Or perhaps, "coach I am honored and humbled to be recruited by you and your school. However, it is really important to me that I graduate from my small town Massachusetts high school and I will be excited to progress to juniors in preparation for the opportunity to be part of a low level D-III hockey program out in some little podunk town maybe in upstate New York or beyond."

Sounds like a future diploma holder from a third tier university.

Sure. If you say so. You make a compelling arguement

Hate to repeat what had already been said above but you two really seem like you're trying to mentally justify to yourself either your kid not being good enough to make the USHL, or rationalize a bad decision you made for him along the line and use the cop-out that the prep school education is the most important thing.

You go to a prep school to get into a good college. If you're getting recruited by a D1 coach who wants you to go to the USHL to play at the highest level possible to be able to step right in on their college team and contribute immediately, why would you need to stay for 2 or so more years of prep school? He's offering you the scholarship and saying if you go to Fargo Regional HS, you're still getting in.

Its easy to say that would be your response, but opportunities like that don't happen very often. If a kid really wants to play at the highest level and gets asked, you send him and if it dosent work out, fine, but you jump at that opportunity if hockey is the #1 goal. If education is the #1 goal, then yes, you can say no, but dont expect to be asked again.
99% of kids in our area wont have to worry about making that decision.

17 kids went directly from Prep to play D1 hockey this season. You can get a good education and go right into college. How about the loyalty factor to teammates and the school they go to? How about playing with your best friends your senior season? Coaches respect that.

I understand the argument you're trying to make and I respect it, but unfortunately it's just not how the game works anymore. You said 17 kids went directly from Prep to D1 last year, while I would challenge that number as it seems very high, I am not going to spend 45 minutes searching through rosters so we will go with it.

There are 53 teams in prep hockey. That means that each team had a 33% chance of having a player on their roster that was able to make it straight to D1....those are awful odds.

And while I do understand and ultimately feel the same way about the loyalty to teammates being thrown out the door, you can't value playing with your best buddies for your senior season in a higher regard than doing what is best for your career.

If an AHL player was an all-star and got called up to the big club right before the AHL playoffs, you can't expect him to get on the phone with Don Sweeney and say "Hey coach, I appreciate you giving me a chance but I have loyalty to my teammates in the AHL and want to play the rest of the season with them out of loyalty." Unfortunately, that's where the game is at right now.

Wow, great example and insight!

Except one is in the situation of being a professional paid player and one is as an amateur. I get what your are saying but thats apples and oranges. Numbers were taken from data on where D1 players come from - just picked out a few:

USHL - 195 - 39.16%
NAHL - 77
USPHL - 34
PREP - 17 - 3.41%

Just looking around at recent examples - Donato stayed at Dexter and played senior season, went to USHL and USPHL right after season and got picked in 2nd round of NHL. If a top NHL pick doesnt have to leave his prep school to play higher levels I would think that says it all.

You are forgetting..his last name is Donato. If his last name was Zergunderwicz do you think he has the same doors being opened?

Very true. Look at BU roster (#1 ranked team in country) - 7 kids came right from prep including several locals....

26 Oskar Andrén F So 6-1 185 Stockholm, Sweden Lone Star Brahmas (NAHL)
9 Kieffer Bellows F Fr 6-1 200 Edina, Minnesota U.S. National Under-18 Team (NTDP)
14 Bobo Carpenter F So 5-11 185 North Reading, Massachusetts Sioux City Musketeers (USHL)
10 Gabriel Chabot F Fr 5-8 180 Quebec City, Québec Rochester Jr. Americans (USPHL)
8 Ryan Cloonan F So 5-10 174 East Longmeadow, Massachusetts Boston Jr. Bruins (USPHL)
11 Patrick Curry F Fr 5-11 185 Schaumburg, Illinois Bloomington Thunder (USHL)
20 Brien Diffley D Jr 6-2 184 Burlington, Massachusetts Boston Jr. Bruins (USPHL)
17 Dante Fabbro D Fr 6-1 192 New Westminster, British Columbia Penticton Vees (BCHL)
18 Jordan Greenway F So 6-5 230 Canton, New York U.S. National Under-18 Team (NTDP)
21 Patrick Harper F Fr 5-9 160 New Canaan, Connecticut Avon Old Farms (PREP)
4 Brandon Hickey D Jr 6-2 190 Leduc, Alberta Spruce Grove Saints (AJHL)
23 Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson (A) F So 6-1 192 Stockholm, Sweden Omaha Lancers (USHL)
19 Clayton Keller F Fr 5-10 175 Swansea, Illinois U.S. National Under-18 Team (NTDP)
22 Tommy Kelley F Sr 5-10 186 Natick, Massachusetts St. Sebastian's (PREP)
5 Chad Krys D Fr 6-0 185 Ridgefield, Connecticut U.S. National Under-18 Team (NTDP)
30 Connor LaCouvee G Jr 6-0 196 Qualicum Beach, British Columbia Alberni Valley Bulldogs (BCHL)
1 Nico Lynch G Fr 5-11 172 Barnstable, Massachusetts Boston Advantage (Tier1)
16 John MacLeod D Jr 6-1 203 Dracut, Massachusetts U.S. National Under-18 Team (NTDP)
7 Charlie McAvoy D So 6-1 211 Long Beach, New York U.S. National Under-18 Team (NTDP)
28 Johnny McDermott F Fr 6-2 194 Darien, Connecticut Westminster Prep (PREP)
29 Jake Oettinger G Fr 6-4 205 Lakeville, Minnesota U.S. National Under-18 Team (NTDP)
13 Nikolas Olsson (A) F Jr 6-0 205 Escondido, California Sioux City Musketeers (USHL)
12 Chase Phelps F Jr 6-1 181 Edina, Minnesota Shattuck St. Mary's (PREP)
15 Nick Roberto F Sr 5-9 173 Wakefield, Massachusetts Kimball Union Academy (PREP)
27 Doyle Somerby (C) D Sr 6-5 223 Marblehead, Massachusetts Kimball Union Academy (PREP)
2 Shane Switzer D So 6-2 190 Bloomfield Hills, Michigan Lloydminster Bobcats (AJHL)


Read more: http://www.uscho.com/stats/roster/boston-university/mens-hockey/2016-2017/#ixzz4WiUj5tBZ

BU is an extreme example. First, there are only 6 listed listed that say Prep - not 7. Second, Shattucks in Minnesota can't be viewed as a prep school - its a hockey powerhouse. Third, Somerby went out to the USHL right after the prep season ended so his most recent team is inaccurate.

So 40% of all players in NCAA Division 1 came from the USHL??? A 16-team league? Hmmmm, yeah maybe that might be the best option....

Also, there's no way that 34 players came directly from the USPHL. The league won't stop posting former EJHL players as their own alumni, after they blew up a great league selfishly.

Great example is this page titled "Success Stories" on the USPHL website:

http://www.usphl.com/successstories

Not a single player listed on that page has ever played a game in the USPHL

Exactly! Who says you have to make a commitment before your senior year anyway. I think all of these hockey Jugheads are forgetting this. It has become a race to commit as opposed to commiting to a school. Hockey seems to be the only sport ( maybe lax, no surprise) that forgets this.

I will take both and not rush the kid!

Times have changed immensely. Some kids are forced to wait until senior year but most colleges are building teams years out and spots are usually taken by then.

So will there be a draft or no?

My kid wasn't contacted so I'm going to guess no

Any draft for this league, if it even gets off the ground next season, will be an after thought. Teams will be comprised of mainly the same kids who are already in the Jr ranks of these programs. They'll try to entice one or two D1 commits from the area to stay at home, but the players would need the blessing of the college coach to do so, and that's more than likely not going to happen. The reason being is that this new division is trying to muscle in on the tier 2 (NAHL) market, not the USHL crowd. Not really any comparison between the two leagues. Now take a look at the NAHL rosters and USPHL rosters and see how little room there will be for MA players in general. Not very promising. What that leaves you with, if your parent organization is one of these new "tuition free" tier 2 programs, is a nice tuition hike at the youth levels to pay for out of state players to come here and play on your dime. Not really a win win for Mass hockey.

First, sorry your kid is an idiot and cannot get into prep school.

Second, none of your kids will actually play D1. Parents of talented players are not drunk posting on the D-board.

Sorry your kid is not as good as you think he is

You can have both you know! A Student, Athlete can be both!

If a school wants you at 16, chances are they will want you at 18. Yes your development may be stunted a bit for those two years. So what. You go to JR's for a year or two afterwards ( Tier 1,2 or 3) and will land where you belong!

You do know that many kids go to the USHL and underperform, get dropped ( go to tier 2 or 3) and still end up where they belong Div 1,3, etc). So why rush it and pass on a great education?

Problem with hockey is math! Parents realize there are only so many scholarships and so many roster spots that you better grab it ( read: Commit) as soon as possible. Baseball, Football, Basketball doesn't have that issue. Too many opportunities. Lax.. Ha, Whatever. That is a joke.

Take the education people. If US Dev team comes calling then it makes sense. They have a good system in place and a good High School, etc. Otherwise, wait until 18 or 19 and see what the player needs are.

It all depends and each kid and family situation is different. But I love the elitist east coast attitude that somehow the schools in the midwest are automatically inferior to the schools around here. My nephew played for an USHL team and his high school was one of the top public schools in the country. And remember the kids don't really flee and go to private schools out there. It ended-up his high school was better hands down than the one in his home town.

Another thing, in talking to some college coaches they do point to the league being better, the hockey is better, they play more games in front of larger crowds, the kids generally are older but also the kids who play out there and stick show a commitment and a maturity of being able to be away from home and handle a new situation. Quite different than going off to a prep school up in the north woods, being spoon feed daily and playing a mixed and limited schedule against second rate 15 and 16 year olds.

If you want to develop you play in the best league you can handle.

Sure ; Walk away from Deerfield to go to SouX City high school. USHL will be there after graduation. Get a grip buddy!!

Sure, walk away from Brockton or Rockland or Boxboro to go to Sioux City high school?

USHL will be there after graduation? For whom?

Look. The thinking here is why rush it? Yes, the USHL Hockey is far superior to Prep School hockey and yes it will better prepare you for Division 1 hockey. Why not finish school at 18 yrs old and then go out there to play for a year or two if given the opportunity? Why is that a bad option? You really think all of your opportunities at 16 are going to dry up if you wait until you are 18? I don't think so. As a matter of fact most 18 yr olds will be better prepared for the USHL post high school than at 16 yrs old.

Division 1 Rosters are half filled with players who did not play in the USHL. Again, USHL is the best period. Does not mean you have to walk away from a great opportunity here in the east at 16, 17 or 18, to go out west so you can come back east at 19 or 20.

If you are a borderline D1 prospect and going to a top prep school you are less likely to get an invite to the USHL before you graduate anyway. If you are a stud at 16 and likely invited than you can hedge your bets, stay in prep ( maybe develop at a slower rate) commit Hockey east and spend a year or two out west. Kid from Brooks CM now at BC did that. Seems to be working out fine. Another kid left Proctor a few years ago and is on his third team and struggling at 19 or 20. I am sure things will work out fine for both of these kids and many others. I just think that things are a little out of whack!

No, it won't. You turn them down, especially if you're from out east where there is already an awful reputation of not showing up, then you're done.

Someone established earlier, if a D1 tells you to go out there then you go. They are telling you to prepare to enter their school ready to go. USHL is the only league to do that in. You go to Prep school so you can get into a good college. If a D1 is recruiting you with a scholarship, then mission accomplished. No one looks at job resumes and thinks "Oh he was the hockey captain at UVM, but he went to Muskegon High School, so he isn't up to our standards."

No, it won't. You turn them down, especially if you're from out east where there is already an awful reputation of not showing up, then you're done.

1. Not showing up is different than delaying it. Not being a straight shooter is a whole different story. They can draft you and leave you on the protected list until you are ready or they decide they don't need you. So what!

Someone established earlier, if a D1 tells you to go out there then you go. They are telling you to prepare to enter their school ready to go. USHL is the only league to do that in. You go to Prep school so you can get into a good college. If a D1 is recruiting you with a scholarship, then mission accomplished.

2. How about not committing to a college until start of Senior Year? I guess then the school wouldn't have any say in that matter, right?



No one looks at job resumes and thinks "Oh he was the hockey captain at UVM, but he went to Muskegon High School, so he isn't up to our standards."

3. No, but the overall experience will help them when they get to college. It will help them to stay in college. It will help them to succeed in college. Besides I am talking about decisions for 16 or 17 year olds. Not 25 year olds out jop hunting. Don't kid yourself; If you go to Belmont Hill and then Bowdoin or Harvard or Princeton or Amherst many more others you would have opened up many more doors than if you play D1 at Mercyhurst or Bentley or Sacred Heart, wherever.

But what if he goes to Deerfield and then to Curry College to play D-3...does that open many doors???

Or what about going to Deerfield and playing club at a Michigan or a Wisconsin, does that open many doors?

If he is Good enough for d1 at 16 then he will be good enough at 18. Why so scared? Afraid he will go NESCAC and you won't recover all the youth hockey money invested?

He can forgo USHL for two years.

All three points here are misleading. There is a picture that has been painted on this thread that "you have to go out to the USHL at 16". There are only 9-10 2000's (16 years old) in the USHL, and only one of them is from Mass. The Mass kid, TW, has been the best 2000 around since he was a mite, and belongs in that league. This speaks to the lack of knowledge that east coast parents have, and the massive egos that current EHF squirt/peewee parents have, that they'll have the option at 16 and be able to turn it down.

The USHL has a draft each May. They have a Phase 1 Draft (10 rounds of 16 year olds only - last year was 2000's, this year is 2001's), and then a Phase 2 Draft is for the older group (this year would be 97's - 2000's). This year there are tons of players in prep and U16 elite teams that are 2000's and 1999's and are on their respective team's protected list. A lot of them are committed and are committing right now, but the point being made is whenever the college says to them along their line of development "OK you're at the point where you are 1-2 years out from playing for us, it's time to go to the USHL and play at the high caliber to prepare for college, you playing another year of prep will do nothing for development and the jump to college from prep is a HUGE one".

Agreed, except TJW was not the best but maybe was third best and now in the top 5-10 00 from Mass. He did not light up Prep last year ( although was coming off an injury) and avg .33 pts / game and -10, certainly would have been fine staying back east for another year or so. This has been my point all along! People slow down! Players can't sign a NLI until fall of sr year anyway. What is the rush?

You sort of sound like an 00 parent with an axe to grind. TW and JW were head and shoulders above the rest of the 2000's in MA growing up. There are a couple of D you could throw into the conversation, but as far as being able to dominate a game - it was those two and then a huge drop afterwards.

He missed half of the prep season and then dominated as a true prep freshman at Cushing who plays a tough schedule. The USHL is known to have a great deal of parity in the league, but if you are going to mention that he is a -10 +/- and averaging .33 pts a game, I think it's fair to say that the team he is playing for in Cedar Rapids started the season 0-18-0 (!!!!!), and currently are at 5-28. So, that's a low blow to the kid to try to belittle what he is doing at age 16 in a league of men, and to have 7 points in 20 games with how bad the team is struggling is actually pretty impressive.

He has not slowed down. I'm sure BC is ear to ear smiling that he is out playing again 19-20 year old future Division 1 players right now as opposed to riding a bus from Cushing down to play against Brooks. And after playing this year and the next two in the league, graduating, you can bet he will go right in as a true freshman.

Not bashing at all. He played at Cushing on a power line and averaged a point a game. The schedule is strong and yes, I am certain he has a great future.

Five years ago He, JW, and OW ( played much of the time in Ma) were the three best players around here for sure. Now, JW and OW are on the U17 team and like them, TJW is playing against 18-19 future D1 players!!! That is my point!! No need to rush it. He is an elite 17 year old and could reasonably still be playing in Prep without missing a beat. So what is that to say about the other 16-17 year olds who are a step or two below. No big rush and as you say the USHL is full of 18-19 year olds who ware future D1 players.

A lot of the legacy kids simply play high school hockey here for two years and then go out to the USHL for two more before reporting to the school of daddy's choice. Remember Adam Erne who got everyone riled-up here when he got a waiver to play in the USHL at 15(?)? Looking at his profile he's made it to the NHL for a cup of coffee before being sent back to the AHL but it was a long, long road.

Adam Erne
Born Apr 20 1995 -- New Haven, CT
[21 yrs. ago]

2010-11 Indiana Ice USHL
2011-12 Quebec Remparts QMJHL
2012-13 Quebec Remparts QMJHL
2013-14 Quebec Remparts QMJHL
2013-14 Syracuse Crunch AHL
2014-15 Quebec Remparts QMJHL
2015-16 Syracuse Crunch AHL
2016-17 Syracuse Crunch* AHL
2016-17 Tampa Bay Lightning* NHL

Well said. I don't think anyone that is getting worked up on this post has a kid that will be heading to the D1 ranks...

Hopefully the new jr league will be a good alternative for the player who has outgrown prep school hockey but can stay local , go to hometown high school and play local Jr's.

Still think it would be sound to get the better education and play jrs after

So in other words:

"Hopefully the new jr league will be a good alternative for players who are not good enough to play in the USHL and either get cut or not recruited there at all"

I love it when a a bunch of '05 and '06 parents get all worked up and start projecting what will be for their little super stars. How about you at least get your kid to high school to see if he can actually play, before you have him drafted by the USHL and NHL. Seriously, you folks are down right delusional!

Need perspective? USHL games will be FREE this weekend on @MyHockeyTV! USHL will preview the weekend's matchups all week long http://bit.ly/2koy23I

I love it when people that don't know anything about prep hockey and maybe know how to spell Juniors talk about either.

Prep hockey isn't the USHL. Not any more. When decent 15 year olds can get top six minutes, it means it isn't what it used to be.

The best prep players are leaving for Juniors, or think about leaving, even for Tier 3 Juniors, when they're 17 or 18. D1 coaches don't need to see you play against 15 year olds. They want to see you play against 20 year olds, like you're going to have to in NCAA. At that point, the objective is to get drafted, so you want the shortest path possible to get to the pros. In minor league baseball terms, think of Juniors as A ball, NCAA as AA, and AHL as AAA.

And, the best prep players aren't exactly getting pushed academically. So forget that "great education" thing. They're there to play hockey. Or football. Or whatever sport they are being paid to play. Because, let's face it, free room and board and discounted tuition is getting paid to play.

How much would you say (on average) is the discount for a top level player?

Blaaaaaaaaaaaahahaha blah ha ha ha ha! "Prep hockey isn't the USHL. Not any more."

Hey gramps...psssst - it never was, what do you mean 'Not any more" ???

this argument is ridiculous .... its an age old argument over athletics vs education... is the USHL better? NO Sh** Sherlock ! I Any one who knows hockey know that the USHL is far superior ...BUT how many kids burn out and go no where, get bad habits and fail out of school?... never hear those stats... if your kid is mature and focused go for it, realize that you our now putting all your eggs in the hockey basket at 16 .....does Phillips, Groton, Deerfield etc. offer better networks for your child's future not just educationally but socially because the geek your kid might be rooming with is a senators son. Yes.. is the hockey as good...no...but you can leave school after graduating and play real JR USHAL NAHL and BCHL(is also highly recruited) and the top 5 USPHL teams .. IN THE END THE POINT IS THAT ANY COACH WILL SAY IF YOU ARE GOOD ENOUGH WE WILL FIND YOU! most will have to test themselves at JR regardless of when you choose to go,, if your good they will take you at any time on any JR team...prep Example Condon Belmont Hill - Princeton (terrible education) - NHL...every person has there path find yours

More local kids would chose to go out and play in the other leagues if they just killed most of the local junior programs. Enough. They're selling dreams and lining their pockets.

That's why I love the local kid who said 'no thanks' to the USHL and just went on to college to study and play club hockey. Way to go kid! Who needs to buy the dream.

You nailed it exactly. And this is my kid - couldn't be happier with his decisions. Enjoyed his time playing elite youth hockey and a great high school career, then moved on to college playing intramural (not club) hockey. He said he knew it was the right decision when he met the 21 year old freshmen in his dorm (he goes to a Hockey East school) that spent two years playing juniors for nothing. If the US Dev Team comes calling, go for it, otherwise as others have said - your kid isn't playing D1 hockey.

PLEASE let us know who the local kid that said no to the USHL and elected to go to college and study and play club hockey. PLEASE LET US KNOW.

TJW only went to USHL bc he didn't make the U17 team. It was not strategy.

Thank you. Thought everyone knew that. Lot of "knowledge" being thrown around yesterday.

There's also another MA 2000 besides OW (if you consider him MA), TJW and JW that is in the league. See if you can find him.

I give up...what's your son's initials??

Well its been a long while since I have been on here but the discussions haven't changed. My oldest wasn't good enough for USHL, stayed home, played 4 years at his high school, played a year of JRs, and is now at NESCAC school finishing up 4 years of playing and moving onto a job for the NHL.
I know it wasn't D1 but its been an awesome ride for all of us. Our youngest is a much better player and will be given more opportunities but I hope he decides a similar path because once hockey is done, you are expected to contribute in the real world, and I don't mean by working at a hockey shop!
Good luck to all of these athletes, there is a place for all of them, just dont get yourself in the way.

I'd say "Contributing to the real world" =

Paying taxes.

Being a role model for kids

Volunteering for those less fortunate

Being a good person

Leaving the world a better place than when you got here.

Sounds like this guy hit the old nail on the head.



I'd say "Contributing to the real world" =

Paying taxes.

Being a role model for kids

Volunteering for those less fortunate

Being a good person

Leaving the world a better place than when you got here.

01-02 Draft Happening today

Sorry if your kid gets drafted.

Just got the call and declined

Without too many details where does your kid play now (in general terms) and has he been drafted by other leagues????

South Boston area, have not been drafted by other leagues yet, we are crossing our fingers.

The USPHL first ever futures draft will be held today at 4pm per Rochester JR Hockey Club. Good luck to all the local 01 and 02's!

Wait...what?!? You are holding on to hope that your son will be drafted by an unsanctioned startup junior league that is looking to transition from pay-to-play to free without a viable economic model? Oh boy, no wonder these guys get rich on hockey parents. My guess is that when you look around the table, you can't pick out the sucker.

No. Fingers crossed the other leagues come through, we declined this offer. Geez, take it down a few notches. Nobody getting rich from my money.

I see...other leagues. Fingers crossed for other leagues. My bad. Good luck to your boy.

Draft is over. Any results?

Bandits trade first overall pick to the Kings for an 06 team

Hopefully the USPHL NCDC does take off and becomes a viable option for local kids. Getting drafted is still cool no matter what league. It doesnt effect the kids in anyway other than positive recognition at this age. If league pans out in a few years and kids can stay closer to home an play free hockey then its a success.

It won't. USHL teams would beat them by 2 touchdowns.

As things are constituted presently the USHL would beat the top USPHL teams handily. Against the NAHL it would be closer.

Give this league a few years. If they can make it work they are likely to be on par with the NAHL and other similar leagues (BCHL ,AJHL,etc).

Down the road who knows.

What isn't viable about the model of charging 500 youth players $500 more to cover the expenses of "free" Juniors? Isn't that exactly how USA hockey does it, albeit over a much larger pool of players to charge?

And what's so "free" about "tuition free" hockey? Consider this:

The average player wanting to play in the NAHL last season spent $6500 in the summer attending “team camps.” That includes “pre draft,” “open” and “main” camp payments. It includes travel costs, hotel costs, meal costs and various other expenses. That is the average, and far from the maximum amount spent by some players.

Any proof of this?

is it backwards to have this draft now? Why not wait until after USHL and NAHL have their draft first?

Only proof I see is the Kings posted it on Twitter this morning.

Drsft results:
http://www.usphl.com/news_article/show/751807?referrer_id=

only 1 MA player drafted by Islanders. This shows how competitive it gets and this is Tier III Juniors. A few leagues above this. USHL NAHL BCHL

All curent 01 and 02 MA players on USPHL U16 teams could have been protected by their current teams, so they could not be drafted by anone else.

check out the protected lists. That is not the case. Not many will move up from within the programs to the free junior level. Need to find the best players from all over. IHC only drafted one MA player.

This is not a good start to the league, its a laughing stock and its watering down junior hockey

Not a good start? Teams took basically every 01 and 02 D1 commits and a lot of these kids are NTDP contenders. Not sure you can get much better. Doesnt mean the league will be successful - but the picks are no brainers and if these kids do play in USPHL-NCDC then its promising.

Some picks are elite, some are just good players. All have promising futures. I wish them good luck

Jeez, your post really sums up the draft. Plenty of MA kids drafted. The Jr Bruins picked up half of the 2001 MMF. SSK went all local as well.

The purpose of the USPHL draft is to keep local kids from having to go to the USHL and instead play junior hockey locally - therefore they took local players.

This is a great start and congratulations to those who were drafted. It is great to be recognized. In the next few years, things will shake out for this league and I am sure they will stake a claim to many of the better players in the area. It will be tough for them to supplant the kids who are ready for the USHL but outside of that league, it may be a nice option for many other players who have options in the NAHL, BCHL, AJHL, etc