The Globe's series on junior hockey

by James Mirtle on Mar 18, 2009 8:38 AM CDT Comment 9 comments

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I've been a little quieter here than usual lately, and that's due to some work going on away from the blog. The Globe's been producing a five-part series on junior hockey this week, with four parts already in print:

Part 5 will be published in tomorrow's sports section, and from what I've seen, it looks to be a good one.

The fourth story in the series, about the CHL's scholarship system, is one I put together over the past few weeks. There are different perspectives on it from three former players, one commissioner, one education director and a player agent.

Essentially, the system has grown considerably, to the point where major junior teams now spend about $2.6-million on their graduates' education and CHL grads make up more than half of the university hockey ranks. The OHL's even introducing full ride type scholarships this season for some players.

Along the way, there were some interesting tidbits, like how much ECHL players get paid (minimum salary of $350 a week for 24 weeks and teams have an $11,550 a week salary cap) and how many CHL players end up playing ECHL-or-lower calibre hockey (about one-third). Approximately 10 per cent of major junior players get a cup of coffee or more in the NHL, and another 20 or so per cent play in the AHL or top European circuit.

If you're interested in junior hockey and how it's been evolving the past few years, check the series out.

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James great article. Aside from following the wins and losses and top prospects from the States, I really had no idea what happened to these kids after their days or what their options are. Is there a sense that there will be a further increase to the amount of the scholarship for guys like Briere or if there will be parity between the leagues any time soon?

The population of Pominville keeps rising!

by Blackcapricorn on Mar 18, 2009 9:37 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Haven’t read all of them, but I was a bit disappointed that in Article #3, they kind of just touched on the challenges of smaller market teams. There was just a brief mention of the community owned franchises and how “you need entreprenurial skills” to succeed in today’s junior hockey world… I can’t help but think of the small cities here in the WHL’s East Division that are all community owned: Swift Current, Moose Jaw, Prince Albert and Brandon.

The revenue disparity is really creating problems that weren’t addressed, so I was disappointed in that. It’s obvious that the Vancouver Giants and Calgary Hitmen have a HUGE competitive advantage based on their arenas, market, and ownership in comparison. They can attract the top coaches and keep them there, plus have greater ability to scout (and attract) talent. I mean, this league has teams in Vancouver and Calgary competing against Prince George and Swift Current. There are some real problems from that.

But good stuff otherwise so far. I’ll be sure to read the other articles for sure.

And… go Blades! Take down those Hurricanes (who names a team based in Lethbridge, Alta the freaking Hurricanes anyways?)!

Hockey blogging can't get any flatter.

by saskhab on Mar 18, 2009 10:34 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

There used to be a Lethbridge Broncos team, but they moved some time ago.

Despite that competitive advantage, though, haven’t those two teams (VAN and CGY) won precisely one Memorial Cup total? I mean, sure, VAN’s been a League powerhouse for a while, and CGY has a 12- or 13-year playoff streak going, but it’s not like “small-market” teams seem to be suffering too badly at the moment. Maybe that’s just because a lot of them are now receiving investment money from their NHL-paid alumni.

SNN Sports - A theoretical Oilers blog (i.e. theoretically, I write stuff there)

by Doogie2K on Mar 19, 2009 9:08 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I have been following the series with interest (big fan of major junior hockey). I’m surprized the business article didn’t touch on the revenue sharing that takes place (at least in the O). This is how the playing field is levelled out at least financially. Bigger markets like Ottawa and London (big arenas that tend to fill a lot of seats) subsidize smaller markets. Not sure how the formula works – would be interesting to know.

As for the scholarships, I don’t know for sure but have heard that the college scholarships have their limits too. For example, if a player gets seriously injured and cannot play for the team, the scholarship ends. So while it’s fine for the NCAA to criticize the limits that the CHL places on their scholarships, it would would be informative to expose the limits of the college rides.

And as to “spoiling” players by having them play one game, that’s a limitation that the NCAA places on the players. They are the ones that equate a $50/week stipend with playing professionally. They have set the bar – not the CHL.

There’s a bit of NCAA/OHL drama being played out right now regarding a player that had intended to go to Notre Dame who has since decided to report to his OHL draft team.

This a very competitive part of sport – and that’s the part that’s NOT on the ice. The articles are good but there could be much much more written. I really think that there are lots of NHL fans out there who really don’t know where their NHL players come from and what they go through to get there.

Cheers!

by hockeycountry on Mar 18, 2009 3:06 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I really think that there are lots of NHL fans out there who really don’t know where their NHL players come from and what they go through to get there.

I’ve really learned a lot about the world of junior hockey since I started covering it seriously at the ‘06 Memorial Cup. But yeah, these articles barely scratch the surface of what goes on.
Interesting read for sure and hopefully it helps open the eyes of a few fans and maybe intrigue them to look a bit deeper at the CHL. For every player that makes it to the NHL, there’s five guys that spent some crucial years away from friends and family and don’t have much to show for it.

-Kevin Forbes
Hockey's Future

by kforbes on Mar 19, 2009 2:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

(minimum salary of $350 a week for 24 weeks and teams have an $11,550 a week salary cap)

Honey, it’s time to give up the dream.

Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.

by Chemmy on Mar 18, 2009 3:08 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Great articles, James. Glad you pointed them out.

The comments above on the large market-small market disparity are very interesting, especially given that 20 years ago, it was treated as fact that junior hockey could not work in an NHL market, as the Nats, Wranglers and Oil Kings all succumbed to their professional counterparts.

The Hitmen rewrote that theory, and along came the Giants and the third Oil Kings. It helps in all three markets that the NHL has priced itself beyond many families.

by Resolute on Mar 19, 2009 4:04 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I think it’s also a matter of the NHL teams no longer viewing the CHL teams as competition. The Oilers drove the Edmonton Ice out of town, and the Flames were similarly unfriendly towards the Hitmen until they bought the team.

SNN Sports - A theoretical Oilers blog (i.e. theoretically, I write stuff there)

by Doogie2K on Mar 20, 2009 8:51 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Actually, quite the opposite with the Flames. They were happy to have the team, as they just took over the Dome, and thought the Hitmen would be good for filling another 36 dates at the Dome.

by Resolute on Mar 29, 2009 2:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs