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Message: [QUOTE="jncuse, post: 5330068, member: 1969"] There were some bad takes in that article, but some fair ones. Highlighted 3 below. Some really inaccurate comments on the lack of education of Canadian players in the CHL. In the past sure no doubt, but for well over a decade kids are incentivized to focus on their grades. due to the academic scholarship program the CHL were forced to implement as a response to the NCAA in the 2000's. And kids are clearly taking advantage of it. And before I start there are things that I don't like about the CHL. I don't like that kids get drafted far away from home, and have to go play at time 10-15 hours away from home at 16 or 17 years old. I wouldn't want to sign my kid up for that. But thankfully they did set up a scholarship program in the 2000's as a response to the NCAA threat which has been heavily used. [U][I][U][I] In 2023-2024 alone, the OHL had 228 former players earning scholarships in the CIS (Canadian University Hockey).[/I][/U] [URL unfurl="true"]https://chl.ca/ohl/article/ohl-scholarship-program-investment-tops-3-2-million-in-2023-24/[/URL][/I][/U] [B]bad take #1 - Where I see the biggest challenge for CHL players joining college hockey is what those players do to maintain their eligibility while playing major junior. Will they keep attending high school and maintain the minimum grade-point average to qualify for the college of their choice? That’s been one of the biggest points coaches have addressed with me thus far."[/B] Obviously this guy has no clue what is going on academically. Simply look at the above -- 228 former OHL players were getting scholarships of some sort attending Canadian universities in the last academic year. Obviously they had to get some education while they were playing in the OHL. Does this guy think Canadian universities are kindergarten, and that they don't look at grades? If those kids have high enough grades to get into the CIS, they can get into some NCAA schools (obviously there will be barriers for some to the better academic institutions in the NCAA, similar to Canada) To be fair some of those Canadian kids probably took the extra year or two they had to play in the CHL to build up their grades. [B]bad take #2 In fact, one of my issues all along with Canadian major junior teams is how exploitive they can be, promising young players incentives – including tuition reimbursement – that may be unattainable given the terms of their contracts.[/B] Again this is BS. The rule is very simple. You sign your card for that year, you get 1 year of academic scholarship. There is no negotiation in this, its not cloudy, it can't get pulled. If you are a parent and are concerned about your kid getting an education, you told the team to give you a contract for the year before you stepped into a training camp losing your NCAA eligibility. [B]Fair Comment #1 - The other point to consider is how leagues like the OHL, WHL and QMJHL will react. What will they tell players? I am sure as players age out of that league, there will be some coaches who encourage players who aren’t ready for the pro game to head to an American college team? But what happens when a college team poaches an elite 17- or 18-year-old from those leagues?[/B] He is correct. There will be poaching. This is where the CHL's / OHL academic system will work against them. Or simply the fact that kids won't hide in Tier 2 junior hockey Canada at 16 or 17 to stay NCAA eligible. They will go to the OHL for a year or two and leave. 1. Kids are incentivized to keep up with their education. 2. In the OHL you need to play 4 years to get a full 4 year scholarship (its 1 for 1) Now if a kid at 18 decides they want to go to university (and are OK with Canada or the US), do they jump ship to the NCAA or do they stay in the OHL for 2 more years, then start their education 2 years later. [B]My Comment - The above being said, if the NIL offered to a player is basically nothing, a 4 year OHL player, who now gets a 4 year Canadian scholarship. may simply choose to stay home in the CIS over the NCAA. There will be some that don't have the skill for the NCAA, but many will have the skill. But some will have the choice.[/B] [/QUOTE]

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