Major Juniors vs. MN high school coach's assoc. - 2/26 Strib

mnpuckster · Post by **mnpuckster** » Thu Feb 28, 2013 2:54 pm

I agree here with Hawk. There are right and wrong ways to do things.

I know its probably hard for him to believe, but there is more than 1 person on the hockey TEAM. Clearly the team aspect means nothing.

This isn't tennis or golf. It's a team game. It wouldnt have been too hard to put off the recruiting trip until March.

Im not so sure the punishment was proper, but that isnt my call, or any of your calls. Thats why he is the head coach, and you are posting on the forum.

Lots of information on the WHL from y'all though. Must either love the league, or must have a gig like mine where you can lookup nonsense all day.

scorekeeper · Post by **scorekeeper** » Thu Feb 28, 2013 2:58 pm

O-townClown wrote:Scorekeeper, D3:

Would you be in favor of a CHL rule preventing teams from adding an American-born player under age 18 after February 1st?

There's no reason for them to do it and I'm not suggesting it. Hey, it isn't THEIR place to look out for kids.

I just find it odd that players like Keegan Iverson and Alec Baer are needed to close out the season. Many NHL guys get a look late in the season too, but they don't give anything up for that opportunity. Look up the hockey bios for guys like Jim Boo or J.T. Brown...it's always been that way.

The complaint, and I've heard this from NHL personnel, is that the purpose of the late-season game is to lock players in for next year.

Ask a kid if he wants to play hockey. They answer is probably yes. Ask if he wants to go to the NHL. They probably say yes. Can't they wait a few months to ask?

Seems like a big difference between the Walker brothers who left to play full seasons and Iverson or Baer.

Oh well, it is what it is. The WHL (OHL/Q) has no obligation to worry about the NCAA schools, so I'm not surprised this happens.

They do want to lock them up, but they give them a full year in school for even a single game played, so they don't just offer those opportunities to anybody. They bring kids up in the spring that they see being part of their club in the future.

I know many guys who went through this and they will tell you it's a HUGE help to the kids to get in the game early, familiarize themselves with the cutlture, the team staff, team mates, billets, the community, the school , the speed of the game, everything.

That way when they go back in the fall they hit the ground running and they aren't deers in the headlights. It helps a LOT for those kids who will play as 16 year olds to get even a small taste in the spring, as it is a big adjustment.

It doesn't hurt that they get a headstart on the education, with one year already in the bank and again, these opportunities are typically only offered to players the team staff has identified as big part of the teams future.

It's a good thing, so no, I wouldn't be in favor of rules preventing kids from taking advantage of those opportunities. I guess I know too many people personally who have benefited.

Hockey has enough rules. I would be in favor of LESS rules not more and it would be the best thing for everyone involved if the NCAA dropped it's ridiculous stance, as they are the ones throwing around the self-serving, option-limiting, freedom-crushing ultimatums.

mulefarm · Post by **mulefarm** » Thu Feb 28, 2013 3:08 pm

A reason many of the junior teams want the young players is so they can developand be drafted as high possible! The NHL pays junior teams for players that are drafted, the higher the player the more money they get. Same with USHL teams and that is why in the last 8-10 years they have become a younger league and the NAHL is an older league.

hawkhockey · Post by **hawkhockey** » Thu Feb 28, 2013 3:09 pm

scorekeeper wrote:
hawkhockey wrote:
scorekeeper wrote: Missing 1 of 100 practices through the year to attend to a personal matter is hardly the sinister deed you are trying to spin it as, but nice try. Going out of your way to postpone the matter until a weekend your team is idle is appropriate.
this is not an appropriate personal matter. this wasnt an ill family member, this was a recruiting trip. im not spinning it any way other than he left his team late in the season to scope out a new one. I'd like to compare this to having a girlfriend that decides to shop around for a new guy but comes back saying no its okay im just looking at them for later. chances are you're kicking her to the curb. and i can honestly tell you i never missed a practice in high school except when out with concussions. and even then i still went to practice
Of course it's an appropriate personal matter. It's a personal issue that is potentially post-high school and requires some serious consideration.
Why use the girlfriend analagy when hockey has so many of it's own.
Kids go to Shattuck all the time in-season to skate for the SSM coaches. They hold skates monthly starting in January.
Dido for the NCAA colleges, who have hockey players in all winter to come for recruiting trips and skates.
Even the Northern Educate Academy holds in-season open houses.
Alec didn't even skate. Just watched a hockey game and met some legends.
This is hardly uncommon in the hockey community and if it were commonplace to kick kids off of teams for these reasons there would be a lot of short rosters.
Benilde crossed a line here and I'm sure they wish they could do it all over and handle it better, but what's done is done. Time to move on.

Please explain to me how this is an appropriate personal matter. I get that hes looking out for his future. I understand that but that makes it selfish. This is a "personal matter" that was planned and could have been postponed, aka not an emergency where he needed to miss that practice to do it. I use the girlfriend analogy to widen the base here since i havent been able to make progress another way. None of your examples listed are in the same nature as visiting a WHL team. I'll bet you (dont know for sure) that players dont miss practices to attend shattuck or Northern Educate events. yes kids go on NCAA trips but players dont leave with high school eligibility still on the table to go play college. None of these compare to visiting a whl team.

I'd like to point out that in no way am I against the WHL and major juniors. Its great hockey that has extreme success in getting players to the show. Had I had the opportunity to play in the dub I would have considered, but i would have done it the right way by waiting until the end of the season and fulfilling the commitment i made to my team

scorekeeper · Post by **scorekeeper** » Thu Feb 28, 2013 3:23 pm

hawkhockey wrote: Please explain to me how this is an appropriate personal matter. I get that hes looking out for his future. I understand that but that makes it selfish.

It's a personal matter because it has nothing to do with the school or the Red Knights hockey team, hence, it's a personal matter. It's really none of your business or mine or Pauly's. The family is contemplating a decision for the future and decided this trip was a neccessary step in their decision making process. It's not for you or I or Pauly to say it or isn't. It's up to them. It's personal.

hawkhockey wrote: This is a "personal matter" that was planned and could have been postponed, aka not an emergency where he needed to miss that practice to do it.

yes. Exactly. They knew from his good camp in August that they might wish to explore this further. They intentionally pre-planned a weekend the team was idle, so his absence would not be missed.

hawkhockey wrote: I'll bet you (dont know for sure) that players dont miss practices to attend shattuck or Northern Educate events.

I do know for sure. I've been there. I've seen it. As a coach for over a decade, I have encouraged my own players to go for those skates. I've done it with both of my boys. It's kids hockey and they can miss 1 of 100 practices. It's done all the time and it's not a big deal.

hawkhockey wrote: yes kids go on NCAA trips but players dont leave with high school eligibility still on the table to go play college.

Wether Alec wants to play college hockey or not or even attend college is Alec's decision to make with his family. Has nothing to do with a high school coach. Besides which, he doesn't forfeit his right to attend college and he doesn't even forfeit his right to play college hockey, as tons of WHL grads go on to play college hockey.

hawkhockey wrote: None of these compare to visiting a WHL team.

Of course they do. It's EXACTLY the same thing

hawkhockey wrote: I'd like to point out that in no way am I against the WHL and major juniors. Its great hockey that has extreme success in getting players to the show. Had I had the opportunity to play in the dub I would have considered, but i would have done it the right way by waiting until the end of the season and fulfilling the commitment i made to my team

In hindsight I believe they might have waited till the end of the season, but the point is, they shouldn't have to. When Alec told his coach he was going to watch a Giants game and check out the atmosphere, his coach should have simply said; "have fun. see ya Monday."

scorekeeper · Post by **scorekeeper** » Thu Feb 28, 2013 3:30 pm

mulefarm wrote:A reason many of the junior teams want the young players is so they can developand be drafted as high possible! The NHL pays junior teams for players that are drafted, the higher the player the more money they get. Same with USHL teams and that is why in the last 8-10 years they have become a younger league and the NAHL is an older league.

That's a good point. WHL teams get 50K for each kid on their team that gets drafted, so they have a vested interest in identifying kids with NHL-draft potential and then surrounding those kids with a team who is keen to get them drafted.

If you break down the actual WHL development model you can see it.

Teams are basically made up on the competitive end of 3 X twenty year olds, 2 import Euros (can be any age) and 5 or 6 X 19 year olds. These are the kids that make up the nucleus of a team.

The younger kids , usually 1 or 2 X 16 year olds and then 5 or 6 each X 17 & 18 year olds make up the developmental pipeline within a team. They focus on putting those 17 and 18 year old draft prospects in positions to succeed and show off their skills. The 16's are typically the top young prospects and are along for the ride while they learn the ropes.

Iverson, Bittner and Turgeon in Portland are a good example of 3 X 16 year olds that are rotating through. Walker in Victoria is also on a rotation with two other young defenders. These kids will get more feature opportunities next year in their draft years and then will be expected to the lead the team in their 18 and 19 year old seasons.

It's a model that's worked well for almost 40 years

I am excited for Alec Baer. He's going to have a tremendous experience in Vancouver/WHL and it will be fun cheering for him and charting his progress.

Bluewhitefan · Post by **Bluewhitefan** » Thu Feb 28, 2013 3:40 pm

[quote="hawkhockeyI'd like to compare this to having a girlfriend that decides to shop around for a new guy but comes back saying no its okay im just looking at them for later. chances are you're kicking her to the curb. [/quote]

If a girl is looking to improve her situation and upgrade, we should support her 100%.

Neuuman · Post by **Neuuman** » Thu Feb 28, 2013 4:24 pm

Hypothetical situation -

The Boston College head coaching position becomes available in mid January. They need to fill the position very quickly. They decide Ken Pauly is the guy they want. He misses a mid week practice to fly to Boston to interview for the job. He says he'll take the job after the high school season ends. They say they need him immediately. He says he can't do that and turns the job down. He returns to BSM the following day and is called in to the AD's office and immediately fired.

Do you think this would be fair? More importantly, do you think Ken Pauly would think this was fair?

Is this really that different than what Alec Baer did?

Just curious what other people think.

mulefarm · Post by **mulefarm** » Thu Feb 28, 2013 4:32 pm

Not a big Pauly fan, but time to let it die. Only the coach and player know what was said. To bring up all this hypothetical situations is ludicrious. I'm sure they have both moved on.

Gopher Blog · Post by **Gopher Blog** » Thu Feb 28, 2013 10:34 pm

scorekeeper wrote:Your so full of feces I don't know where to start, so I won't. Save your fear-mongering nonsense for the already brainwashed. You just don't have a clue what you speak of. Not a clue.

LOL. I take the fine print directly from the WHL. Pretty tough to twist rules/words that THEY wrote for themselves.

O-townClown · Post by **O-townClown** » Thu Feb 28, 2013 11:32 pm

Score:

On one hand the 16-year-old benefits from getting a year of school to use later, on the other hand you say we're talking about kids in the developmental pipeline that are expected to be NHL draft picks.

Seems like this educational contract is a big illusion. It's offered to the 16-year-old that isn't expected to use it. AHL or ECHL awaits, if all goes as planned. No?

Your favoring of the CHL path does ignore something; some kids need more time to develop. Matt Gilroy being an obvious example, with Joe Pavelski as another. Presently in college you have Myles Harvey. Maybe this doesn't mean much when the WHL wants 16-year-olds that are advanced? It's possible the late-bloomers and pool of kids they want young are mutually exclusive.

We have some kids from our state in the OHL. I hope it is everything they wanted because there's no turning back. One trailblazer that preceded them definitely regrets it.

Slap Shot · Post by **Slap Shot** » Fri Mar 01, 2013 12:05 am

D3Referee wrote:
Tigers33 wrote:This family made a commitment to play at bsm this season!! Correct?? Then this family should have waited til the season was over to go visit. I am assuming they will still be playing in mid march. So after the bsm season has concluded a visit should be scheduled. End of conversation people!
End of conversation? Really? Yet Pauley says he would have been fine going to visit Wisconsin or Notre Dame mid-season. So, what's the difference? Why shouldn't he have to wait to visit them as well till after BSM was

College hockey happens after hs graduation.

scorekeeper · Post by **scorekeeper** » Fri Mar 01, 2013 12:14 am

O-townClown wrote:Score:

On one hand the 16-year-old benefits from getting a year of school to use later, on the other hand you say we're talking about kids in the developmental pipeline that are expected to be NHL draft picks.

Well, I don't think anyone is expected to be NHL draft pick. That's the lofty goal and they certainly do they everything they can to assist the player reach that goal. Not everyone gets drafted, but they have a pretty good track record with their 16 year olds (I think it's close to 70%). But it certainly makes the scholarship a bigger factor for some than others. For some it ends up being just an insurance policy.

O-townClown wrote: Seems like this educational contract is a big illusion. It's offered to the 16-year-old that isn't expected to use it. AHL or ECHL awaits, if all goes as planned. No?

No illusion at all. 301 active grads on scholarships is far from an illusion. Real world life changing stuff for some of these kids. AHL, KHL, Other Euro, NHL, ECHL, coaching gigs. Lots of things await these kids in the future. Some may wish to be airline pilots, doctors or electricians. I guess it depends on the individal plans that people have. Not sure that is any different than anywhere else.

O-townClown wrote: Your favoring of the CHL path does ignore something; some kids need more time to develop. Matt Gilroy being an obvious example, with Joe Pavelski as another. Presently in college you have Myles Harvey.

I don't think the WHL is for everybody. Let's be clear on that. Some guys do need time to mature physically or otherwise. The NCAA is a better path for some. We should applaud and support kids as they make the choices that are best for them.

O-townClown wrote: Maybe this doesn't mean much when the WHL wants 16-year-olds that are advanced? It's possible the late-bloomers and pool of kids they want young are mutually exclusive.

I think you are right about that for the most part. There may be a few exceptions, but not many.

O-townClown wrote: We have some kids from our state in the OHL. I hope it is everything they wanted because there's no turning back. One trailblazer that preceded them definitely regrets it.

There will always be people who have regrets. Sometimes they have made a choice that wasn't well suited for them. Other times things just don't work out. That also is part of life and happens in every sector. Then again, some people who have regrets would have had regrets anyways. For some people, that's part of their makeup.

I personally don't know of anyone who has regrets playing in the WHL but I know first hand dozens of players who reallized their dreams through the WHL. But I am Canadian, born and raised in WHL territory, where every kid dreams of pulling on those jerseys, no different than Minnesota kids dream of pulling on a Gopher jersey or UMD etc.

There are certainly some cultural differences and with so many D1 schools right in Minnesota, I am not suprised at the draw. What I don't understand is the vitriol towards the WHL and the lengths that some will go to spread mis-information and even fear.

It's just another great option for talented hockey players. An option, which has been no less than the #1 supplier of talent to the NHL and pumping out 300 scholarships a year. The entire WHL experience, the chance to play professionally and a world class education. It's an extraordinary experience.

scorekeeper · Post by **scorekeeper** » Fri Mar 01, 2013 12:17 am

Slap Shot wrote:
D3Referee wrote:
Tigers33 wrote:This family made a commitment to play at bsm this season!! Correct?? Then this family should have waited til the season was over to go visit. I am assuming they will still be playing in mid march. So after the bsm season has concluded a visit should be scheduled. End of conversation people!
End of conversation? Really? Yet Pauley says he would have been fine going to visit Wisconsin or Notre Dame mid-season. So, what's the difference? Why shouldn't he have to wait to visit them as well till after BSM was
College hockey happens after hs graduation.

What if the kid doesn't want to graduate? Should he then be encouraged to use his visits to explore his junior options instead?

scorekeeper · Post by **scorekeeper** » Fri Mar 01, 2013 12:43 am

Gopher Blog wrote:
scorekeeper wrote:Your so full of feces I don't know where to start, so I won't. Save your fear-mongering nonsense for the already brainwashed. You just don't have a clue what you speak of. Not a clue.
LOL. I take the fine print directly from the WHL. Pretty tough to twist rules/words that THEY wrote for themselves.

Alright. I'll indulge you just this once.

This is EXACTLY the typical do***bag behavior that fear-mongers like Gopher Blog like to use to scare people away from exploring their options.

In this particular case, he purposely selects the words FINE PRINT to describe the conditions of the WHL Scholarship. He has selected these words to insinuate that the WHL is trying to hide something. That it is less than advertised. That there is something wrong with it or it is somehow flawed.

To expand, Wikipedia describes it thusly;

---

Fine print, small print, or "mouseprint" is less noticeable print smaller than the more obvious larger print it accompanies that advertises or otherwise describes or partially describes a commercial product or service. The larger print that is used in conjunction with fine print is used by the merchant in effect to deceive the consumer into believing the offer is more advantageous than it really is.

The use of fine print has become a common method of advertising in certain market niches, particularly those of high-margin specialty products or services uncompetitive with those in the mainstream market. The practice, for example, can be used to mislead the consumer in reference to an item's price, its value, or the nutritional content of a food product.

---

He adds the use of "LOL" and smiley faces to add a condescending tone. Like you would be stupid to entertain such a foolhardy endeavour. That you are being duped.

He is banking on you taking his word for it. Afterall, he is connected in the Minnesota Hockey Community. he's even got a cute little twitter account and a handle that suggests he's in the know. He's taken this right from the WHL, he says. It's THEIR "fine print" he tells you. "I am not twisting anything", he says.

Really? Well tell me folks, and you be the judge, does this look like FINE PRINT to you?
http://www.whl.ca/prospects-central-whl ... ip-program

If you are one of these kids who has these options, do yourself a favor - don't listen to these idiots. Do your own homework or utilize your advisor. Get the right answers and don't let these fear-mongers scare you off of a potential life-changing opportunity.

Good Luck!

Slap Shot · Post by **Slap Shot** » Fri Mar 01, 2013 12:55 am

scorekeeper wrote:
Slap Shot wrote:
D3Referee wrote: End of conversation? Really? Yet Pauley says he would have been fine going to visit Wisconsin or Notre Dame mid-season. So, what's the difference? Why shouldn't he have to wait to visit them as well till after BSM was
College hockey happens after hs graduation.
What if the kid doesn't want to graduate?

Then D3R's response is irrelevant. In one situation he's shopping himself but with the intent of staying in school, with the other his intent is to leave early. You might as well have asked, "What if he wants to transfer to Breck?". The differences are so glaring I can't believe it requires illumination.

scorekeeper · Post by **scorekeeper** » Fri Mar 01, 2013 1:03 am

Slap Shot wrote:
scorekeeper wrote:
Slap Shot wrote: College hockey happens after hs graduation.
What if the kid doesn't want to graduate? Should he then be encouraged to use his visits to explore his junior options instead?
Then D3R's response is irrelevant. In one situation he's shopping himself but with the intent of staying in school, with the other his intent is to leave early. You might as well have asked, "What if he wants to transfer to Breck?". The differences are so glaring I can't believe it requires illumination.

I am actually not refering to this specific situation. I know Alec does want to graduate.

You assert that it's ok for kids to go shopping for NCAA hockey programs in-season. Pauly insinuated this as well. You justify it because college hockey occurs after graduation.

I am just curious in a hypothetical situation, what if he didn't want to graduate? What if he decided he was done with school, and with his parents blessings he was going to quit school after grade 9 and go play junior hockey. Since he wouldn't be graduating, and this is something that occurs after his schooling is complete, are you now ok with him "shopping" for his post-high school hockey option?

I am just curious to your response to this scenario, based on your justification for Pauly's action

Tigers33 · Post by **Tigers33** » Fri Mar 01, 2013 7:39 am

Scorekeeper - seriously?! We all you know your stand on it, and that you absolutely love to cause arguments. What does the mshsl league live by? Is it all about winning!? No!! It's about education right, cause that's what is really important here. Taking a trip to visit a an educational institution is probably very acceptable by the school, ad, coach, and mshsl. I mean remember benilde is a "college prep school." That's a completely different joke, lol!!

Anyways missing a practice to take an unofficial visit to Wisconsin is completely different then taking a visit to a WHL team. If you seriously can't see that then you need some help.

The big thing is doing it in season. Family should have just waited til the end of the season.

The other thing is lots of people know Pauly is widely considered an A**hole. So why even go there in the first place? Oh yeah, benilde is a "college prep school"

O-townClown · Post by **O-townClown** » Fri Mar 01, 2013 11:12 am

But I am Canadian, born and raised in WHL territory

And I'm not, which explains how two (possibly?) intelligent and reasonable people can see this issue so much differently.

What kid in Minnesota dreams of playing in the WHL? What kid in Florida dreams of playing in the OHL?

College Hockey, Inc. has done a good job educating folks and will continue to do so. I think what we'll see - like it or not - is colleges contacting top players at a younger age.

My kid can grow up to watch your kid in the NHL. Because I'll say this...my son isn't going to play Major Junior hockey at age 16!! So many other routes if you are that good.

That's me. Don't care if anyone agrees with the decision or not.

And I think that's your point for the families that opt for WHL.

D3Referee · Post by **D3Referee** » Fri Mar 01, 2013 11:25 am

Tigers33 wrote:Scorekeeper - seriously?! We all you know your stand on it, and that you absolutely love to cause arguments. What does the mshsl league live by? Is it all about winning!? No!! It's about education right, cause that's what is really important here. Taking a trip to visit a an educational institution is probably very acceptable by the school, ad, coach, and mshsl. I mean remember benilde is a "college prep school." That's a completely different joke, lol!!

Anyways missing a practice to take an unofficial visit to Wisconsin is completely different then taking a visit to a WHL team. If you seriously can't see that then you need some help.

The big thing is doing it in season. Family should have just waited til the end of the season.

The other thing is lots of people know Pauly is widely considered an A**hole. So why even go there in the first place? Oh yeah, benilde is a "college prep school"

You have set a colossal indoor record here in missing the point.

Bottom line - it's none of the schools business what he does on the weekend. The team was off. The family went to Vancouver. Big deal. They didn't break any MSHL rules. They weren't doing anything illegal. End of story.

People miss school, practice etc. all the time for non-educational instances like vacations, family get-togethers, christmas concerts, etc. etc. that have NOTHING to do with education.

It's not Pauly's business or anyone elses how the family chooses to spend the weekend. As has been metioned, the convo should have went like this;

Alec: "Coach, I'm off to Vancouver for the weekend to meet. Just a heads up, we fly out tonight so I won't be at practice"

Pauly: "Vancouver eh? Whats ging on in Vancouver"

Alec: "I'm pretty excited. I get to meet Joe Sakic and going to watch a Vancouver Giants"

Pauly: "Wow. Sounds like fun. That is exciting. Have a great time and I'll see you on Monday"

Alec: "I will coach, thanks. See you Monday"

That's how civilized people talk ...

Tenoverpar · Post by **Tenoverpar** » Fri Mar 01, 2013 11:31 am

The real question in all of this is
"will Lets Play Hockey track Baer in 5 years when his is in the German professional league"

D3Referee · Post by **D3Referee** » Fri Mar 01, 2013 11:38 am

This will be my last post on the whole BSM/Baer thing, as I agree with other posters that it's been beat to death.

What happened happened and it seems both parties have moved on fine. Alec will make his WHL debut tonight in Vancouver and Pauly I am sure is already recruiting next years team.

What I find oddly amusing though is some of the hypocrisy with the posters on this board.

It seems the same posters who are advocating that Pauly is completely within his right to punish Baer for behavior he deemed innapropriate are also insulating Stefano with the claim that what happens outside of the hockey team is not his business.

Here's Tiger's post on Pauley's right to judge Alec's extra curricular activities (which remember, was meeting Joe Sakic and watching a hockey game)

Tigers33 wrote: What does the mshsl league live by? Is it all about winning!? No!! It's about education right, cause that's what is really important here. Taking a trip to visit a an educational institution is probably very acceptable by the school, ad, coach, and mshsl. I mean remember benilde is a "college prep school." That's a completely different joke, lol!!

Anyways missing a practice to take an unofficial visit to Wisconsin is completely different then taking a visit to a WHL team. If you seriously can't see that then you need some help.

Now here's Tiger absolving Stefano of responsibility for punishing his players for "allegedly" making a sex tape at an "alleged" drinking party

Tigers33 wrote: Stefano doesn't discipline a kid for drinking that's the school doing that (mshsl). Stefano doesn't discipline a kid for hazing that's the school's code of conduct policy. Typically 9 out of 10 coaches don't discipline kids for grades again that's the school's policy that they follow.

This isn't college folks. It's high school! Mommy and daddy have to take some responsibility from 7am to 5pm as well. It's not like when the kids go to school all responsibility of the parents is done.

Ira Bentnee · Post by **Ira Bentnee** » Fri Mar 01, 2013 12:24 pm

Minnesota Hockey and the MSHSL should look at this as a another example of the success of the grass roots model this state is known for. Having the WHL seeking out our players to give them the opportunity to compete in the best junior league in the world and a fast track to the professional level only expands our players options. I think that the coaches that are most uptight have the most strings attached to USA Hockey.

icehornet · Post by **icehornet** » Fri Mar 01, 2013 3:26 pm

Personally I think to each their own. I disagree with the actions Pauly took but I also think it would've been reasonable for the kid to make a trip up there after the season was over. Either way I found this article interesting about the year over year increase of NHLers that played NCAA.......

http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/blog/eye-o ... nce-in-nhl

O-townClown · Post by **O-townClown** » Fri Mar 01, 2013 11:31 pm

Great share, icehornet.