John Haeussler writes:
> >From the June 13th issue of MICHIGAN HOCKEY MAGAZINE...
> [I read MHM VERY infrequently -- it's not that interesting -- so I
> can't speak to the accuracy of the info.]
>
>   Since the NHL Draft began in 1969, these 10 U.S. colleges
>   lead the way in producing drafted players.
>
>    1. Minnesota          46
>    2. Univ. of Michigan  42
>       Michigan Tech      42
>    4. Wisconsin          36
>    5. Boston University  35
>       Univ. of Denver    35
>    7. Michigan State     32
>    8. North Dakota       31
>    9. Providence         27
>       Clarkson           27
>
>   ...end quoted material...
>
> Looking at these numbers and reading the accompanying
> article [which focussed on prospects Jason Botterill and Tony
> Tuzzolino] gives me the impression that only players already
> in school were counted.  For example, the article points out
> that no CCHA player was taken in the first round in 1992.
> However, Michigan's Ryan Sittler was chosen 7th overall in
> 1992.  At the time, Sittler was an incoming freshman.  So,
> players drafted prior to entering college appear to be
> missing from the above table.
>
When I first read this comment of John's I thought that he must be wrong, since
Minnesota almost never has any players who haven't yet reached draft age. (A
regional thing: most kids in Minnesota don't start kindergarten unless they turn
5 by Sept 1.  They'll be 18 by the Sept 1 of the year they start college, and I
believe players who turn 18 by Sept 30 are draftable, so it's not at all unheard
of for Minnesota kids to be drafted after their junior year of HS, like new
recruit Mike Crowley was.)
 
But, of course, these numbers go back to 1969.  I believe the NHL only began
drafting 18-year-olds sometime around 1979 (+/- a year or two.)  So teams that
were strong in the 1970s (what age were they drafting at then? 20 or 21?) will
be drastically over-represented in this list.
 
Pam Sweeney                            Go Gophers!!!
[log in to unmask]      1993 & 1994 WCHA Playoff Champions!!!
                                  1994 NC$$ PHinal PHour!!!
                                        Ski-U-Mah!!!