The carousel spins until at least Christmas. On my son's NAHL team last year, the following things occurred:
* About 5 kids "made" the team after main and training camp, but never played.
* The team picked up a few USHL cuts the week or so after USHL rosters trimmed, and those USHL cuts resulted in healthy scratches and diminished ice time for kids that went through training camp and the first month of the season.
* A couple kids played 5-10 games with the team, but never got to dress in the main locker room with the team. They always dressed in an adjacent room with the weekly tryout players.
* There were 10-15 new faces in the locker room every Monday. Every single one of them wanted a spot. Some got game time. A couple got significant game time and effectively took spots from others.
* All but the top 5 players were constantly threatened with being cut. Some were told they suck and should quit hockey, or worse.
* Some kids played several games with the team, but only got a few shifts per game.
* Some players demanded trades. Some got traded. Some did not.
* Once the roster stabilized in around February, the coach clearly favored his top 5. They were double shifted and out for long shifts while others saw increasingly limited play. It was really noticeable in the playoffs.
I will admit that the team won a lot of games and did pretty well in the playoffs. But almost every kid hated it there, and very few returned. Several demanded trades.
And that's just junior. The transfer portal has become very active in NCAA sports, including hockey. So, the carousel keeps spinning on and on.
Thought the same thing as the OP but you have to realize that even D3 schools want a year or 2 of Juniors now. Kid has to really want it in order to compete for a spot anywhere at this point.
People have to stop, think, and keep repeating this to find some serenity -
Unless you are in the 2% tagged to be a professional player and getting paid to play, it does not matter one bit, other than ego and bragging, what level you play in college.
You will be working a job when you graduate and paying to play hockey like everyone else.
Weekly mens league games all over North America are filled with former D1, D3, ACHA, and even High School players, all on the same ice and none of them are getting paid.
When you stop chasing you can start enjoying.
People have to stop, think, and keep repeating this to find some serenity -
Unless you are in the 2% tagged to be a professional player and getting paid to play, it does not matter one bit, other than ego and bragging, what level you play in college.
You will be working a job when you graduate and paying to play hockey like everyone else.
Weekly mens league games all over North America are filled with former D1, D3, ACHA, and even High School players, all on the same ice and none of them are getting paid.
When you stop chasing you can start enjoying.
Then this message needs to passed down to JR coaches and organizations. If it doesn't matter then why pick a team and then cut them? I agree with you but it’s not reality.
So, should I look into what the early termination terms are on the lease that we just signed if our kid was a healthy scratch in the first 2 games? Can’t see this working out. Hearing kids coming in for Monday practice. Heck, he can’t crack the lineup now. Should have taken that spot in college.
Rumor has it Kings, BA, Bruins all cutting the prep players they tendered. Never sign a tender, those kids are forced to be done with hockey, nowhere to go.