers to them, are most
likely not interested in going to school. They are the well-developed and
highly-skilled hockey players who will play in the NHL at 19 or 20 years of
age. Why would this individual want to wait until they are 24 to try and
crack the NHL.
 
What everyone needs to know is that in Ontario, there are Major Junior
Hockey teams (OHL). After that there are around 15-20 Junior A teams
(equivalent of USHL, eligible to play college hockey). Next there are
probably 100 Junior B teams (Junior B in Canada vs Junior B in the US are
vastly different) Not to sound biased but they hockey is better in Canada.
Then there are about 100 Junior C hockey teams. Realistically, very few
players come to college from Junior C, but the teams are there.
 
My point is... the USHL has ?( 12 teams, I don;t know the exact number) x
20 players = around 240 players. Great for college hockey. But there are
simply more players to choose from in Canada.
 
FWIW, I played Junior B before I went to Ferris. My league had 9 teams all
within 1 (one) hour of each other. Just to give you an idea of how many
teams there are.
 
Craig Lisko
Ferris State 1990-1994
 
 
 
 (Embedded
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Please respond to [log in to unmask]
 
To:   HOCKEY-L @ MAINE.maine.edu
cc:    (bcc: Craig Lisko/HCS/CSC)
Subject:  USHL: The Future of College Hockey?
 
 
 
 
With the Major Junior Rule continuing it's chokehold on the College
Hockey talent pipeline and the NC$$'s continued lack of interest in
loosening it, I think that College Hockey should look to the USHL to
supply most of it's future talent base.  The USHL has the potential to
increase the talent level of United States Hockey to the point that US
Colleges won't have to depend on our neighbors to the north as much as
they do now.  I believe that it's important for fans of College Hockey to
support the USHL whenever they can.  If you're within driving distance, go
to
a game.  Promote it whenever and however you can.  Also, support local
youth hockey programs in your area (Remember, that's where it all
starts!).  Hockey still lags behind other sports in the United States,
and it's up to the fans to promote the game, not just Coaches and College
AD's.  I'm not anti-Canadian, (please don't think that) I just think that
hockey has a long way to go in the United States and that we as fans
should do our part to promote it.  Just a thought.....
Brian.
(GO SIOUX, LET'S REPEAT!)
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