nascar99

Major junior (the 3 CHL leagues, which all vary a bit) is more wide open offensively, less defensive attention to detail, not great gap control, focus on skill & creativity, worse goaltending, higher scoring. All of this is in part due to the younger age range (16-20/21 year olds). The O and the Q aren't physical at all, while the Dub has been more physical, although that has dipped in recent years. US junior (USHL specifically) is far less skilled, leans a bit older (more 18-19 year olds), focus on defensive structure, but still not as quality from a structural standpoint as the NCAA. Far fewer high scoring games than in the CHL. NCAA Hockey is tighter checking, less wide open/free flowing, focused on defensive structure, lower scoring, better goaltending. Obvious exceptions in B1G & Hockey East with certain programs, but this is the general assumption. I'm only saying this with 80% confidence as I haven't watched enough junior in recent years, but this is my general understanding.

The junior style is much different than the NCAA style, hence why Smith and Verhoeff might have looked uncomfortable playing a different way. McKenna has been better playing the junior style in the past than the NCAA style now, so he flashed more in the clips I saw.

Everyone on this board has said with 80% confidence that it was Carels. Could have been others though Given the timing of Zurawski committing to Notre Dame yesterday, you could see more commitments made over the holiday break when kids are off school. Many will of course wait till season's end to make decisions, as Martone, Reschny, Verhoeff, Smith, McKenna did last year.

Hockey Canada is still getting used to the fact that more talented World Junior eligible Canadians are playing against older better competition in the NCAA. Hockey Canada will still overvalue CHLers and their performances in junior for awhile until the mental adjustments take place

Notre Dame continues to recruit well. Wonder when they'll be good again

Wouldn't be surprised to see him at Minnesota Duluth (Shaugabay connection) if he goes elsewhere. But cannot assume that until it happens or at least Schloss says something

O'Neill needs another year of junior to grow his offense and polish everything about his game before getting to the NCAA.

He was a below average defenseman in his DY and merely good but unspectacular in his D+1, didn't break out until his D+2. There's enough track record of CHLers who didn't break out until their 19 year old season who've done nothing in the NHL if they even made it, hence why they get ranked lower. The more interesting consideration is that CHLers weren't NCAA eligible in the modern era until this year, so this developmental progression from major junior to NCAA doesn't have a statistically significant nor long enough track record to be able to project to the A or the NHL. He's still not going to get picked incredibly early because he's older, which usually means his ceiling is nowhere near as high as the high end 17 year olds.

3rd time draft eligibles don't get discussed much unless they're putting up all worldly numbers and scouts really push for that guy. MacKenzie will likely get put into the 3rd-5th round range if he keeps this pace up now.

Tommy Lafreniere (2007, Hornby Island BC, Edmonton Oil Kings, 2025 Edmonton 3rd rounder) commits to Western Michigan. Very solid addition for the Broncos.

Wonder who is going after Lin the hardest. You can always assume Denver, North Dakota, & Michigan will be in the mix, would likely assume Michigan State, Boston University, Boston College, and now Penn State will be kicking tires as well

Good road sweep

NET FRONT PRESENCE

Spunar dialed in

SCSU color guy is annoying as f***

Sal Viviano (2007, Grand Blanc MI, Waterloo Black Hawks) commits to Northern Michigan, he's off to a good start in junior

I know this team is young at many spots, but with how well balanced the roster is assuming good health, they might as well make a deep run this year. No guarantees that all of the key underclassmen are back for 2026-27. Josephson being this good, this important already was not on my radar, he's transitioned from the Dub to North Dakota extremely well.

I grew up in Northwest Indiana, about an hour southeast of Chicago, hence my Blackhawks fandom. Only been in Columbus since 2021. I like going to Blue Jackets games, cheap & fun. The younger generation and true Ohio born & bred people are most definitely Blue Jackets fans, but there are tons of transplants here, more than you'd think. Columbus being a growing city in the center of the state attracts a ton regionally, plus the number of out of state Ohio State students who stay here for jobs post graduation. Lots of Northwest Ohio/Southeast Michigan transplants who are Red Wings fans and Eastern Ohio/Western Pennsylvania transplants who are Penguins fans here.

Braiden Scuderi (2009, Haddon Heights NJ, Cedar Rapids Roughriders) commits to Notre Dame. Mildly surprised there, thought Scuderi would be going to Boston College or Boston University, seems like Sheahan and the ND staff continue to recruit well.

I think Pat is an off ice advisor for coaches & management

Ran into Bob Motzko and a few of the Gophers players at the convenience store I frequent in Columbus about an hour ago (Minnesota in town to play Ohio State). Wished Motzko the best of luck coaching the US at World Junior this month, said I was surprised that Zellers didn’t make Final Evaluation Camp Roster, Motzko said “He just barely missed”. Also thanked him for developing Rinzel (& Moore as he pointed out) very nicely for my Blackhawks.

This is the correct take from Reschny. The vast majority of major junior players should spend time in the NCAA before turning pro, the new rules allow for them to create a legacy in both the CHL and NCAA

Jonah Sivertson (2008, Prince Albert Raiders, Regina SK) commits to St Cloud State. Very solid pickup for the Huskies.

Source?