Standard of Hockey

[NextBobbyOrr 0]

I've been hearing lots of talk lately, from people and youtube about how the standard of hockey is lower in the US than in Canada. I really don't think this is true, when I see teams like Detroit Honeybaked, I think the La Selects(or some team like that), etc. Is this actually true, or only in some places or a complete rumor?

[bostonjuniorblackhawks 1]

I've been hearing lots of talk lately, from people and youtube about how the standard of hockey is lower in the US than in Canada. I really don't think this is true, when I see teams like Detroit Honeybaked, I think the La Selects(or some team like that), etc. Is this actually true, or only in some places or a complete rumor?

Not really sure what your talking about lol. All I know is that there some damn good leagues in both Canada and the US.

[starsfan71 9]

I would say because Canada has more players they have more good teams than the U.S.A. However I think that the top Canadian teams and top American teams are on the same level or at least close to it.

[Speedz98 15]

You can argue that there are more Canadian players training and playing a high levels than Americans just because of the culture. That being said. there are different levels people can attain. Starting from peewee to bantam. Then junior leagues up to the NHL. Those are certain milestones and to hit them you have to be able to play at a certain levels.

If those standards are similar between US and Canadian leagues then I guess the level of play is more or less the same.

With that in mind, though, think about the Memorial Cup and all these junior teams. Play in the same league but sometimes there are some serious blow outs.

Maybe it's all situational.

[shotty 7]

maybe in youth or amateur hockey in states with very little hockey history or culture the standards are lower, but i think once you get to junior or collegiate, its par. even the standards from one coast to the other in canada are different.

[shooter27 116]

I would say because Canada has more players they have more good teams than the U.S.A. However I think that the top Canadian teams and top American teams are on the same level or at least close to it.

This is pretty much dead on. There are more players in Canada which leads to more highly skilled players and high level teams, but the top 10-15 or so teams in each age group in each country are pretty comparable. This holds pretty much until you reach the top Junior levels when all those talented players get compressed into few leagues, which is why top teams in major junior are generally a bit better than the top teams in the USHL.

[Speedz98 15]

Keep in mind sometimes it's not always how accurate or fast your shot is or if you can skate like the wind, it's how hard your willing to work on the boards, the passes you make, over all hockey sense/positioning. Then it doesn't become up to the country's development of the players but the individual players themselves and what they are willing to do/learn to be the best.

Hockey's a huge mental game.

[flyers10 57]

How would you all rate the level of top NCAA teams, like BC & BU, versus top Canadian junior teams like those in the Memorial Cup?

[Speedz98 15]

How would you all rate the level of top NCAA teams, like BC & BU, versus top Canadian junior teams like those in the Memorial Cup?

I've head that some college players are a little more well rounded because there's a lot more practice between games.

Also some may develop more physically if they happen to stay for all 4 years and become stronger. Are they more NHL ready? I don't know, the style of play has to be different with that large ice surface.

[shooter27 116]

NCAA teams, especially top NCAA teams, are generally going to be better TEAMS than the Memorial Cup teams because NCAA players range from 18-24. The guys that are juniors/seniors on NCAA teams are generally 2-3 years older than the oldest guys on those junior teams and could be 5-6 years older than some of the 17 and 18 year olds that are playing major junior. At that age those couple years of difference mean a lot in terms of development and strength, especially when it comes to team play things like forechecking, playing in the d-zone, etc. The Memorial Cup teams probably have more high-end INDIVIDUAL talent, especially when compared to NCAA players of the same age, but the Memorial Cup teams generally would not be championship competitors in the NCAA. I'm sure they would probably be strong teams, but they just wouldn't have the age/experience/strength/depth to compete for an NCAA championships on a regular basis.

[Speedz98 15]

That be a hell of a match up to watch though. College team vs a CHL team

[Deerok 3]

I'd have to say that Canada has an advantage based on the view that most of their top athletes go into hockey; as opposed to the US where most of the top athletes focus on Football and to a lesser degree other sports (including hockey).

Having lived in Canada, I still remember how Hockey is basically life up there. Not so much here in the US (Minnesota & Boston/MA excluded).

Only thing comparable would be football in Texas.

[vek 0]

I think the question could be simplified by looking at the nationality of players that play in the highest level. Last I checked, the NHL is made up of 52% Canadian Born, and 19.9% American. I would assume that most of the Canadian born players played their developmental hockey in Canada, and probably at least a couple percent of those American born NHLers did the same, so lets say its about a 3:1 ratio.

So if the pool of hockey playing kids is roughly triple the number in Canada than the U.S., then you could say that the standard is about even.

[Krev 86]

The standard also varies based on West vs. East in the US. The best teams in the West come out of California. Any players looking to go anywhere on the West coast go to California during their Bantam and Midget years, myself included. Up here in Seattle, the youth teams mostly play against the Canadians across the border. It's a slaughter more often than not.

My old coach used the analogy and it still holds true to this day, I think. AAA hockey here in Seattle is AA in California, and A anywhere else. From what I've seen, pretty much still the case.

[goblue9280 33]

I would say because Canada has more players they have more good teams than the U.S.A. However I think that the top Canadian teams and top American teams are on the same level or at least close to it.

Actually, according to the IIHF the number of players is close between the US and Canada:

USA HOCKEY:

Total players

465,975

Male players

112,778

Female players

59,506

Junior players

293,691

HOCKEY CANADA:

Total Players

499,695

Male Player

88,954

Female Players

85,309

Junior Players

325,432

[epstud74 24]

USHL teams would be competitive with CHL teams and they have been.

[M.W. 0]

At the upper levels, it's probably quite close, but across the board, I'd say that the standard of play is likely higher in Canada due to the culture. A house team from City X in Canada will likely wipe the floor with a house team from City Y in the USA 9 times out of 10. Both countries do a fine job of producing a lot of elite level talent, though, which is really what matters.

[epstud74 24]

Depends on where. Minnesota youth teams travel up to Canada all the time and do quite well.

[NYK93 0]

^ yes that may be true, but in many personal instances that ive had playing minor hockey and my team has gone down to the states to play against the same age and skill, we have killed the opposition. Maybe this is because of diff training or whatnot. But it seems like Canadian minor hockey teams in general at the high levels are better then the US teams. And also the American minor hockey players I've talked to have also said that for instance a typical AA team in Canada has the same overall skill as a AAA team in the states. And this is coming from a couple of high Level American players

[Krev 86]

^ yes that may be true, but in many personal instances that ive had playing minor hockey and my team has gone down to the states to play against the same age and skill, we have killed the opposition. Maybe this is because of diff training or whatnot. But it seems like Canadian minor hockey teams in general at the high levels are better then the US teams. And also the American minor hockey players I've talked to have also said that for instance a typical AA team in Canada has the same overall skill as a AAA team in the states. And this is coming from a couple of high Level American players

Totally depends on the area. And that also goes for AA teams vs AAA teams in the states. Some just have more players, and they're generally much better.

[NYK93 0]

Totally depends on the area. And that also goes for AA teams vs AAA teams in the states. Some just have more players, and they're generally much better.

Very true. But in thetas instsnce I'm talking about a AA team from Toronto. And a tournament full of AAA players in Boston. Which isn't exactly a dead spot for hockey lol

[Krev 86]

Very true. But in thetas instsnce I'm talking about a AA team from Toronto. And a tournament full of AAA players in Boston. Which isn't exactly a dead spot for hockey lol

I'd bet the AA team from Toronto was actually a team filled with AAA players that were cut from the AAA club for the organization. Too many players, not enough Tiered teams, and the rest get stuck playing A and house.

[hockeyfreak7 0]

The only "true" AAA teams in the States are very concentrated (Michigan comes to mind), and a lot of the rest of the talent around the country probably plays at the Junior level (ie, lots of the Boston talent plays junior in the AJHL or EJHL). There are a lot of teams who call themselves AAA but just can't compete either.

For instance, most of the teams at the USA Hockey AAA nationals could compete with the best AAA teams in Canada. But the teams they beat to get there would get absolutely smoked by the teams that Canada's best had to beat. And that is why AA in Canada is comparable to a majority of "AAA" teams in the USA. But dont be fooled because there are some excellent AAA programs in the states (Compuware, Little Caesars, Victory Honda, etc.).

[jjmills22 0]

The only "true" AAA teams in the States are very concentrated (Michigan comes to mind), and a lot of the rest of the talent around the country probably plays at the Junior level (ie, lots of the Boston talent plays junior in the AJHL or EJHL). There are a lot of teams who call themselves AAA but just can't compete either.

For instance, most of the teams at the USA Hockey AAA nationals could compete with the best AAA teams in Canada. But the teams they beat to get there would get absolutely smoked by the teams that Canada's best had to beat. And that is why AA in Canada is comparable to a majority of "AAA" teams in the USA. But dont be fooled because there are some excellent AAA programs in the states (Compuware, Little Caesars, Victory Honda, etc.).

I'm a little biased but the Atlantic District sends some very good U16 and U18 to Nationals that beat the Compuwares and the Caesars

[hockeyfreak7 0]

I'm a little biased but the Atlantic District sends some very good U16 and U18 to Nationals that beat the Compuwares and the Caesars

Don't worry, I'm about an hour or two south of New Jersey, I used to play in the AYHL. I know all about the Avalanche, Little Flyers, Mid-Fairfield, etc. All great programs that can compete with (and beat) the Compuwares and Caesars, but unfortunately you have some stinkers also. I played for the Little Caps, and it was brutal. Many players on teams like the Caps, Valley Forge, Clippers, etc. have no business in (what should be) AAA hockey.

Really, the AYHL proves my point I was making about Michigan. There are some excellent teams that do justice to AAA hockey, but there are others that just get brutalized.