tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704252125372264448.post3878957845998073690..comments2023-10-12T04:30:48.920-04:00Comments on The World of Junior Hockey: My ThoughtsNathan Fournierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07970366390829663376noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704252125372264448.post-91004059446779387062009-02-28T00:25:00.000-05:002009-02-28T00:25:00.000-05:00Nathan, thank you for clarifying the USHL age rang...Nathan, thank you for clarifying the USHL age range, and the fact that it differs from the NTDP.<BR/><BR/>So, it is then an all-star team of 18 and under players, in a league that allows 20 year olds. <BR/><BR/>What is your take on the NTDP--do you think it is an appropriate model?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704252125372264448.post-32751816940115562002009-02-27T12:42:00.000-05:002009-02-27T12:42:00.000-05:00Thanks for the pat on the back, but I did not brea...Thanks for the pat on the back, but I did not break the "Mahoning Valley Phantoms to the USHL" news. I believe Ryan posted that first on the "Finish Your Check" USHL message board: <BR/><BR/>http://finishyourcheck.com/index.php?showtopic=22183<BR/><BR/>-Yeti (Black and Blue: The Unofficial Lincoln Stars Blog)Yetihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06144700947358121674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704252125372264448.post-80630972405452443452009-02-27T09:19:00.000-05:002009-02-27T09:19:00.000-05:00USHL usually is a 17-20 league with few 16 year ol...USHL usually is a 17-20 league with few 16 year olds. They have their own selection process for the NTDP. They will be the youngest team in the league because no one is over 18. <BR/><BR/>They will have the cream of the crop in terms of players potential but teams will have older players.<BR/><BR/>They won't come in and pull 2004-2005 London Knights season. <BR/><BR/>The U-18 will still play against colleges but this move allows the program player against the highest caliber of hockey game in game out.Nathan Fournierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07970366390829663376noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704252125372264448.post-28528105639654847882009-02-27T00:32:00.000-05:002009-02-27T00:32:00.000-05:00All good points, Nathan--thanks. I think you are ...All good points, Nathan--thanks. I think you are right that the goal is to establish something that competes more effectively with the CHL. The college-focused strategy fails to the extent that the important developmental years are 16, 17, 18. The youth movement in the NHL--and the ever-increasing CHL defections--is forcing this changes.<BR/><BR/>But how are they going to do that draft? Is the National program going to be the Harlem Globtrotters--just taking the cream of the crop and playing against the rest????Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com