CHL to NCAA Recruiting Megathread

[cinnamoroll]

After all results March 28th... Every series has completed 1 game, one QMJHL series has had 2.

OHL playoffs had every higher seed win their playoff game 1 except for Saginaw, Erie Otters with the (sort of) upset. Tough to outscore your problems when you get down 8-0 before figuring out how to score.

QMJHL game 1s went higher seed except for Drummondville losing to Halifax and Blainsville-Boisbriand losing to Sherbrooke. That series already had their game 2 after starting their series thursday, which Blainsville-Boisbriand won, so it is now tied 1-1.

WHL had two game 1s go to the lower seed, Edmonton over Prince Albert and most shockingly, Seattle over regular season champions Everett.

Some notable NCAA commit performances I caught:
G Johnny Hicks (Tennessee State) had his first career WHL shutout in Victoria's first playoff win since 2019, making 22 saves for a 3-0 score. F Brandon Lisowsky (CC) had 2 goals.
In Portland's 6-7 OT loss to PG, Zakreski (UND), Buttazzoni (UML), Chyzowski (DU), and Thompson (Miami) all had 2 point games.
Calgary won 4-2, Tulk (Wisconsin) with a goal. G Hauser (Wisconsin) was still out of the lineup, but Calgary has the depth to manage. Hopefully he will be back soon.

Barrie 4-2 win over Niagara, Owen Van Steensel (Clarkson) w 1g1a.
Windsor 7-2 over the Soo, Noah Morneau (BGSU) with 2g.
Erie won 8-5, Pano Fimis (Notre Dame) with 2g.
Brantford 6-3 win over North Bay, NB's Wellenreiter (Maine) 1g1a.
Kingston 4-1, Guindon (UVM) with 2g1a.

I am falling asleep.. will check out qmjhl scores tomorrow.

 

[cinnamoroll]

ok, QMJHL results time:

Rimouski win 6-2, Mathieu (Northeastern) 2 goals, Fauchon (Providence) 3a.
Halifax beating Drummondville appears to have something to do with an injury to their great goaltender Riley Mercer in the 3rd period. All 3 Moosehead goals were scored in the 3rd once the backup went in. Drummondville player hit a player on a breakaway from behind and he slid into the goalie, Mercer pinned between the player and the post. Tough sight. Also Halifax's Bent (Providence) was knocked out earlier in the game.

Fairly typical playoff junior hockey drama. London's game v Owen Sound got pretty rowdy too. And London decided this year's version of the playoff mullet was buzz cuts.

Baie-Comeau wins 3-1, Schrott (Michigan Tech) 2 goals.

I'm sure I've missed a few, but those are a few from the first games of the CHL playoffs.

 

[Sparkee]

ok, QMJHL results time:

Rimouski win 6-2, Mathieu (Northeastern) 2 goals, Fauchon (Providence) 3a.
Halifax beating Drummondville appears to have something to do with an injury to their great goaltender Riley Mercer in the 3rd period. All 3 Moosehead goals were scored in the 3rd once the backup went in. Drummondville player hit a player on a breakaway from behind and he slid into the goalie, Mercer pinned between the player and the post. Tough sight. Also Halifax's Bent (Providence) was knocked out earlier in the game.

Fairly typical playoff junior hockey drama. London's game v Owen Sound got pretty rowdy too. And London decided this year's version of the playoff mullet was buzz cuts.

Baie-Comeau wins 3-1, Schrott (Michigan Tech) 2 goals.

I'm sure I've missed a few, but those are a few from the first games of the CHL playoffs.

Any playoff games that can be viewed for free?

 

[Ralph Baer]

4- Baie-Comeau Drakkar vs 5- Cape Breton Eagles
FRI 2025-03-28 19:00 Cape Breton @ Baie-Comeau
Baie-Comeau:
C Skogen Schrott, Michigan Tech, 05
Cape Breton:
D Andrew Brown, St Lawrence, 05
C Jacob Newcombe, UNH, OA

OHL and QMJHL playoffs can be found on CHL TV, which requires a subscription. The league websites sometimes have links to the radio feed as well. WHL playoffs are free on Victory+.

RPI recruit Ryan Dwyer, 07 who played most of the year for Canadian Prep School Stanstead College (57-36-38-74), is playing as an AP for Baie-Comeau. I am surprised that they can bring up AP's for the playoffs.

 

[cinnamoroll]

RPI recruit Ryan Dwyer, 07 who played most of the year for Canadian Prep School Stanstead College (57-36-38-74), is playing as an AP for Baie-Comeau. I am surprised that they can bring up AP's for the playoffs.

Looks like Baie-Comeau had just some pretty significant injuries right before the playoffs, which lead to the Dwyer call up on March 19th. F Justin Poirier is out for 4 weeks and D Alexis Bernier is done for the season. I'm guessing they had enough defensemen on their roster to compensate but while Poirier is out they needed another forward. He got into the last 2 games of the regular season, so instead of being a call up for the playoffs he's probably considered just part of the roster when the season had ended. If they're still in the playoffs in 3 weeks, he'll likely be replaced with Poirier.

 

[cinnamoroll]

Any playoff games that can be viewed for free?

for the QMJHL, I don't believe so. Just WHL on Victory+

 

[FadeToBlack&Gold]

@cinnamoroll - seeing as how many of these players have committed to CCHA programs, I'm curious to get your thoughts on how much more talented and competitive these players are likely to make the conference overall, at least in the short term?

 

[cinnamoroll]

@cinnamoroll - seeing as how many of these players have committed to CCHA programs, I'm curious to get your thoughts on how much more talented and competitive these players are likely to make the conference overall, at least in the short term?

I’d predict that to be a good boost, depending on the players and how quickly they are able to acclimate. WHL players might have an easier time adjusting since the W is more physical than the others. The drop off in schedule intensity will likely help all players with more opportunities to practice during the season and overall recovery. They’re used to playing multiple games in a row like weekend series (sometimes 3 games in 3 nights) but a much larger scale. Some of them could have a tougher time adjusting to the increase in defensive ability, which is where the extra practice time will make a big difference. A lot of the CCHA recruits are overagers, so they could be able to ease into the older and bigger competition typical to the league quicker. On the other hand, scoring will be a lot harder since most everyone is older and bigger.

If you trust your program’s recruiting ability, they should be able to adapt well. Major junior players do not last very long if they cannot be adaptable or are a drain on a locker room. I think the competitive spirit that CHL teams instill in alumni will help plenty along with the skill. They won’t be strangers to intense (and occasionally nasty) rivalries and playing big games in hostile barns. I’m sure they’re aware of how amazing an opportunity this is for them, being the first set of players with this option, and that will be a powerful motivator.

In the end, it will be a “wait and see” situation, but I’m optimistic in the benefit to CCHA and AHA programs, at least in the short term. Also, I wouldn’t write off a player if they don’t make an immediate impact as a freshman for some of the reasons I outlined above.