If I Were King, or just hit it REALLY big in the lottery, there would be a new entity created that would open up the market for players across the entire continent. Yes, I’m essentially talking about an NCAA compliant Tier I hockey league.
Imagine the chaos at the board of governors meeting, for either of the United States based leagues, if another serious contender for American prospects entered the marketplace. Imagine the chaos if players were really finally able to take a stand against poorly operated clubs that fail to maintain the standards set for each level of play.
Yes, there is more than enough junior hockey being played on the continent, but there is not enough free-to-play opportunities that can legitimately get prospects to the NCAA Division I level.
And that’s where the new entity could come in.
Since USA Hockey has locked out any new entity from forming sanctioned leagues at the Tier I or II levels (the USHL and NAHL have exclusivity), there really is no other choice but to step out from under the umbrella of sanctioning and go it alone.
There are some advantages to going the non-sanctioned route. Not having to worry about USA Hockey or Hockey Canada programs refusing the release prospects to the new entity for one. Not having to deal with import restrictions at all would be another.
Then there are the silly rules that often limit the natural flow of talent to higher level leagues and that can slow down a player’s developmental options.
Yes, it is time for something to happen that absolutely forces coaches into keeping promises or risk losing prospects all together. Teams across the entire spectrum of junior hockey would have to reevaluate the way players were taken care of and treated.
I imagine that the pre and post-game meal situation would improve for everyone. Why would any player tolerate not having a real bed to sleep in on road trips. Four players to a room? There would be no more of that. Crappy sticks, missing medical staff at games, and standards failures would quickly be a thing of the past.
The new entity would also be able to change the player procurement process entirely. How would other leagues be able to get away with bringing 400 players into a team’s main camp off an email that was full of misleading statements about opportunities? They wouldn’t.
Imagine the chaos when teams get forced into disclosing roster information in the off-season. If the new entity is willing to show committed returners and free-agent signees before hosting camps, would that not force the other folks to do the same thing? We know what talent college hockey programs are bringing in for next year long before the end of the current season, why can’t junior teams do the same thing? I think they will be soon.
Here’s the really good news… I am pretty sure all this is going to happen WITHOUT me having to win the lottery.
Stay tuned!
Stephen Heisler 