Major Junior hockey in Canada

[djosbun 0]

I'm intrigued by the three leagues. I wish that their games were carried in the US (specifically, DirecTV if you subscribe to the Center Ice package, but oh well......). Anybody on here played in either the Q, OHL or WHL, or is currently playing? Are those players that are 18 or over, are they paid by their respective teams? If so, is it a flat amount? What about players that are under 18? Are they compensated? I do believe they receive something, because I know that if you play Major Junior you are considered ineligible by the NCAA if you ever wanted to switch. Being close to Miami (OH) University, which has an excellent hockey program (and gorgeous new arena), I would love to catch a Major Junior game one day, but would have to make a weekend trip out of it.

[Simonp27 0]

The league max is $75 per week but it is rumoured that owners of larger clubs (London, Oshawa etc) make much larger payments to players/their parents to steer them away from NCAA hockey and into the OHL etc.

[JohnnyCanuck 0]

Simon above me is correct, I have had friends go and play this route, and friends go and play NCAA.

There is a week max and the players aren't paid per se, it is sort of like an allowance or per diem of sorts.

They also receive (to the best of my knowledge) 1 year of free Post secondary education per year of service to the O, Dub, or Q.

It is also very correct that bigger, more well financed teams in the leagues (Vancouver, Edmonton, Kamloops, London, Oshawa, and some clubs in the Q) do "extra stuff" for some of their players, in the same vein as NCAA boosters, and doing stuff that could potentially lead to sanctions to the schools if found out about.

Other perks are their too. Just last week John Tavares allowed Oshawa to trade him by clearing his "No Trade Clause" as a junior!

The league is aged 15-20, with only 2 Non North americans allowed on each teams roster.

Being in OH, you could easily make a weekend roadie to Michigan/Southern Ontario to see some games. (Plymouth & Saginaw Michigan, Sarina & London Ontario)

Wikipedia has a good article explaining the in's and out's http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junior_ice_hockey

[iamcanadian 0]

I heard London paid Pat Kane 200k or something like that if he signed with them. That's just something I heard.

[JJ Thompson94 0]

I kinda wish, Major Jrs. didn't exisist because, I would love to see NCAA hockey be a lot stronger, with all the canadian players coming to american colleges, NCAA hockey would the main vein to the NHL draft.

[warrior37 0]

hot rumor is that plymouth paid aj jenks like $100K not to go to the U of Mich.

[iamcanadian 0]

hot rumor is that plymouth paid aj jenks like $100K not to go to the U of Mich.

jenks isnt even that good of a player

[Balzinsker 0]

I kinda wish, Major Jrs. didn't exisist because, I would love to see NCAA hockey be a lot stronger, with all the canadian players coming to american colleges, NCAA hockey would the main vein to the NHL draft.

Um, no. That's not a good idea.

[caldakid 0]

Yes definatly but the numbers arn't usually released.

[Wolfpack_1986 154]

I kinda wish, Major Jrs. didn't exisist because, I would love to see NCAA hockey be a lot stronger, with all the canadian players coming to american colleges, NCAA hockey would the main vein to the NHL draft.

Um, no. That's not a good idea.

especially since kids are drafted before they enter college.

[mxihockey 0]

I play with a lot of kids from the Q on my summer team and know a kid who was offered 200k to play up there this year. A lot of stuff goes on behind the scenes.

[JohnnyCanuck 0]

The notion that if MJH didn't exist in Canada is nonsense, both leagues serve a purpose.

Generally speaking you see a lot of "late bloomers" enter NCAA Hockey via Scholarships handed out on the merits of US High school hockey and Tier 2 Junior A hockey in Canada.

I know a great many players that took the BCHL to NCAA route that have had better more sustainable careers than those I know that played in the "Dub"

The players that are heads and shoulders above their peers and play a year up (Bantam aged players playing Midget and so on) are the guys that make the jump to the CHL best.

Remember that when you are talking about 15, 16, and 17 year olds that everybody matures and grows and "Fills in" differently. Some 16 year olds can be 6'1 and nearly 200 lbs and can slide right into the WHL or OHL or QMJHL, others maybe take a year longer to have that last growth spurt, or have grown and are getting used to their bodies, and tier II Junior A is the way for them.

It is also good to remember that at least if you go the Junior A route to college hockey there is some schooling you receive and have at the very least a basis of school to fall back on, rather than going home asking people "Do you wnat fries with that?" if they don't make it in the Hockey World.

Lastly, If the NHL ever moves their draft eligibility age up one year (they missed the boat on doing this during the lockout, Crosby's year) you would probably see more guys go the college route. The thinking behind moving the age up a year is that after the top 15 picks or so the NHL entry draft is a crap shoot at best as players are still developing their skills, and still growing in many cases. The NHL could be motivated to move the age up a year to get more of a "sure thing" in their picks.

[djosbun 0]

I wonder what kind of cars the "stars" of Major Junior are driving? If a 17 year old is pulling up to the rink in an M3, then it's probably safe to assume his palm was greased at one point.

[JohnnyCanuck 0]

remember some kids have earned some money from the NHL level (Cody Hodgson as an example, I seem to remember the Canucks Signing him in training camp before returning him to Brampton) and then return to the CHL.

I don't know if the current CBA allows for it or not, but one guy I grew up playing with was already driving around town in his BMW M3 (funny you mentioned that car specifically) before he ever laced them up once for the Avalanche. I believe he went on to play a little while longer in the WHL after he had already received his signing bonus of over $400k (pre-current CBA)

[RecLeagueHero 0]

I'm sure shit goes on behind the scenes, but I would suppose if you're serious about playing in the NHL the benefits for going one of the CHL leagues over the NCAA would just be a better chance at making it happen. Equally, the NCAA route would never over take the CHL leagues because it would basically cut the Canadians out of the picture. Americans would go ape shit if we were handing out tons of hockey scholarships to foreign students. There's room for both, so I see no great need to get rid of junior hockey in favor of college hockey. Though I do think the CHL needs to do a better job making sure the individual clubs are looking after the interests of their players in terms of preparing them for life outside of hockey. The NCAA system is far from perfect in this regard, but they're at least trying.

[oggy_3 0]

I was talking to a buddy who was just playing major junior and he got sent down to a team i play for in Jr.A and the players under 18 make between 40-50 bucks a week but the players over 18 make 100$ and up... I know that a player who was suppose to play NCAA but decided to go major route because he was given 120,000$ towards education. Some players will recieve money for education plus money for themselves on the side but its more hush hush.. Also i know a player who recieved 400$ in unemployement last summer because his season was over in the Q

[Simonp27 0]

The education money is a league policy. One years Canadian College fees paid for each year served in the CHL. The money to the player over $75 per week is kept quiet.

[djosbun 0]

What good is it giving $40-50 per week? Is it for Twix bars and bubble gum?? Might as well give no money at all.

[Law Goalie 147]

They're billeted - it's not like they have mortgages or even rent.

[djosbun 0]

I know they are billeted, but the amount is so low it's just downright silly.

[JR Boucicaut 3801]

hot rumor is that plymouth paid aj jenks like $100K not to go to the U of Mich.

Yep, I used to run into Mr. Jenks at the Kroger by my house LOL...

Very nice family. But yeah, I remember talking to him when AJ took the Plymouth deal and yeah, they were taken care of...

[sweetblazer 0]

The notion that if MJH didn't exist in Canada is nonsense, both leagues serve a purpose.

Generally speaking you see a lot of "late bloomers" enter NCAA Hockey via Scholarships handed out on the merits of US High school hockey and Tier 2 Junior A hockey in Canada.

I know a great many players that took the BCHL to NCAA route that have had better more sustainable careers than those I know that played in the "Dub"

The players that are heads and shoulders above their peers and play a year up (Bantam aged players playing Midget and so on) are the guys that make the jump to the CHL best.

Remember that when you are talking about 15, 16, and 17 year olds that everybody matures and grows and "Fills in" differently. Some 16 year olds can be 6'1 and nearly 200 lbs and can slide right into the WHL or OHL or QMJHL, others maybe take a year longer to have that last growth spurt, or have grown and are getting used to their bodies, and tier II Junior A is the way for them.

It is also good to remember that at least if you go the Junior A route to college hockey there is some schooling you receive and have at the very least a basis of school to fall back on, rather than going home asking people "Do you wnat fries with that?" if they don't make it in the Hockey World.

Lastly, If the NHL ever moves their draft eligibility age up one year (they missed the boat on doing this during the lockout, Crosby's year) you would probably see more guys go the college route. The thinking behind moving the age up a year is that after the top 15 picks or so the NHL entry draft is a crap shoot at best as players are still developing their skills, and still growing in many cases. The NHL could be motivated to move the age up a year to get more of a "sure thing" in their picks.

The thing is that the education thing is almost as risky NCAA route aswell. The OHL provides the same "scholarships" that the NCAA does, its just that its one year of school paid per year of sevice (which is considered 16-25 games as I recall) and you get to pick your school in Canada. Obviously you run the risk of getting hurt and not being able to lay the full four seasons. However; you can just as easily lose your scholly in the NCAA aswell.

[-knowlzey- 0]

My brother went through Canadian Jr. A to go play NCAA hockey, and it was definitely the right choice, seeing as he has quit hockey before his school even ended, but he still gets to go to the school. One of my best friends plays in the OHL for Niagara Falls and as far as I know he's not getting paid that much, not enough to do anything with it.

[Law Goalie 147]

Heh - he should have accidentally brutally sprained his wrist while combing his hair and kept the scholarship too. :)

[marc_9 0]

I wonder what kind of cars the "stars" of Major Junior are driving? If a 17 year old is pulling up to the rink in an M3, then it's probably safe to assume his palm was greased at one point.

Out of the one's I know it's anything from a Honda Accord, Ford Explorer to a BMW 328i...but the bmw was bought with an NHL signing bonus.