Is an Agent Needed at a Young age?

[TheHockeyGod 0]

When I was in Bantam/Peewee i heard of kids having agents? Do you think this is really needed or should kids get drafted because of skill not who they know?

[ZombieAttack27 1]

Depends on the road you want to take. This is more the case with bantams than peewees, but if your kid is playing on AAA select national teams, and he just needs to get put in front of the right scouts, it might be worth it. This is of course if you want him to forgo 90% of the fun that comes with hockey, lessen the emphasis on school as a priority, and possibly grow to hate you for living vicariously through him. But hey, when he makes it to the NHL it'll all be worth it right?

[ibeck 38]

Short answer is NO! If you're legit you'll put up points, work hard and the rest will take care of itself.

[chippa13 1844]

If a kid signs with an agent then he can kiss his NCAA eligibility goodbye. I believe that is why kids of any sport who go the NCAA route sign on with "advisors" or as I believe they should be called, agents light.

[ibeck 38]

If a kid signs with an agent then he can kiss his NCAA eligibility goodbye. I believe that is why kids of any sport who go the NCAA route sign on with "advisors" or as I believe they should be called, agents light.

That is correct. I work with midget aaa kids, I'd say a good number of these kids that have agents, the agents are nobodys and are hoping the kids make it so the agent can make it to.

[Law Goalie 147]

Exactly: don't pay anyone, don't sign anything, don't accept anything, or you risk NCAA eligibility. In fact, that's a terrific way to screen potential candidates: if they're asking for money or a long-term written commitment, or they promise to negotiate directly with pro teams, they're jackals. Hell, even the wrong kind of verbal agreement can finish your NCAA chances.

Check NCAA.org -- they're in the process of reviewing how they handle the agency/advice thing, but it's a long way off.

If a kid is that good that young, an agent can reach an 'understanding' with the family that they'll be on-call for advisory purposes, and that they'll naturally step into the role of agent at the proper time.

[BoDangles 0]

Here in Canada is pretty popular, though most kids don't go the NCAA route either.

[Law Goalie 147]

For what it's worth, I'm a Kingston boy living in Toronto, and I still think you'd have to be crazy or extremely fortunate to throw away NCAA eligibility: fortune being the obvious exceptions for those rare kids like the Hamilton boys, who could get full rides anywhere on pure academic merit and who don't particularly need the money anyway.

Canadian parents should at least be using the possibility of an NCAA scholarship to dissuade agents from simply treating them and their kids like financial resources - or as a bargaining position. Major junior is no longer the only ticket to the show.

[wrangler 157]

I have to agree, when one hit or play can end a pro career; it's always better to have an education to fall back on, in that event, or after retiring.

So you've got a problem with jackals? Anubis punish.

[TheHockeyGod 0]

In my experience (through training centers) the majority of kids with agents are located in the east coast of Canada (ontario eastward). As I play Midget AAA in Alberta and it's practically unheard of to have an agent. Not too sure about B.C though.

[Law Goalie 147]

The BCHL (provincial junior) sends a lot of kids to the NCAA; it's one of the few provincial leagues that's really strong. In Ontario, it's all about the OHL, and kids and their parents are pushed to 'professionalise' even before the OHL draft. (How in the hell a kid of 15 or 16 can be considered to have a 'profession' is beyond me; even medievally, that's apprenticeship time.) That's not to say there isn't a bit of a primo uomo stigma attached to having an agent in CHL leagues, but it's less of an issue than it used to be, and there's a pseudo-prestige competing with the stigma now. I would have assumed that with the prominence of the WHL the same was true in Alberta, but it sounds like they're handling it better.

My problem with jackals is simply that they know all sorts of clever ways to get false passports and smuggle weapons into restricted areas, and, if it's their day, come very close to successfully killing high-ranking Frenchmen.

[BoDangles 0]

Completely agree about throwing away the NCAA eligibility, as you get the best of both worlds with playing a high level of hockey and getting an education. Have a cousin who played for St.Lawrence University, played AHL and ECHL for a few seasons, now playing in Europe. Though with having a university degree, when he plans to come back he doesn't have to worry about playing hockey to make a living.

Surprised to hear on the West Coast that having an agent is not popular. Here in Nova Scotia people start talking about it first year Bantam if you have the skill. Not that I agree with it, but it's very popular.

[chippa13 1844]

LG, great movie, so much better than the one made with Gere and Willis.

[wrangler 157]

The BCHL (provincial junior) sends a lot of kids to the NCAA; it's one of the few provincial leagues that's really strong. In Ontario, it's all about the OHL, and kids and their parents are pushed to 'professionalise' even before the OHL draft. (How in the hell a kid of 15 or 16 can be considered to have a 'profession' is beyond me; even medievally, that's apprenticeship time.) That's not to say there isn't a bit of a primo uomo stigma attached to having an agent in CHL leagues, but it's less of an issue than it used to be, and there's a pseudo-prestige competing with the stigma now. I would have assumed that with the prominence of the WHL the same was true in Alberta, but it sounds like they're handling it better.

My problem with jackals is simply that they know all sorts of clever ways to get false passports and smuggle weapons into restricted areas, and, if it's their day, come very close to successfully killing high-ranking Frenchmen.

That's interesting to hear; outside my experience growing up and living in the U.S.

So it's just Carlos you didn't like? Or Edward Fox?

[theGhost 0]

Have to agree with keeping NCAA eligibility. Or working something in the contract that guarantees college will be paid for in the event of injury... My bro in law was drafted by the Mariners straight outta High School, 2 tommy johns later, he was done. Fortunately his agent had a college provisional clause in the contract. Smart really, guarantees a fall back plan for guys that get hurt, and doesn't cost the teams anything for the guys that don't...