The age of college hockey players

[chilaxin12 2]

I was cruising www.uscho.com and looking at rosters and such and it seems rediclious to me the number of 81 and 80 birth years there are, theres even some 79's and I think this is rediclious. Does anyone know if the NCAA has any age restrictions (I don't think they can because of the constitution or bill of rights or some legal document) but its getting rediclious, if I wanted to watch grown men play hockey I'd watch the NHL, I think the great thing about college hockey was the kids maturing into young adults, but when you have people who are old enough to be ligitmately aged fathers of young children it gets out of hand.

[warrior37 0]

theres tons of ncaa freshmen that are 22, which would make them 83s? so a 80 or 79 for a red shirt SR this season isnt too bad

[Gongshow11 1]

every freshman this yr and last year were 21 when entering, so its not bad ride out your yrs of jr, and then go somewhere

[technophile 0]

theres tons of ncaa freshmen that are 22, which would make them 83s? so a 80 or 79 for a red shirt SR this season isnt too bad

My wife was born in '79. She got her bachelor's in 2001. A 26/27-year-old senior is kind of pushing it.

Although, you know, with guys like Crosby showing up in the NHL (and definitely in the minors), there's been a fair amount of overlap for a while.

(I always wondered... if you had never gone to college, and you went back for a degree at 40, would you be eligible to play NCAA sports? I think that would be awesome--"starting at center tonight, 47-year-old freshman Jed Random Nobody".)

[chilaxin12 2]

every freshman this yr and last year were 21 when entering, so its not bad ride out your yrs of jr, and then go somewhere

That stats not completely true, a couple of my boys are 86's and they are freshmen, it is fair to say that the majority of freshmen are at least 20 though, which is getting rediclious.

[chippa13 1844]

every freshman this yr and last year were 21 when entering, so its not bad ride out your yrs of jr, and then go somewhere

That stats not completely true, a couple of my boys are 86's and they are freshmen, it is fair to say that the majority of freshmen are at least 20 though, which is getting rediclious.

What's so ridiculous about that? Most D1 players spend a year or two playing juniors or prep to give them a chance to develop and grow before heading off to college. This is nothing new.

[Project824 0]

Not sure what the problem is. If you're being courted to go NCAA DI (men's that is), you're no longer just looking at going to college, but you are looking at a career investment. What's the difference if you're 18 or 21 as a freshman, other than the fact that you'll be bigger, faster, smarter, more mature and more likely to play as a 21 year old. Games are a showcase for the pros, and even if you can make the team at 18, but you're sitting next to the scout in the stands, that does nothing for you, he doesn't care if you're 18 or 21, only if you can play the game or not.

If you are talented enough and can afford to spend a year or two playing juniors, what's the worst that could happen, you take some community college courses, grow up a bit and enter college at 20 with a more mature outlook on life. More than enough 18 year old college freshmen flunk out within 2 semesters anyway, mostly because they aren't mature enough to be there. Plenty of others do a stint in the military and then go to school on the GI Bill in their 20's, and they tend to do very well with that added life experience under their belt.

Hockeywise, we see tons and tons of kids show up at 18, with tons of "accolades" (HS leading scorer, HS All Star, Midget hero, Jr. B Assist leader, etc.) who are 1 and done - 1st tryout and they're done with hockey. They simply can't compete with guys who have played in true Junior leagues and whether they be 18 or 21, they've officially played their last competitive hockey. Some of these kids are talented but chose not to go for a year of junior and thought they could walk on instead. I respect their decisions to go on with life and go to college, nothing wrong with that, but only as long as they accept their fate in hockey.

It comes down to a case by case scenario. If you're not talented enough (and you'll know if you are because they'll be knocking on your door), then that's an easy decision. If you are talented enough but family or financial reasons keep you from doing so, that's tough, you'll have to weigh it out. But if you have the talent and the means, why wouldn't you give it a shot? With people living well into their 80's, what's the difference between graduating and getting a job at 22 and 26? I guarantee 2 years of juniors and 4 years of being on a college hockey team, regardless of whether you make the pros or not, will be well worth those years.

[Jim A 4]

I told my folks the same thing when I was 3-4 semesters from a degree and announced I wished to change schools, majors and careers...still can't believe they said yes?? (Although now my dad says he'd just send me to a SUNY school...I made them proud..haha)

its changed so much..I remember at most you did a year of PG..or if you were really smart..repeated a year when you made it to prep, then did a year of PG..and were an old man at 20 as a freshman...

[Langenbrunner15 0]

Project, what hockey oranization are you at?

[chilaxin12 2]

I'm just saying I don't get why hockey has 26 year old seniors, we rarely ever see this in any other sport, why is it only hockey that brings this.

[Gongshow11 1]

every freshman this yr and last year were 21 when entering, so its not bad ride out your yrs of jr, and then go somewhere

That stats not completely true, a couple of my boys are 86's and they are freshmen, it is fair to say that the majority of freshmen are at least 20 though, which is getting rediclious.

sorry i meant my team

[Jason Harris 31]

(I always wondered... if you had never gone to college, and you went back for a degree at 40, would you be eligible to play NCAA sports? I think that would be awesome--"starting at center tonight, 47-year-old freshman Jed Random Nobody".)

If you haven't used up your eligibility, you can play at any age. What I don't know is whether the clock starts ticking when you first enter college or when you first start playing a sport.

In other words, let's say you go for two years straight out of HS, then re-enroll in a different major at 28 for another 3 1/2 years. Assuming you didn't play the during the first go-round, I'm not sure if you'd be allowed to play all 3 1/2 years at 28 or only 1 1/2 (not including possible red-shirting).

[sc37 0]

I dont think it matters. Think South Carolina had a walk-on football player...Tim Frisby he was like 40. Served in the Army, got out, raised and family, fulfilled his dream of playing college football.

[willy0314 0]

I'm just saying I don't get why hockey has 26 year old seniors, we rarely ever see this in any other sport, why is it only hockey that brings this.

thats because hockey is the only sport with a middle ground between HS and college. For example, there is no where to go between playing HS football and college football, college football is just the next step. But with hockey, When you look at it case by case, i think the majority of the 26 year old Sr's aren't of NHL skill level. So instead of jumping right to a D1 program, or trying out and not making it at 18, they have tried to extend their competive hockey by playing in Jouniors before college. If i had the opportunity to play D1 hockey, but wasn't realistly going to make it to the NHL, I would do everything I could to extend my hockey playing days and be the best D1 player i could be....wouldn't you?

[Project824 0]

(I always wondered... if you had never gone to college, and you went back for a degree at 40, would you be eligible to play NCAA sports? I think that would be awesome--"starting at center tonight, 47-year-old freshman Jed Random Nobody".)

If you haven't used up your eligibility, you can play at any age. What I don't know is whether the clock starts ticking when you first enter college or when you first start playing a sport.

In other words, let's say you go for two years straight out of HS, then re-enroll in a different major at 28 for another 3 1/2 years. Assuming you didn't play the during the first go-round, I'm not sure if you'd be allowed to play all 3 1/2 years at 28 or only 1 1/2 (not including possible red-shirting).

If you never went to college at all, you have full eligibility.

If you went to college, your NCAA eligibility starts ticking the day you enroll at a 4 year institution - you have 5 years to play 4 years of eligibility, barring medical or hardship redshirts. If you were to leave school and reenroll, your clock was ticking the whole time, but you can apply for a hardship depending on your reason and could get a year back.

As far as said scenario, it would be very hard for anyone who leaves college and reenrolls at 28 to be able to make the team again, since it would be very hard to keep playing at a high level to maintain yourself for years 21-28 short of playing pro, which would render you ineligible. You could apply for a hardship if you make the team and your reasons for leaving college were acceptable (finances, family emergency, etc. - failing out is not acceptable). That said, it would be very hard to find a hockey coach at any NCAA level that wants a 28 year old walkon unless they will lead the team in scoring or come close.

[Patrick67 1]

The 40-year old football player was on the Letterman show (saw it, very funny)

You guy's make college sound like a breeding program for the NHL... which I think is all wrong.

Kinda like saying the football jocks at USC are more important than their real students.

You guy's are after a man because he's older than averge when he enrolls, I have no problem with anybody getting an education regardless of age.

College teams should be for people who study at the school. Not jocks who get a sports scholarship and have trouble reading their pro-contract on the other side.

Goto the WHL, CHL, QMHL if your more intrested in playing hockey than going to school.

Those guy's are getting an education. and you make it sound like a bad thing...

[hockeyherb 1]

(I always wondered... if you had never gone to college, and you went back for a degree at 40, would you be eligible to play NCAA sports? I think that would be awesome--"starting at center tonight, 47-year-old freshman Jed Random Nobody".)

If you haven't used up your eligibility, you can play at any age. What I don't know is whether the clock starts ticking when you first enter college or when you first start playing a sport.

In other words, let's say you go for two years straight out of HS, then re-enroll in a different major at 28 for another 3 1/2 years. Assuming you didn't play the during the first go-round, I'm not sure if you'd be allowed to play all 3 1/2 years at 28 or only 1 1/2 (not including possible red-shirting).

Wouldn't it be interesting to see some guy that skipped college right to the pros, say LeBron for example, get fed up with the pro league one day and decide to go back to college at 30 years old!!! That would be amazing to see what he could do in college.

Of course there are probably some restrictions since he's played as a pro so might not be eligible for NCAA anymore. (Not to mention it would never happen anyway)

[Kovy_Ribs_Fedo 3]

From what I know, the last year you can enter a college as a freshman year is 22. After 22 you can't. The older a Senior can be is 25

[Jason Harris 31]

That's not the case in the US.

There are endless stories of people enrolling in college later in life and earning degrees. In a lot of cases, they had been single parents working a couple of jobs to raise their children; when the kids left the nest, the parents were finally able to find the time to (hopefully) improve their lot in life.

[biff44 0]

The ages are all screwed up! I kind of gets you PO'd!

The top D1 colleges are giving 1990's scholarship commitments right now, with little regard to the fact that they can not possibly predict if the kid will be a player in 3 years for his freshman year. So you have to develop and be a known name back when you are still a bantam minor! If you are a late bloomer who has progressed 200% in the last few years, too bad, the $ are already given out.

Some DI colleges are then over-recruiting and staffing up with way too many 21 year olds for their roster, with the darwinian concept of letting them fight it out during the first part of the year for ice time.

And the NHL draft is coming along, so you had better be skating in a top league if you are an 89 or 88 this coming season, or you do not have a chance--forcing teenagers still in HS to billet half way across the country for a look see.

Politics are so heavy in the selection of regional festivals that 60 minutes should do a story on it.

Unless your name is Kessel, it is a very stressful time to be a good teenage hockey player.

[Project824 0]

The 40-year old football player was on the Letterman show (saw it, very funny)

You guy's make college sound like a breeding program for the NHL... which I think is all wrong.

Kinda like saying the football jocks at USC are more important than their real students.

You guy's are after a man because he's older than averge when he enrolls, I have no problem with anybody getting an education regardless of age.

College teams should be for people who study at the school. Not jocks who get a sports scholarship and have trouble reading their pro-contract on the other side.

Goto the WHL, CHL, QMHL if your more intrested in playing hockey than going to school.

Those guy's are getting an education. and you make it sound like a bad thing...

We're not after a man because he is older than average, only because he is capable of playing the game. The reality is most 18 year olds coming out of HS or midget hockey can't compete in the NCAA, with the exception of a few Minnesota HS's or the NTDP. The education is there, but let's face it, most of them are looking for a shot at the pros afterwards. And you make it sound like colleges are just scooping up kids to screw them out of their educations by playing hockey - not true, you get out of it what you put in. If a kid wants to play and study and get his degree, then he'll do that. If he wants to glide by two years, remain eligible, chase some broads and then leave for the pros, well that's his choice. The main requirement is that they are capable of playing hockey there. Right or wrong, this is a business - the NCAA, each individual program, etc. The only people that see it as otherwise are the ones who never had a shot at it, so they can't even fathom what's at stake.

As far as the football players at USC, you are out of your mind if you don't think they're more important than their real students. Real students don't make the school $7+ million in one bowl game.

Getting an education is not the bad thing, and it's definitely the right choice for 95% of kids who will never be good enough to play college hockey anyway. But for that small percent who have a chance, the window to making the pros is small and you have to give yourself the best shot. As you've said, you can go back to college anytime you want, anyone with tuition money can go to a school. You've only got a 10 year window where you might be able to play pro.

[chippa13 1844]

The ages are all screwed up! I kind of gets you PO'd!

The top D1 colleges are giving 1990's scholarship commitments right now, with little regard to the fact that they can not possibly predict if the kid will be a player in 3 years for his freshman year. So you have to develop and be a known name back when you are still a bantam minor! If you are a late bloomer who has progressed 200% in the last few years, too bad, the $ are already given out.

Some DI colleges are then over-recruiting and staffing up with way too many 21 year olds for their roster, with the darwinian concept of letting them fight it out during the first part of the year for ice time.

And the NHL draft is coming along, so you had better be skating in a top league if you are an 89 or 88 this coming season, or you do not have a chance--forcing teenagers still in HS to billet half way across the country for a look see.

Politics are so heavy in the selection of regional festivals that 60 minutes should do a story on it.

Unless your name is Kessel, it is a very stressful time to be a good teenage hockey player.

Schools cannot make any commitment to a high schooler before his senior year in high school. Also, they don't take on kids and tell them to fight it out for scholarships, the kids enter the school with the scholarship in hand or they have a shot as a walk on to possibly earn a scholarship for next year. It is extremely rare for a kid to get to school and lose his scholarship, with the exception of academic eligibility.

As for the draft, there are plenty of high schoolers who are selected every year. While amateur scouts may take in the occassional regional tourny, it is more to get a look at kids they've had their eyes on against better competition. They don't go there hoping to be surprised.

[biff44 0]

The ages are all screwed up!  I kind of gets you PO'd!

The top D1 colleges are giving 1990's scholarship commitments right now, with little regard to the fact that they can not possibly predict if the kid will be a player in 3 years for his freshman year.  So you have to develop and be a known name back when you are still a bantam minor!  If you are a late bloomer who has progressed 200% in the last few years, too bad, the $ are already given out.

Some DI colleges are then over-recruiting and staffing up with way too many 21 year olds for their roster, with the darwinian concept of letting them fight it out during the first part of the year for ice time.

And the NHL draft is coming along, so you had better be skating in a top league if you are an 89 or 88 this coming season, or you do not have a chance--forcing teenagers still in HS to billet half way across the country for a look see.

Politics are so heavy in the selection of regional festivals that 60 minutes should do a story on it.

Unless your name is Kessel, it is a very stressful time to be a good teenage hockey player.

Schools cannot make any commitment to a high schooler before his senior year in high school. Also, they don't take on kids and tell them to fight it out for scholarships, the kids enter the school with the scholarship in hand or they have a shot as a walk on to possibly earn a scholarship for next year. It is extremely rare for a kid to get to school and lose his scholarship, with the exception of academic eligibility.

As for the draft, there are plenty of high schoolers who are selected every year. While amateur scouts may take in the occassional regional tourny, it is more to get a look at kids they've had their eyes on against better competition. They don't go there hoping to be surprised.

Wrong and wrong.

1) check out this site:

http://members.aol.com/cheisenber/Recruit06.htm

There are probably 200 players who have commited to D1 colleges here that are not yet thru with their Junior year of highschool. Explain that one! We all know that they can not sign a national letter of intent yet (and can theoretically back out), but they are all commited! If you argue that, they you know nothing about D1 recruiting.

2) Look at UMASS AMHERST at the start of this season. They had almost 2 teams worth of players, and let them fight it out. It is easier for the state schools where the tuition is not that tough, but I hear other D1 colleges are now taking the "let a bunch of guysin and see if they can swim, before giving out next years scholarships". I will not name names, but you can see the coaches interviews.

[Gongshow11 1]

That's not the case in the US.

There are endless stories of people enrolling in college later in life and earning degrees. In a lot of cases, they had been single parents working a couple of jobs to raise their children; when the kids left the nest, the parents were finally able to find the time to (hopefully) improve their lot in life.

we're talking hockey tho

[Gongshow11 1]

From what I know, the last year you can enter a college as a freshman year is 22. After 22 you can't. The older a Senior can be is 25

thats a lie cuz if you come in at 22, you leave at 26