CHL to NCAA Recruiting Megathread

[Puckstopper467]

Are you that guy on X that comments on every commitment announcement asking if they're American? Saying all tax dollars should be cut off for the schools that award scholarships to non-American players.

I am absolutely NOT that person.. Do not do X..

 

[cinnamoroll]

This is a crime to allow these players in. The NCAA should be fined and broken up. How about the last 40 years and all the American kids who were not allowed to play in the CHL? Maybe all those kids should sue the NCAA and claim discrimination

The lawsuits are already in motion–those being filed was what finally forced the hold-out coaches to actually do something about this rule, despite the lawyers telling them this was an inevitable reality, and it would save everyone a lot of time and money to get this fixed sooner than later. Famously the NCAA is getting slapped around in court over plenty of more high profile situations. I'm no legal expert, but there is recourse of some sort.

Either way, that's another topic entirely...

 

[cinnamoroll]

On a lighter note, watching the London Knights v Guelph Storm game tuesday and got to hear the London color commentator do his best to pronounce Bemidji when mentioning the NCAA commitment of Storm forward Max Namestnikov eventually finished with "...it's in northern Minnesota." I'm sure as seasons go by and younger players get recruited earlier in their OHL tenure the announcers will get familiar with all the different schools

Announcers usually have factoids they throw in during play or during a stoppage, things like 'the <NHL team> draft pick from <year>' 'the <town> native' 'brother of <other player>' 'big piece of this trade' etc even for opposing players. They're starting to include info on NCAA commits in that, since it is now a point they can advertise on to prospective players and especially parents. The OHL appears to be the most consistent in that, usually has news updates about commitments on their website. Interesting to see how that has evolved so far.

 

[Sparkee]

On a lighter note, watching the London Knights v Guelph Storm game tuesday and got to hear the London color commentator do his best to pronounce Bemidji when mentioning the NCAA commitment of Storm forward Max Namestnikov eventually finished with "...it's in northern Minnesota." I'm sure as seasons go by and younger players get recruited earlier in their OHL tenure the announcers will get familiar with all the different schools

Announcers usually have factoids they throw in during play or during a stoppage, things like 'the <NHL team> draft pick from <year>' 'the <town> native' 'brother of <other player>' 'big piece of this trade' etc even for opposing players. They're starting to include info on NCAA commits in that, since it is now a point they can advertise on to prospective players and especially parents. The OHL appears to be the most consistent in that, usually has news updates about commitments on their website. Interesting to see how that has evolved so far.

Maybe they will have NCAA commitment on the player profiles on the site. So far none of the CHL websites do that. Whereas all of the junior A websites do that. Also, for BCHL and for USHL when teams provide line charts they usually put logos of the NCAA team the player committed too next to the name. This way if you are watching a game you can easily tell which school a player is committed too. Also for scouts they can see which players are uncommitted.

As time goes on these little things will happen. It used to be two competing path where there was a fork you had to decide either NCAA route or major junior. Now that no longer exists, so it will just take time for the mindset of coaches, management, fans to drop the competition aspect between NCAA and CHL. Now both can be part of the development path for that same player.

 

[cinnamoroll]

Divver reporting Henry Mews to michigan.

There has been rumors floating around on this one for a while (including potentially landing at BC), but if Divver is speaking on it appears to be crystallizing. If this is true, this is the real answer of the most high-end prospect going from CHL to NCAA.

Calgary Flames 2024 3rd rounder, offensive defenseman, Sudbury Wolves' big trade deadline acquisition. They're a bubble playoff team. Between Sudbury and Ottawa he has 80 points in 63 games.

Also the son of Northeastern Hall Of Famer Harry Mews. It was rumored that part of the trade from Ottawa came from disputes about him leaving to NCAA next year, but he's unlikely to need the scholarship as much when he's already NHL drafted and highly regarded. Not a perfect player by any means, and he could use the bump in talent around him since he can't go AHL and this level is easy for him.

 

[Sparkee]

Here is a link for a free stream to a WHL game tonight at 10 PM EST between two US teams: Everett Silvertips vs. Spokane Chiefs

Wednesday Night in The Dub: Everett Silvertips at Spokane Chiefs – March 12, 2025

It's a U.S. Division clash of titans as Nashville Predators prospect Austin Roest and the Everett Silvertips visit WHL goal scoring leader Shea Van Olm and t...

www.youtube.com

 

[cinnamoroll]

Here is a link for a free stream to a WHL game tonight at 10 PM EST between two US teams: Everett Silvertips vs. Spokane Chiefs

Wednesday Night in The Dub: Everett Silvertips at Spokane Chiefs – March 12, 2025

It's a U.S. Division clash of titans as Nashville Predators prospect Austin Roest and the Everett Silvertips visit WHL goal scoring leader Shea Van Olm and t...

www.youtube.com

List of commitments in this game:

Everett:
D Eric Jamieson, DU
F Shea Busch, PSU
G Raiden LeGall, BSU

Spokane:
F Shea Van Olm, PSU
D Brayden Crampton, BGSU

 

[Sparkee]

List of commitments in this game:

Everett:
D Eric Jamieson, DU
F Shea Busch, PSU
G Raiden LeGall, BSU

Spokane:
F Shea Van Olm, PSU
D Brayden Crampton, BGSU

I’m watching two Uncommitted ‘04’s in this game…

Dominik Rymon(Everett(WHL)), 5/29/04, LW, NZ 4.25, 5’10”, 160 lbs, amazing stick handling, nifty shooter with dekes, excellent straight line speed, explosive first few strides, cycles puck down low, plays through contact, strong edgework, strong 200-foot game

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1013965599309114&wtsid=rdr_0I64EA3ceJp8T4HGs

Rasmus Ekstrom(Spokane(WHL)), 10/4/04, RC, 6’ 190 lbs, NZ 4.0, two-way center, strong work ethic, versatile, strong skater, good speed and agility, good puck skills, dynamic player, plays top unit on pp and pk, keeps feet moving through contact, high shot volumes

OT winner: https://www.instagram.com/lets.talk.whl/reel/DBlMholRXgs/
Hat trick: https://youtu.be/M36_i8Ts7CA?si=QjnNUWWlp5owhMyH
2goals in 13 seconds: https://youtu.be/oU3sUurOVx4?si=pDWxccWFoQ5AJAs4
Prospect playing style video: https://youtu.be/gkhYPH4VHZw?si=L7qVvC03TNvYjUXc
Nifty stickhandling: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1095946814724120&wtsid=rdr_0epTDV6EAOxmdriAu