With the BC Hockey League Playoffs going on, Drew Wilson spoke to the BCHL commissioner Steven Cocker about the playoffs, players leaving teams, the league and more.
Source: www.mykootneaynow.com
Q&A with BCHL commissioner Steven Cocker : My Kootenay Now
I think Cocker thinks "If he says it we will believe it". Not so fast Steven, lets look at a couple of your comments.
ReplyDelete"Year-over-year, our league and the talent within the league keeps getting better and better". Anyone who has followed the BCHL for many years will admit the level of elite players has greatly reduced. This used to be one of the primary leagues for NCAA recruitment. It no longer is and it is unrealistic to not recognize this fact.
"the BCHL is a great development spot". Is that why they increase the number of 20 year old roster spots? Player development is now largely in the numerous academies and then young players are going to Major Junior or USHL. The reason they came to the BCHL was to protect their status so they could be eligible for scholarships. Now they are not penalized scholastically for attempting Major Junior. I don't believe 20 year olds are playing in the BCHL for development, rather they just have fewer other opportunities. I think the "clock of starting NCAA scholarships" could very well see the BCHL increasing the number of 20 year olds in order to fill out rosters. Younger, talented players simply have much better options than the BCHL. Our league seems to have an identity problem.
Trail lost only 7 players? How about the Vernon Vipers who had 50 -60 players wear the uniform each of the past couple of years. That does not indicate league stability, certainly not in one of the most storied teams. Trail and Vernon may be at opposite ends of the roster numbers but there was still a lot of player movement for the teams between. To me this indicates a league in trouble. I hope I am wrong.
What do other fans think of Cocker's interview? Is the BCHL as stable as he leads us to believe? What are the thoughts on "development" of young players and the use of 20 year olds? How will the new NCAA commitment clock affect rosters going forward. Let's have your comments.
In my opinion, the NCAA decision has destroyed Jr A as an alternative for players who have any desire to obtain a full ride div 1 scholarship in the US. For a player to have any chance to go div 1 they must play chl or maybe USHL. The BCHL still has older talent but the league is no longer scouted to any great extent by NCAA div 1 teams. I cannot see this changing in the future. Trail is an example of a very dominant 1st half team that may have lost only 7 players, but that reduced their talent and depth to the point they lost 4 straight in the 1st round. Any players in the BCHL are trying to get to the chl or USHL for obvious reasons, and you can't blame them.
DeleteNot in favour of more 20s, it was one of the reasons watching BCHL, looking at up and coming juniors 16s 17s 18s 19s, 20s playing this league are not developing.
ReplyDeleteI don't agree with Cocker either. Those NCAA rules from a couple of years ago really screwed over the BCHL. It's going to be tough to keep or attract good elite players
ReplyDeleteEven the mid player in CHL is getting committed NCAA Div 1. Lots of players could play CHL just not given the opportunity to. USPORT is starting to roster younger players. This may be a better path for 20year olds to the NCAA now with no longer having to put their education on hold. I think it will be a few more years before the impact of NCAA really hits. Agree NCAA rule has negatively impacted Junior A. But so did BCHL leaving hockey Canada.
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