the debate over whether a hockey player should play major junior or pursue the college route is of great interest and a fun topic for me. in the past few years, i think it is obvious that most young players are leaning towards playing in the CHL. And this is hurting the college game since there are fewer high quality players to choose from, and the same top college teams attract the best talent. you have to consider all of the expansion in professional hockey (from the NHL, IHL ...) and the immediate need for pro teams to fill their rosters. the junior route is the quickest way to reach the nhl, and even if a highly touted player does attend college, it is doubtful he will stay for the entire four years because of the pressures from nhl management to sign. a few months ago, The Hockey News ran a column on the demise of the college game, and i have to agree with it. (In the past few years, only the 1992-93 (Maine) and 1990-91 (NMU) seasons have really fired me up.) Lately, we have had four or five top college teams, and then the rest. the THN article said that colleges were getting outworked and the CHL was becoming more attractive. on the first point, i believe there were a few 94-95 recruits who left programs before school started and played in the CHL (ie. colin forbes, NODAK, WHL, and an ECAC recruit or two (from SLU???) left as well there are several massachusetts and michigan players whose first consideration is playing in the CHL, not the NC$$. for US born hockey players, the CHL is becoming very fashionable. College hockey is just losing too many top US born players, consider... The 1994-95 United States World Jr team had nearly one half of its players from the CHL. In the past, this team has been college dominated. Bryan Berard (Massachusetts native) is a stud rookie defenseman for the Detroit Jr. Wings of the OHL, and is being touted as the #1 pick for this years NHL entry draft. I know BU or BC would have loved it if he had stayed home, but i dont think there was much of a chance. Another high rated prospect, Jason Bonsignore (NY native) was drafted #4 overall by Edmonton last year and i dont think he had any thoughts about playing college. Two years ago, the Minnesota schools lost a tremendous player when Jamie Langenbrunner signed with Peterborough. (He was clearly salivating over receiveing NHL bucks and his signing bonus right away.) It is pretty much unheard of for a Minnesota kid to leave home and not play college. (other recent highly rated players to leave for the CHL include Deron Quint, Sean Haggerty, Richard Park, Jim Campbell, and Brian Boucher.) Since the OHL began in Detroit, they have signed several top local players including Pat Peake and Bill McCauley. If they OHL or QMJHL were to expand into more Eastern US states like Mass, or NY, college hockey will be severely hurt. At Bowling Green, Sean Pronger played from 1990-94 and had a few good years. His younger brother, millionaire Chris Pronger of the Hartford Whalers basically laughed at the thought of playing college hockey and never really considered it. Didn't BGSU only recruit Sean to have an inside shot at potentially signing Chris? In the past few nhl entry drafts, you just dont see too many first round Canadian kids who plan on attending college. The BCJHL would usually produce a few top players, but perhaps they are now deciding on juniors. But as Bob Dylan said, "The times they are a changin'". It may be a while before college hockey sees another senasational recruit like Paul Kariya. i strongly follow both the ncaa and chl. If you have additional comments, i would appreciate private e-mail. jeff jodzis michigan 93, minnesota 95 For instance,