Penticton Vees in the BCHL? Must have some Philly connection.

Why is that? The Vees are one of the stronger teams in the BCHL, which is the highest amateur league in Canada.

Decent league if your 17/18 years old but a first round pick going there as an overage 20 year old? Jeesh. Hard to develop for the next level when playing against younger, smaller players. Don’t care how many points you put up as a 20 year old junior player. Doesn’t mean it will translate.

I will never understand the propensity of D Boarders to throw bull**** against the wall and see what sticks instead of checking some rudimentary facts. Makes you look ignorant, people.

Penticton's roster this year has 8 '98s, 8 '99s, 13 '00s, 2 01s, and one '02. That makes their average age 19+.

The same as O'Brien is now.

BCHL isnt one of the top leagues in Canada. Its on the lower end and wide open. USHL is better.

Jesus, don't you people READ?

Yes, BCHL is Junior A, but is also considered the best AMATEUR junior league in Canada. It is above the MJ, SJ, AJ, CC, GOJ and OJ, pretty much in that order. You could argue the exact order, but the BCHL is considered at the top of pretty much everyone's heap. It is decidedly NOT "lower end." Not if he wants to play NCAA after sitting for a year.

It is above the NAHL and below the USHL.

I don't know why the family decided on the BCHL and not the USHL, but it isn't like it's out of left field.

I will never understand the propensity of D Boarders to throw bull**** against the wall and see what sticks instead of checking some rudimentary facts. Just because you checked their web site doesn't make you right. You failed to realize that you listed out over 30 players so basically every kid that dressed for a game. You listed 8 over agers (98's) but the CHL limit is six. So even though you think you are a know it all, you are really ignorant of junior hockey and the average age of kids on the ice for any one game. Being a 20 year old over ager next year will have you playing against kids mostly younger then you. Sorry the facts contradict with your feelings.

He will basically be an "overager", going on 21 in 2020 in a league that is defensively challenged, meaning he should be putting up at least a point per game. Don't know what that is going to get him? It will be no different than playing at Thayer? If this kid has any interest in being a better college player, he would have played in the USHL. Obviously that's not his interest now. This is an excellent example of staying at Prep to long, should have left before his senior year and played in the USHL, he would have been ready to play this past season at PC.

In hindsight it was probably the best move for him to leave Thayer as a jr and head to USHL for a season. However, I highly doubt he would have been a 1st round pick if he played in the USHL compared to the stats he put up in prep. He was the big fish in small pond and probably got picked higher because of it. Granted being a 1st round pick doesnt help you at all at this point or at any point really compared to other draft picks except added pressure.

Can someone locate and post Jeff Cox's take on the situation from NEHJ???

CHL is the highest junior leage in Canada. BCHL is Junior A and not close to CHL.

CHL isn't amateur. You must be the same guy that said last week that NCAA teams were sending players to the WHL for a couple of years.

Thanks for playing.

Didn't say amateur. Said junior. Reading comprehension is fun. Try it sometime.

No, but I did. Right back at you.

And, the level of play in the CHL is irrelevant to the discussion. If he is entering the portal, it's pretty clear he still wants to play NCAA.

But, I'm sure his contract will give him an "out" if he changes his mind and decides to go major junior come August.

Amateur league so no contract “out” needed but I’m sure you knew that.

Maybe you know something I don't? Players in junior still have a contract (after all, mites have a contract) that restrict the player's ability to choose to play for another team. But, they also generally include an "out" if an opportunity to play at the next higher level comes along (NAHL to USHL, Tier III/Junior B to NAHL/Junior A).

Is your experience different?

There is a reason I guess that the local Hockey East coaches send their kids out to the USHL for a year to get ready for college hockey. Not sure why he wouldn't do it now, oh yeah, there must be a Flyers connection.

Nice theory, any facts to support it?

Here's a fact. The Youngstown Phantoms own his USHL rights. Maybe his Youngstown experiences weren't positive? Maybe living in Youngstown sucks?

Here's a fact. O'Brien was suspended by Providence for "violating team rules." Maybe the environment in Penticton is seen as providing more structure?

Here's a fact. The Vees' coach has been there for twelve years. In that time, they have won four BCHL Regular Season championships, five BCHL Interior Division championships, four BCHL Fred Page Cup championships, a Doyle Cup championship, a Western Canada Cup championship and an RBC Cup national championship.

But, let's go with the Flyers connection.

"Violating Team Rules" is a massive red flag to me. A freshman coming into a National title contending team and you violate team rules? Oooooooof.

Who cares how good the BCHL team is, it's not the point, BCHL won't get him ready for College hockey, as defense is non existed in that league

Best team, lesser league, over-ager? I guess playing elite competition was not one of the decision criteria.

Apparently

Good luck to him

CHL is comprised of three, so-called, major junior leagues: WHL, OHL and QMJHL...

He'll probably end up at Curry playing with Wise in a year.