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Looks like there was nothing pertaining to RPI hockey today.
I do wish to apologize to HockyDad for mixing him up with someone else. Of course, he probably won't read this.
Edit: I should add that I was out all day, and I was hoping that we signed a recruit. At least we didn't lose anyone.
I agree with this writer 100%.The NHL is beginning to look like the NBA and we all know what a mess that has become and all the sad stories of teenage phenoms who never made it and suffered in some cases bad endings.I have observed junior hockey and have come to the conclusion that in many cases these are no more than meat markets especially these tournaments.College coaches are as guilty as anybody and USA hockey just might be the most guilty!!!! It has become a matter of professional survival,and IMO has become a race to the bottom.Im sure babo could enlighten us as to the ugly side of this perverted game.Asking 18 and 19yr.old kids to make these choices is I believe over the top.Whatever happened of the concept of enjoying your youth.I have an 18 and 20 yr.old and in some respects there are adults but anyone whom has kids this age will attest they are surely in a lot of respects still kids and thats a good thing.It would be nice to put an age limit like 21 or something on pro contracts...but the law says your of legal age at 18 and thats that.change needs to come from within and that will never happen. The Kovalchuck contract highlights the fact that the powers that be are unable to even police themselves.I hope for the sake of the game and atheletes someone figures this all out,but I don't hold out much hope early signings seem to be the new normal and the race to the bottom intensifies.Just my Opinion.Boy do I feel better now!!!!!
). The deal would have paid about 130K/year in major jr.(unless he moved up). Long story short, the 3 year entry agreement has a dirty little portion to it that states if the player doesn't develop enough to make it to the show after the 3 years, the team reserves the right to extend their property rights (can't remember the length of time...a year? Two?) on the player. Sounds good? Maybe. But there is no requirement for remuneration attached to that portion (I call that the hook) . Where could we have ended up? Naugatuck Valley Community College and a part time job at Stop & Shop local supermarket...
I concur. The 'meat market' mentality drills way down into the ranks of young players. I can only speak from our experience, so this little ditty illustrates the 'bait & hook' that waits out there for the weak of conviction: long before our commitment to RPI, the B.R.O. was approached, through our advisor, by a GM in the NHL. He floated (I use that word as the 'bait' portion of the fishing expedition) the idea that they liked BRO's upside and wanted to know if he'd consider foregoing his NCAA eligibility and signing a 3 year deal. While our advisor is a strong college advocate, he was obliged to bring it to our attention and we decided to go through the exercise. We had no intention of actually doing this and the B.R.O. had been well prepped to keep his ears open and mouth shut (you think he's tough; you should see the Hubster and me in action
Instead, Monty, SA and Vines will groom him and RPI will prepare him for the life he'll lead after hockey. Our advisor is one of the VERY few who will not represent a player who is not NCAA-minded. That's why we chose him.
Yeah, you always were the Thread favorite...
Thanks for the insight.....keep in mind none of this discussion is an indictment of JDA. I believe in retrospect he did the right thing.His star shot to the top in the WJ's and he struck while the iron was hot.The chances he would have another tournament like that is improbable, all it would take was some small nagging injury like a tender knee or shoulder and he would be back to a 5th.rounder.How would we like to be Denver,Notre Dame,or especially UMass...they lost there 3 best players ! Maybe the NCAA should start requiring a signed contract when these kids commit to a school...much like a service acadamy student does.This might chase away some elite players maybe even the majority but so be it....let them go to USA Hockey or the CHL and let the athletes whom are serious about education and what they are going to do after hockey even if they MAKE it to the game commit to that.There are elite players out there who would take this route and I use Joe Juneau and the BRO as exhibit A&B this would seperate the Coaches who can recruit from the coaches who can REALLY recruit, maybe if you could sell the quality of the education you can provide and not the quality of your Rink or locker room things would be alot different.Then we could enjoy this game for what it is AMATUER athletics !!!I concur. The 'meat market' mentality drills way down into the ranks of young players. I can only speak from our experience, so this little ditty illustrates the 'bait & hook' that waits out there for the weak of conviction: long before our commitment to RPI, the B.R.O. was approached, through our advisor, by a GM in the NHL. He floated (I use that word as the 'bait' portion of the fishing expedition) the idea that they liked BRO's upside and wanted to know if he'd consider foregoing his NCAA eligibility and signing a 3 year deal. While our advisor is a strong college advocate, he was obliged to bring it to our attention and we decided to go through the exercise. We had no intention of actually doing this and the B.R.O. had been well prepped to keep his ears open and mouth shut (you think he's tough; you should see the Hubster and me in action
Instead, Monty, SA and Vines will groom him and RPI will prepare him for the life he'll lead after hockey. Our advisor is one of the VERY few who will not represent a player who is not NCAA-minded. That's why we chose him.
You and I agree that it is the player like the BRO who must not get caught up in the hoopla...take good counsel and keep working your trade. If it's meant to be, the moment will present itself. Too many players rush to get there, only to find out it's a tough business. Men play this game...men with families and bills to pay...if you're gonna' get someone else's job, you gonna' have to fight him for it (maybe not literally, but maybe literally). I know the trend is toward the junior route vs. college. But in short order,the NCAA can make the case in a way that illustrates the pitfalls. It's called Marketing. The CHL does it...jmoHopefully, with the help of FD08 and others, we can have some preview clips for you from DBQ's season...clips that remind Cornell and others that there are footsteps (size 16) coming down the alley...
Size 16's? Well that is only 13 sizes larger than Jenny's tiny size 3's.
Thar may have been the size ofthe B.R.O.'s first baby shoe...Hopefully, with the help of FD08 and others, we can have some preview clips for you from DBQ's season...clips that remind Cornell and others that there are footsteps (size 16) coming down the alley...
