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Posted: **Sat Nov 24, 2007 2:54 pm**

George Blanda wrote:
crash wrote:A) Because it's better to play in front of fans.

B) It's a better place to play then Alex, Fargo, Owatonna, or North Iowa and lets face it, unless your one of the top 15 or 20 players in the NAHL your going to play D-3 anyway, so why not PLAY jr's in a place where your going to develope under a good coaching staff and PLAY hockey, not sit in the stands or get jerked around by a NAHL team who's only looking to turn a buck.

C) Everyone love a winner
2006-2007 College Commitments (D-1) from the NAHL

Jeff Dimmen - University of Maine (Hockey East, D1)
Adam Kraus - Boston University (Hockey East, D1)
Brad McCabe - University of Alaska-Anchorage (WCHA, D1)
Joe Calvi Bentley College (Atlantic Hockey, D1)
Dustin Carlson Ohio State University (CCHA, D1)
Rylan Galiardi Minnesota State-Mankato (WCHA, D1)
Shawn Hunwick University of Michigan (CCHA, D1)
Drew Pierson Army (Atlantic Hockey, D1)
Eric Roman Wayne State University (CHA, D1)
Todd Rudasill Ohio State University (CCHA, D1)
Tim Krystosek United States Air Force Academy (Hockey East, D1)
Nick Haddad University of Alaska-Anchorage (WCHA, D1)
Travis Hamway Wayne State University (CHA, D1)
Craig Johnson University of Wisconsin (WCHA, D1)
Kenny Reiter University of Minnesota-Duluth (WCHA, D1)
Eddie Samuels University of Connecticut (Atlantic Hockey, D1)
Kyle Schmidt University of Minnesota-Duluth (WCHA, D1)
Joe Shean Michigan State University (CCHA, D1)
Ryan Adams Wayne State University (CHA, D1)
Matt Becker United States Air Force Academy (Hockey East, D1)
Ryan Cramer Bemidji State University (CHA, D1)
Jesse Echternach Mercyhurst College (CHA, D1)
Austin Lee Minnesota State-Mankato (WCHA, D1)
Dustin Cloutier Bentley College (Atlantic Hockey, D1)
Chris Fairbanks University of Alabama-Huntsville (CHA, D1)
Mike Fillinger Ferris State University (CCHA, D1)
Nathan Longpre Robert Morris University (CHA, D1)
Matt Quigley Northeastern University (Hockey East, D1)
Ryan Zapolski Mercyhurst College (CHA, D1)
Nick Kosinski Northern Michigan University (CCHA, D1)
Bret Larson Army (Atlantic Hockey, D1)
Jay Clark Army (Atlantic Hockey, D1)
Steve McLeod American International College (Atlantic Hockey, D1)
Stu Bickel University of Minnesota (WCHA, D1)
Jeff Carlson University of Alaska-Anchorage (WCHA, D1)
Ryan Guentzel University of Notre Dame (CCHA, D1)
Dusty Jackson University of Denver (WCHA, D1)
Scott Kozlak United States Air Force Academy (Hockey East, D1)
Mike Montgomery University of Minnesota-Duluth (WCHA, D1)
Sean Murphy RIT (Atlantic Hockey, D1)
Jamie Ruff Bemidji State University (CHA, D1)
Kevin Wright United States Air Force Academy (Hockey East, D1)
Andrew Berecz Wayne State University (CHA, D1)
Christian Hmura Wayne State University (CHA, D1)
Adam Roy Holy Cross (Atlantic Hockey, D1)
Brad Sellers United States Air Force Academy (Hockey East, D1)
Chris Waterstradt University of Connecticut (Atlantic Hockey, D1)
Ryan Blair University of Massachusetts-Lowell (Hockey East, D1)
Derek Danowski Canisius College (Atlantic Hockey, D1)
Jeff Dimmen University of Maine (Hockey East, D1)
John Kennedy RPI (ECACHL, D1)
Pat Knowlton Sacred Heart University (Atlantic Hockey, D1)
Mike Levendusky Western Michigan University (CCHA, D1)
Pat Nagle Ferris State University (CCHA, D1)
Todd Pococke Ferris State University (CCHA, D1)
Phil Rauch Canisius College (Atlantic Hockey, D1)
Scooter Vaughan University of Michigan (CCHA, D1)
Matt Zuke Canisius College (Atlantic Hockey, D1)
Adam Flink Western Michigan University (CCHA, D1)
Brad McCabe University of Alaska-Anchorage (WCHA, D1)
Brian Reagan University of Connecticut (Atlantic Hockey, D1)
Jared Brown Northern Michigan University (CCHA, D1)
Nate Hennig Ferris State University (CCHA, D1)
Jason Krispel University of Connecticut (Atlantic Hockey, D1)
Tibor Kutalek University of Alaska-Fairbanks (CCHA, D1)
Cody Omilusik Army (Atlantic Hockey, D1)
Rafael Rodriguez Robert Morris University (CHA, D1)
David Solway Bowling Green State University (CCHA, D1)
Patrick Nagorsen Western Michigan University (CCHA, D1)
Travis Paeth Western Michigan University (CCHA, D1)
Phil Partyka Wayne State University (CHA, D1)
Anthony Schooley Michigan Tech University (CCHA, D1)
Chris Nutini University of Denver (WCHA, D1)
John Albert Ohio State University (CCHA, D1)
Mike Cichy University of North Dakota (WCHA, D1) *
Ian Cole University of Notre Dame (CCHA, D1)
Kelen Corkum University of Maine (Hockey East, D1) *
Robbie Czarnik University of Michigan (CCHA, D1) *
Cade Fairchild University of Minnesota (WCHA, D1)
Justin Florek Northern Michigan University (CCHA, D1) *
Patrick Gaul University of Notre Dame (CCHA, D1) *
Jimmy Hayes Boston College (Hockey East, D1)
Ryan Hayes Boston College (Hockey East, D1)
Mike Hoeffel University of Minnesota (WCHA, D1)
Danny Kristo University of North Dakota (WCHA, D1) *
Joe Lavin Providence College (Hockey East, D1)
Sam Lofquist University of Minnesota (WCHA, D1) *
Sean Lorenz University of Notre Dame (CCHA, D1) *
Brad Phillips University of Notre Dame (CCHA, D1)
Nick Pryor University of Wisconsin (WCHA, D1) *
Matt Rust University of Michigan (CCHA, D1)
Teddy Ruth University of Notre Dame (CCHA, D1)
Jordan Schroeder University of Minnesota (WCHA, D1) *
Grant Scott University of Minnesota (WCHA, D1) *
C.J. Severyn Ohio State University (CCHA, D1)
Kevin Shattenkirk Boston University (Hockey East, D1)
A.J. Sturges Michigan State University (CCHA, D1)
Justin Vaive Miami University (CCHA, D1)
James van Riemsdyk University of New Hampshire (Hockey East, D1)
Steven West Ohio State University (CCHA, D1) *
Colin Wilson Boston University (Hockey East, D1)
David Wohlberg University of Michigan (CCHA, D1)

73 of those are from teams other than the NTDP U17 team that plays in the NAHL. But I thought I'd leave them in there.

Whether you want to count that number as 73 or 102 that's a lot more than the 15 or 20 players you claimed would play D-1 after the NAHL.

That's just one years (last year) worth of commitments from the NAHL.

So, I guess that makes the NAHL a little better than the MJHL. But that's just my opinion.

YUP! and btw, the MJHL (minnesota junior hockey league) isnt even the best MJ. Manitoba Jr Hockey League is leaps and bounds above the MN jr hockey league.

Posted: **Sun Nov 25, 2007 6:40 pm**

I am not going to tell you that the MJ is better then the NAHL. I will tell you that if you if you play for a good program (weather or not the league as a whole is top notch) you will get noticed. I have been around the league for a few years, and I will tell you that it has gotten a LOT better top to bottom.

The difference in the caliber of teams comes down to in my mind TWO main things. (1) Scouting and recruiting. All teams do it, but some are better then others. It is not about finding the BEST players all the time. It is about finding guys who have talent, but who will also buy into a system and be coachable. Finding the right mix is SO important.

(2) It is all coaching at this level. You can have all the talent in the world, but it does nothing if there is no brains behind the bench. I know of two teams who on paper look great, but when you see them play they seem lost at times, unable to recover and playing on skill on not running systems. I will take a less talented team who runs systems over a all-star team full of individuals.

Back to the player advancement. I was at a game recently and talked to a college coach who said " a guy out of the mj who plays on a regular line, gets PP and PK time is better for me then a guy who rides the pine in the NAHL". Now again, the NAHL sends more player on to college then the MJ does, and it should. However, playing for a good team in the MJ will get you a lot of looks. I dont know how much promoting of players every team does, but it is obvious that at least one team (Roch) is doing a lot of it and doing it the right way.

Having talked to a few players who have played in both leagues (MJ and NA), and having seen a lot of games myself, word on the street is that the leagues are getting closer. Ok, let me edit that. When top teams play, the level of play is not far off of the NAHL. Granted you get for example St Louis playing St Paul, the game is farther off. However, put Granite City or Wisconsin V. Rochester. Those are pretty good games. Lots of speed and Physical play.

A lot of the players in the MJ are of NAHL caliber. Just like a lot of d-3 players are as good or better then a lot of d-1 players. A lot of these guys are playing places becasue of timing and luck. Have a great game when a scout is in attendence, you may be playing in ie. Fargo. Have a downer game and you may not get another sniff.

Dont down the MNJHL until you see the top teams battle it out. I can only hope that all the teams start putting more time into scouting and finding a staff that knows how to put a winner on the ice.

Posted: **Sun Nov 25, 2007 11:56 pm**

I agree, Stabbin. I'll throw in my two cents as I've seen some of these league games myself. You're right, when the top caliber teams in the MJHL play each other, it's usually a very good pace with good energy and physical play, and these games are entertaining to watch. Based on my observations of both leagues and from discussions with a few players who've played in both leagues and their parents, the difference in the level of play in the top end MJHL games is a small notch below the average NAHL game. The edge in size, speed and skill level obviously goes to the NAHL. Having said this, though, there can be a distinct drop in hockey quality and level of intensity when the top end MJHL teams play their lesser counterparts or when the lower end MJ teams play each other. My bet is that as the MJHL grows, the quality of play within the league will improve.

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