One of his chief beefs there is that the CHL recruits 15 & 16 year olds. Putting aside the irony in the notion that anyone who represents the NCAA would criticize someone else's recruiting practices, Kelly's argument just took a huge hit.
Yes, it's football and not hockey. But 13 years old? How many other 13, 14, 15 year old football and basketball players get this kind of attention too only we never hear about it?
I think the NCAA is an awesome option to the CHL for young hockey players who are inclined that way, I'm not knocking it at all. I'm just getting tired of this guy's schtick already which seems to be primarily geared towards slagging the CHL instead of touting the benefits of his own product. I'm sure there are some CHL operators who are engaging in some shady practices, and that's unfortunate and if they're breaking the CHL's rules then they should be punished. But nobody who represents the NCAA like Kelly does should feel themselves in any position to be pointing fingers....
6 comments:
Didnt realize Paul Kelly controls football. Also does the kid lose his amateur status when he commits to an NCAA school...no but he does when he plays one major junior game. Major Junior can guarantee players an education...NCAA can
That's so hypocritical. It's okay for the NCAA to do this in Football and Men's College Basketball (where star players are certainly given money or "extra benefits" and are recruited too young) but since its not in Hockey, its no big deal. The NCAA has just as much or more dirt on their hands than the CHL leagues. Plus the NCAA can't guarantee an education. They can pull a students scholarship anytime they feel like it. If you mean they can guarantee passing grades so their athletes can play, like the FSU cheating scandal, you're spot on.
Paul Kelly is a joke. It would figure the NCAA would hire a lawyer for their PR since they make a living out of lying with a straight face. Maybe the NCAA should clean its own house before they start slinging dirt. Let he who hath no sins cast the first stone...
The NCAA will not give a single additional scholarship due to College Hockey Inc. This is a blatant attempt to get better players to play US college hockey, not more players. If the NCAA is serious about getting better player, here is an obvious solution. Recognize the player's monthly stipend as living expenses and not a professional wage. This would allow CHL players to play NCAA after their junior career (just like the CIS does). Truely do what is best for young hockey players instead of worrying about who has more NHL prospects.
Thank you Pat Nolan - a simple solution
By the way - if the pittance the junior players get is considered wages, why don't they get minimum wage? at least for the players on US teams? don't know the Canadian situation but the guys down here get nowhere near minimum wage...
Pat - you're preaching to the choir here. :-)
I have long said that the best solution is for the NCAA to allow kids to play major junior until they finish high school - so basically, their 16 and 17 year old seasons for most players. They aren't even eligible to play NCAA until then anyway. Once the kid finishes high school, he needs to make a decision which way to go - play even one more game of junior and he loses his NCAA eligibility. I think this is fair; it gives players a chance to try junior for a year or two and then decide what it is they want to do.
As it is now, it is the NCAA - not the junior leagues - who are forcing kids to make this decision at age 15 in many cases. At age 15 or 16, many of them have the opportunity to play junior and the NCAA is forcing them at that age to make a life-altering decision. Not fair.
The NCAA would also benefit from this by getting some 18 year olds who have played 1 or 2 years of major junior - those players are going to be better players and more ready to step right into the NCAA level of competition than a kid who has been playing junior A.
And Marty - the minimum wage in Canada varies from $8/hr in BC to $9.50 in Ontario. So it's safe to say the player stipends do not amount to minimum wage up here either.
Paul Kelly is fighting his fight on the wrong battle ground. Go home Paul and fight the NCAA and then USA Hockey and then the USHL...Then and only then should you even consider looking at the CHL. It's quite obvious that he has no chance against the NCAA or USA Hockey. If the NCAA opens up their recruiting it will kill the USNTDP and will also turn the USHL back into the second level Jr A league that is has always been.
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