You keep on narrowing your question. You originally asked if 16/17 year olds play in the 20 leagues junior leagues shown. The answer is yes. The CHL holds Bantam drafts, so of course some of the best players do start in the CHL at 16/17. And several of those leagues listed are known for feeding 16 and 17 year olds to the CHL.

Then you started narrowing it down to New England. Yes, New England kids to tend to stay home, or close to home, and play Prep. The rest of the world - not so much.

Then you started narrowing it down to New England kids playing in the top three junior leagues.

If you keep using finer and finer sieves, you're going to force the answer that you're looking for. Meaning, you weren't ever asking a question, you were stating an opinion in the form of a question. You must watch a lot of Jeopardy.

But, it isn't "Zero." You absolutely find 16 or 17 year old New England kids that aren't interested in Prep going to the USHL or other leagues - if they're good enough. Outside of New England (an MN) it's much more likely.

And, of course, the entire NTDP is 16 / 17 year olds, playing in the USHL. They DO still count.

This post has me confused. To the guy who said "only the good 16-17 year olds" out of New England play in the leagues, do you have any names of kids currently playing because I also can find any.

16/17 year olds from New England should be playing Prep or high end U16/U18 and then move on to these other leagues. Its the right path.

Then you aren't looking in the right place. I looked at exactly one USHL team (Dubuque Fighting Saints) that rostered eight 2001s and one 2002 last season, including two from New England. 2001s would have been 16/17 when the season started, and in fact four of the 2001s still haven't reached the 18th birthday, so they were 16/17 for all of the games they played in. The 2002 is still 16 today (turns 17 later this week).

Great point. COMBINED they played 10 games for the Saints. The NY kid played 4. Does that really mean they "made" it? The 16 year old played 9 games last year. I dont think that is considered making it?

My kid played a full season in the USHL several years ago at 17.

What about the local kid who wants to play college hockey but not move. Does local NCDC work then?

Another, finer sieve. Poster said they "cant find any." Now, we're looking at how many games they played.

I'm done. Play by - or with - yourself.

What do you do with a very good 16/17 year old that doesn't want to leave home just yet?

You're overrating your kid. If he was "very good" he would have been contacted by an NHLPA certified advisor that would be helping you with that decision, he would already be playing Beast and Prep, and you would already know.

If he isn't in that category, August 20th is a hard time to start thinking about teams. But, if he isn't playing Prep, he should play on an age-specific full season team, the best he can make (look at last year's MHR), until he ages out. Then he should be ready to move away from home to play junior.

If he isn't playing Prep and can't make a good age-specific team, then Town is your answer.

If he isn't ready to leave the area when he's 19, then he isn't a hockey player. I'd check his scrotum at that point.

Thanks- He is playing EHF Selects and Prep as a day student. Was just wondering what others are doing if there kid is not ready to leave home at 17 or 18.

Then ask that. No reason for the subterfuge.

I thought I did. Didn't know you needed his background to answer the question.

oops , read it wrong, my bad. for the record though the first year NTDP is 100% 16 and 17year olds

Any from New England?

yes, 2 from Mass and 1 from Rhode island Actually one kid (MB) got called up to the '01 team

You really answered that? I thought it was asked rhetorically. Of ocurse there are kids form NE on the team.

People would have lost their MINDS here if there wasn't a single kid from NE selected for the NTDP.

just curious why NA3HL is not included. safe to assume it's no.21?

Safe to assume it's not in the top 20. There's a separate ranking of Tier III leagues.

But, the author is super-biased in favor of some leagues and against others. Loves USPHL, hates NA3HL. One of the biggest hypocrites out there. Called out someone for lying to families about scouts at camps when he does the same thing. He was forced to print a retraction because he was dead wrong in his accusations.

Called out another guy that he competes for parent's wallets with for tax fraud which, last I checked was a federal matter not a junior hockey matter, and NCAA violations that the NCAA never claimed were happening. Wouldn't be surprised if he ends up in court for libel. Also said classless things about the guy personally.

Everyone's connected so you always have to be careful what you say, but I genuinely hope this guy gets his comeuppance. He's an arrogant ****** on his website and in person.

Comical to look at these rankings written by someone who is clearly retarded and biased. The author won't even publish his name as he knows how stupid this is. Good for a laugh though. The USHL at 1? Hahaha! The QMJHL at 6? Hahahaha. The best team in the USHL wouldn't win a game in the QMJHL. Total joke written by a dummy with an agenda. You can read right through it.

You think the Q is good? All offense and not the most respected league. Yeah they win the championship but it's usually one / two stacked teams.

Huh? It's written by Joe Kolodziej, who owns The Junior Hockey News, which is where the article was pulled from. He doesn't hide (I wish he would), the poster failed to list the source.

Joe is absolutely biased. He over-hypes the USPHL to the point of nausea, and hates on the NA3 more than the league deserves (but some teams absolutely dfo deserve the criticism). I don't like him personally, he does things that are abusive of my moral compass, but he has to sleep with his own decisions. I'll just insulate my kid from him.

But, he is generally knowledgeable.

As for the USHL vs. the Q, I don't know of any Americans that are choosing to play in the CHL versus USNTDP (you know, the team with 8 draft picks this past June), the USNTDP is in the USHL, and they don't run roughshod through the league. So, would USHL teams not be able to win a game in the Q? I'd say that's hyperbole. Does the Q belong 6th? Subjective. One man's opinion. I don't know that it's below the NA or the BCHL, but if you read his criteria - one year assessment - it isn't far-fetched. He would know better than any of us whether French Canadians are choosing Junior A and NCAA over the Q. I also know the Q is in some really remote locations, so quality of life may be a contributing factor.

I do think some personal bias is probably evident there, as well.

Thanks for pointing out the dummy's name who pretends he knows something. Hey Joe, did you look at the end of year CHL rankings before putting your joke of a list together. In case you missed it... CHL teams ranked 1-10:

Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (54-7-0-1)

Prince Albert Raiders (51-9-2-2)

Drummondville Voltigeurs (48-11-2-1)

Ottawa 67’s (46-11-3-2)

London Knights (44-12-6-1)

Halifax Mooseheads (46-14-2-1)

Everett Silvertips (45-14-2-2)

Baie-Comeau Drakkar (44-14-2-2)

Vancouver Giants (44-14-2-2)

Saginaw Spirit (42-15-2-3)

The QMJHL had 4 of the top 10, and 2 of the top 3 yet you rank the Q a distant 3rd? Even below some pretty weak leagues. Your agenda is pretty clear Joe. Publish whatever b.s. you can to try to make sure the top New England kids don't consider the Q. If you're going to pretend to be knowledgeable, why don't you at least try to be accurate and let people decide for themselves what is the best path to their own development. More fake news. Dummy!

And this isn't subjective as well? They don't play across leagues until finals so a record in one league is irrelevant to the others. What isn't subjective is the NHL Draft and by that standard the Q doesn't perform all that well.

Also comparing USHL to CHL is a little bit apples to oranges.

USHL top players leave earlier for NCAA, typically at 18/19 so the older players in the league are less skilled. Top CHL players who don't sign with NHL teams have to stay in CHL until they are 20 as they can't play in the AHL until they are 20. Based upon that alone means there is more talent in CHL in any given year but it's not a huge gap.

That's another one people post all the time which just spreads the ignorance, that the QMJHL is a much older league filled with 20 year olds. Here are the facts based on stats from last season:
13 of the 15 teams in the USHL have an average age over 18.
Only 8 of 18 teams in the QMJHL have an average age over 18.
There are a lot of misconceptions out there. The Q is by far the younger league.

Q teams can have a max of 3 twenty year olds. No such restriction in the USHL. This keeps the Q a you get league and moves the older players out for younger players. Good system

USHL allows 5.

Dude reading comprehension is not a strong suit of yours. I didn't say CHL was older. Both leagues are U20, and both allow I believe up to six 20 year olds which would make them the same age.

What I did say was that the top talent in the USHL leaves before age 20 to go play college hockey. CHL players have no where to go. It's NHL or bust.

Now go put down your CHL pom poms, take off the QMJHL footie pajamas and go find a job.

Q only allows 3 max

The guy is an idiot. If you want good commentary about junior hockey, try JuniorHockey.com. The guy who runs that site knows his stuff and is completely unbiased.

Boo hoo. No one wants to go to the Q. It's always been that way and always will. Get over it. NCAA is a better route. More options, more flexibilty, more time to develop.

You're doing yourself a disservice by not reading the article. He didn't say the Q teams weren't good or tha the league was 6th best on the ice. His ratings are based purely on advancement. It's stated, clear as day.

He didn't say Q teams aren't good?
"The QMJHL is still hanging on to the number six spot. The league while still producing some NHL talent has largely become an afterthought in Canada."
Nothing further from the truth!