WHL Draft

[The Exiled One]

Hudson Fasching was the first Minnesotan taken in the WHL draft at 163rd overall by Kelowna. Obviously, he would have gone much higher were he not a Minnesotan, but it's not uncommon for WHL teams to take flyers on high potential prospects like Fasching. I'll post again if there are any more MN kids selected.

[old goalie85]

At what age are players eligible for this draft.?

[Moose Jaw, SK]

At what age are players eligible for this draft.?

15 years old. It's called the Western Hockey League Bantam Draft.

[old goalie85]

thanks Moose

[The Exiled One]

Sorry, couldn't get back to you earlier. Like Moose said... 15. More specifically... 1995 born players, so most are still 14.

Hudson Fasching was the only Minnesotan taken... no Cammarata, no Reno, no Raskob, no Gross.

[Saywhat?03]

Just to add a little insight to the WHL draft process. If a minnesota born kid is going to play canadian juniors they need to play in the WHL. Where you play in Canadian juniors to start is based on where you are born. Also the reason why few to none players get drafted is because the chances of a kid from Minnesota playing in the canadian juniors instead of high school is very slim. So the teams would rather draft players that they feel have a good chance of joining there team at some point. They also arent like the USHL or other US junior leagues in that they prefer to get kids in there program before they graduate from high school vs after.

[Moose Jaw, SK]

Just to add a little insight to the WHL draft process. If a minnesota born kid is going to play canadian juniors they need to play in the WHL. Where you play in Canadian juniors to start is based on where you are born. Also the reason why few to none players get drafted is because the chances of a kid from Minnesota playing in the canadian juniors instead of high school is very slim. So the teams would rather draft players that they feel have a good chance of joining there team at some point. They also arent like the USHL or other US junior leagues in that they prefer to get kids in there program before they graduate from high school vs after.

Very true. I'd also like to add for clarification that U.S. born players in states west of the Mississippi River are eligible for the WHL (including MN). Another reason in addition to the high school play as mentioned is most Minnesotans tend to play NCAA rather than major junior level, like the WHL. Players are payed in the WHL and thus lose their NCAA eligibility. The players are also younger than most NCAA players. Most in major junior are 16-20 years old with only 3 players allowed to be "overage players" which is 20 years old.

[PoniesDad45]

I remember when kids used to play for the pride of their hometown high school. I know that is a crazy thought for many here.

[O-townClown]

I remember when kids used to play for the pride of their hometown high school.

Not in Western Canada. WHL is and always was king.

[muckandgrind]

I remember when kids used to play for the pride of their hometown high school. I know that is a crazy thought for many here.

You need to get outside of Minnesota....we are the exception, not the rule. Always have been.

And just because Fasching was drafted doesn't mean he will go....In fact, I would wager quite heavily that he doesn't go...which is why he was drafted so late. If a WHL team thought he would play for them, he would've been drafted much higher.

[bstarr15]

I thought I heard Stepan from SSM was supposed to be a prospect for the WHL. Maybe just another rumor??

[muckandgrind]

I thought I heard Stepan from SSM was supposed to be a prospect for the WHL. Maybe just another rumor??

Wouldn't he be too old for this draft? Isn't he a '94?

[bstarr15]

your correct he is a 94' must have misunderstood,my bad!!
Thanks for the correction.

[WhosPuckIsItAnyways?]

Players are payed in the WHL and thus lose their NCAA eligibility.

Players in the WHL, as in all three Canadian Major junior leagues, are not pros and are not paid a salary, no matter what the NCAA would have you believe. The players are paid a standard allowance of 50 dollars per week while they are being billeted out. Aditionally, if a player owns a vehicle he is allowed some gas money. However, there is no salary structure for players as there is in the professional leagues.

[WhosPuckIsItAnyways?]

I remember when kids used to play for the pride of their hometown high school.

Not in Western Canada. WHL is and always was king.

and rightfully, always will be. great hockey - and these days they match you a year post season scholarship for every year you play. Never used to be like that. Great improvement.

[O-townClown]

The difference in how the NCAA handles the USHL vs. Canada's three major leagues is peculiar.

New NCAA prez just named. Wonder if this is on his radar. (He's from Seattle, which actually has a WHL team.)

[philip18]

Who's puck has it right. After investigating and visiting WHL and USHL teams there seems to be only two differences. 1.The players get the living stipend in the WHL and the billeting family gets it in USHL and 2. The NCAA has chosen the USHL as its development league and not the WHL. No matter what the USHL/NCAA guys tell you the WHL does and has given lots of US college scholarships to their players after they are done playing in the WHL. The WHL players can play hockey with scholarships in Canadian Universities if the pro route does not work for them after the WHL. You lose one year of NCAA eligilbilty for each year played in the WHL. Fastest way to pros-WHL. USHL is the way for US college scholarships and maybe the pros after college.

[TrojanMan1]

you lose one year of NCAA eligilbilty for each year played in the WHL.

Actually if you even dress for an exhibition and sit on the bench the whole game, you lose your NCAA eligibility completely. Once you sign the paper for a CHL team, your right to play college hockey is gone.

[12345]

de

[DubCHAGuy]

you lose one year of NCAA eligilbilty for each year played in the WHL.

Actually if you even dress for an exhibition and sit on the bench the whole game, you lose your NCAA eligibility completely. Once you sign the paper for a CHL team, your right to play college hockey is gone.

Phillip is correct on the rule, however sitting on the bench for one game will count as one year in the WHL. Basically a player who played two seasons in the WHL would have to enroll at at NCAA school, attend for two years without playing hockey (not even practicing) and then his third year he could play, and would be considered a junior. It seems like a better option for the player would be to play out his junior eligibility and then when its time to hang em up they have the 3-4 years of free education courtesy of the WHL team.

[DubCHAGuy]

you lose one year of NCAA eligilbilty for each year played in the WHL.

Actually if you even dress for an exhibition and sit on the bench the whole game, you lose your NCAA eligibility completely. Once you sign the paper for a CHL team, your right to play college hockey is gone.

Phillip is correct on the rule, however sitting on the bench for one game will count as one year in the WHL. Basically how I understand it, a player who played two seasons in the WHL would have to enroll at at NCAA school, attend for two years without playing hockey (not even practicing) and then his third year he could play, and would be considered a junior. It seems like a better option for the player would be to play out his junior eligibility and then when its time to hang em up they have the 3-4 years of free education courtesy of the WHL team.

[Moose Jaw, SK]

The top players for certain teams make more than 50 bucks a week... Do you really think Johnny T was making 50 dollars canadian a week playing for London in the OHL last year and now on the Islanders? Hell even in the junior A non major-junior leagues in Canada like the BCHL and AJHL and others players make money under the table, but still keep their NCAA eligibility.

Also there is a player on Hamline's team in the MIAC, who played in the OHL with some top players for a few years. Spencer Anderson, he was even on the NHL central scouting list and played on Canada East all-star teams ect. His dad was also an NHL head coach for a while but I'm not sure if he still is. What is the rule for a player like that to play D-III?