Wow....I had to ask, didn't I? LOL....well, thanks for calling me "Babe"....that part was nice.
"I look for the Ks to do very well in this poor excuse of a league"...I would not have phrased it that way myself...but I agree that I look for the Komets to do well myself, too. Yay, we agree on something positive!! LOL....have a great day, indy ks fan!
MR SNUFFLUPUGUS
Sun, 07/25/2010 - 8:58am
I think when talking about comparing Junior Hockey you need to include the other Major Junior leagues in Canada (The Western league and the Quebec League) From there you can compare the USHL and NAHL to them.
I have seen both leagues and I am one who happens to love Junior hockey. You have a better chance of seeing an NHL future star in an OHL game than you do an IHL/CHL or ECHL game.
Sure there are more mistakes because they have less experience but taking in a Windsor Vs Plymouth game this past year I got to see Taylor Hall, Tyler Seguin, Cam Fowler and a few others who will most likely make the NHL in the next 2-5 years.
Next year Windsor will have anPort Huron kid Jack Campbell, a top draft pick of Dallas in goal. He chose Windsor over the USHL.
In the past draft there were quite a few prospects coming out of the United States Junior leagues and I do believe that number will continue to grow as more USA kids continue to play hockey. But the biggest difference between USA and Canada when it comes to Junior Hockey is you have the NCAA involved here. Many of your talented American players are lured by a college scholarship. So convincing them to go into the USHL or NAHL until they are 20 with no guarantee of being drafted is something made more difficult by Notre Dame or Maine or North Dakota offering a full ride. Like minor league hockey though, I think you will see United States Junior hockey evolve quite a bit in the next five years.
MR SNUFFLUPUGUS
Sun, 07/25/2010 - 8:59am
Mightbite....I hope Henley went the way of the Lava Lamp and Pet Rock.
Steve
Sun, 07/25/2010 - 9:41am
Understood JR, I realize it's marketing. Knowledgeable fans will know the difference and potential fans probably won't.
The major thrust of the USHL is to get kids into college, always has been even before its current incarnation. Major thrust for the CHL (Canadian Hockey League which is made up of the WHL, OHL, and QMJHL) is getting players into the NHL.
Another difference is the kids in the USHL aren't paid because of NCAA eligibility requirements (subject for another topic) while the kids in the major juniors are I believe.
I also agree that in the future we will see the talent level increase in both the USHL and colleges.
mightbite
Sun, 07/25/2010 - 10:01am
the guy played overseas last year,Henley went out with a knee injury in AHL. This guy played in AHL 2 years ago. Henley 6'7" this guy 6'4".
MR SNUFFLUPUGUS
Sun, 07/25/2010 - 11:39am
CHL players get an education package to cover college/trade school which they lose once they get drafted. Beyond that they get a small amount (last I heard around $100 a week) mainly for pocket money.
Steve
Sun, 07/25/2010 - 4:04pm
Thanks Snuff, I knew it was a small amount, like you said, just pocket money.
Blueline Baby
Sun, 07/25/2010 - 8:38pm
Steve....you will see the talent level go up in college in the future....give it about 10 years, and you'll see a really good defenseman going into college....first name Jason...my kid...LOL. Actually, in all seriousness, there's a really good class of them right now my kid's age playing out there in squirt division. About 10 of them, if they keep it up....yeah. They will be VERY good. I have my eye on about 3 to make it past college for sure.
If so, mightbite, I have video and pictures of them....none of them signed...LOL...
JR
Sun, 07/25/2010 - 8:58pm
Agree with you guys on the juniors talk....
The USHL has improved in leaps and bounds since USA hockey pulled thier head out and really started backing the league. And with the Canadien juniors leagues clamping down on foreign born players, that many more of the good young hockey talent will stay home to play in the USHL and then college...
The USA born players hit another all time high at the draft again this year. When you see a high school kid from California going in the first round, you know USA hockey is going in the right direction...
CJK
Sun, 07/25/2010 - 11:03pm
sydney crosby, patrick kane, wayne gretzky, they all played in the OHL, i guess saginaw fans are the big winner, they get to watch that kind of talent.
Not an ihl fan
Mon, 07/26/2010 - 8:33am
Thats why the frankes joined the chl. They new the talent level was lower than the ihls so they could continue filling their masive egos and continue masquerading as good hockey team owners. IMO.
Wendy
Mon, 07/26/2010 - 11:45am
Not to add fuel to the fire, but I was watching a DVD of a Komets game from early April last night. I couldn't help but take note when Randy started talking about a conversation that he had had with a referee who had worked all the different AA leagues. According to him, the referee had said that he felt the overall talent level in the IHL and ECHL were similar, with the biggest difference being that the ECHL had younger players. The referee was then quoted as saying that he felt the talent level in the CHL was lower. Randy was putting a lot of stock in this man's opinion, which I found especially interesting since it wasn't known at that time that the Komets would be joining the CHL.
Dschebig
Mon, 07/26/2010 - 1:13pm
Wendy-It sure looks like a lot of IHL player are signing with CHl teams. Todd "Cry me a river" Robinson sign with a Texas team. Mac signed with Colorado are just two that are on the tip of my tongue.
Most of the referee's I talked told me that the level of play was about the same except for a little more speed. I attribute that to more youth and fewer vets. Lots of players have gone back and forth. That was do to the vet rule. Hansen in Port Huron came over from Tulsa, so did Robin Bouchard.
I don't have time to check all the players on all the rosters but off the top I would say 20/25% have played in either league at one time or another. I will say up front I could be off some.
Wendy
Mon, 07/26/2010 - 1:45pm
Just reporting what was said, Dennis. I could look at it again to get the name of the ref in case it was anyone of significance. I just thought it was interesting since no one had any reason to disguise their true impression of the CHL at that point. Now that's all out the window.
Blueline Baby
Mon, 07/26/2010 - 7:13pm
I suppose we will all get to decide for ourselves. It sure is interesting that some people have made up their minds in an apparently negative fashion before they have even seen the league and team, however. More power to you, and I hope you enjoy yourselves all the same this season.
Hit Somebody!!!
Mon, 07/26/2010 - 7:52pm
I bet no one in that booth would ever admit any of that or would they agree with it now.
Wendy
Tue, 07/27/2010 - 1:43am
Booth? What booth? They wish they had a booth. I wouldn't have had to dodge broaster chickens if they had a booth.
Oh, I don't know. Randy is curmudgeon enough that he'd probably groan and say he wasn't going to comment on it. Tim already said on here that he would have preferred the ECHL. But I'm sure they would both say they are willing to wait and see. What choice do they have, right?
Wendy
Tue, 07/27/2010 - 3:13pm
Okay, ref in question was T.J. Luxmore. As recall, people thought he was one of, if not the best ref was saw last season. Randy specifically used the words "much better" when passing along what Luxmore thought of the talent level in the IHL vs. the CHL.
Wendy
Tue, 07/27/2010 - 3:14pm
"As I recall..." "if not the best ref we saw..."
Dang typos.
Dschebig
Tue, 07/27/2010 - 4:21pm
Wendy--I think he was one of if not the best we saw all year. I did not ask him about which leagues where better. He seems like a straight shooter to me. I really liked they way he controlled the game.
Comments
Wow....I had to ask, didn't I? LOL....well, thanks for calling me "Babe"....that part was nice.
"I look for the Ks to do very well in this poor excuse of a league"...I would not have phrased it that way myself...but I agree that I look for the Komets to do well myself, too. Yay, we agree on something positive!! LOL....have a great day, indy ks fan!
I think when talking about comparing Junior Hockey you need to include the other Major Junior leagues in Canada (The Western league and the Quebec League) From there you can compare the USHL and NAHL to them.
I have seen both leagues and I am one who happens to love Junior hockey. You have a better chance of seeing an NHL future star in an OHL game than you do an IHL/CHL or ECHL game.
Sure there are more mistakes because they have less experience but taking in a Windsor Vs Plymouth game this past year I got to see Taylor Hall, Tyler Seguin, Cam Fowler and a few others who will most likely make the NHL in the next 2-5 years.
Next year Windsor will have anPort Huron kid Jack Campbell, a top draft pick of Dallas in goal. He chose Windsor over the USHL.
In the past draft there were quite a few prospects coming out of the United States Junior leagues and I do believe that number will continue to grow as more USA kids continue to play hockey. But the biggest difference between USA and Canada when it comes to Junior Hockey is you have the NCAA involved here. Many of your talented American players are lured by a college scholarship. So convincing them to go into the USHL or NAHL until they are 20 with no guarantee of being drafted is something made more difficult by Notre Dame or Maine or North Dakota offering a full ride. Like minor league hockey though, I think you will see United States Junior hockey evolve quite a bit in the next five years.
Mightbite....I hope Henley went the way of the Lava Lamp and Pet Rock.
Understood JR, I realize it's marketing. Knowledgeable fans will know the difference and potential fans probably won't.
The major thrust of the USHL is to get kids into college, always has been even before its current incarnation. Major thrust for the CHL (Canadian Hockey League which is made up of the WHL, OHL, and QMJHL) is getting players into the NHL.
Another difference is the kids in the USHL aren't paid because of NCAA eligibility requirements (subject for another topic) while the kids in the major juniors are I believe.
I also agree that in the future we will see the talent level increase in both the USHL and colleges.
the guy played overseas last year,Henley went out with a knee injury in AHL. This guy played in AHL 2 years ago. Henley 6'7" this guy 6'4".
CHL players get an education package to cover college/trade school which they lose once they get drafted. Beyond that they get a small amount (last I heard around $100 a week) mainly for pocket money.
Thanks Snuff, I knew it was a small amount, like you said, just pocket money.
Steve....you will see the talent level go up in college in the future....give it about 10 years, and you'll see a really good defenseman going into college....first name Jason...my kid...LOL. Actually, in all seriousness, there's a really good class of them right now my kid's age playing out there in squirt division. About 10 of them, if they keep it up....yeah. They will be VERY good. I have my eye on about 3 to make it past college for sure.
If so, mightbite, I have video and pictures of them....none of them signed...LOL...
Agree with you guys on the juniors talk....
The USHL has improved in leaps and bounds since USA hockey pulled thier head out and really started backing the league. And with the Canadien juniors leagues clamping down on foreign born players, that many more of the good young hockey talent will stay home to play in the USHL and then college...
The USA born players hit another all time high at the draft again this year. When you see a high school kid from California going in the first round, you know USA hockey is going in the right direction...
sydney crosby, patrick kane, wayne gretzky, they all played in the OHL, i guess saginaw fans are the big winner, they get to watch that kind of talent.
Thats why the frankes joined the chl. They new the talent level was lower than the ihls so they could continue filling their masive egos and continue masquerading as good hockey team owners. IMO.
Not to add fuel to the fire, but I was watching a DVD of a Komets game from early April last night. I couldn't help but take note when Randy started talking about a conversation that he had had with a referee who had worked all the different AA leagues. According to him, the referee had said that he felt the overall talent level in the IHL and ECHL were similar, with the biggest difference being that the ECHL had younger players. The referee was then quoted as saying that he felt the talent level in the CHL was lower. Randy was putting a lot of stock in this man's opinion, which I found especially interesting since it wasn't known at that time that the Komets would be joining the CHL.
Wendy-It sure looks like a lot of IHL player are signing with CHl teams. Todd "Cry me a river" Robinson sign with a Texas team. Mac signed with Colorado are just two that are on the tip of my tongue.
Most of the referee's I talked told me that the level of play was about the same except for a little more speed. I attribute that to more youth and fewer vets. Lots of players have gone back and forth. That was do to the vet rule. Hansen in Port Huron came over from Tulsa, so did Robin Bouchard.
I don't have time to check all the players on all the rosters but off the top I would say 20/25% have played in either league at one time or another. I will say up front I could be off some.
Just reporting what was said, Dennis. I could look at it again to get the name of the ref in case it was anyone of significance. I just thought it was interesting since no one had any reason to disguise their true impression of the CHL at that point. Now that's all out the window.
I suppose we will all get to decide for ourselves. It sure is interesting that some people have made up their minds in an apparently negative fashion before they have even seen the league and team, however. More power to you, and I hope you enjoy yourselves all the same this season.
I bet no one in that booth would ever admit any of that or would they agree with it now.
Booth? What booth? They wish they had a booth. I wouldn't have had to dodge broaster chickens if they had a booth.
Oh, I don't know. Randy is curmudgeon enough that he'd probably groan and say he wasn't going to comment on it. Tim already said on here that he would have preferred the ECHL. But I'm sure they would both say they are willing to wait and see. What choice do they have, right?
Okay, ref in question was T.J. Luxmore. As recall, people thought he was one of, if not the best ref was saw last season. Randy specifically used the words "much better" when passing along what Luxmore thought of the talent level in the IHL vs. the CHL.
"As I recall..." "if not the best ref we saw..."
Dang typos.
Wendy--I think he was one of if not the best we saw all year. I did not ask him about which leagues where better. He seems like a straight shooter to me. I really liked they way he controlled the game.