Wanna blog? Start your own hockey blog with My HockeyBuzz. Register for free today!
 

Time for NHL to Compensate U.S. Collegiate Hockey

July 18, 2017, 2:36 PM ET [12 Comments]
Paul Stewart
Blogger •Former NHL Referee • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Follow Paul on Twitter: @PaulStewart22

There has always been, shall we say, a comfortable relationship between the National Hockey League and the Canadian Hockey League. The NHL takes good care of the CHL both monetarily and in terms of the age restrictions that prevent CHL-affiliated draftees from playing in the American Hockey League before age 20.

This has always been done for two reasons: 1) the CHL was, and remains, the number one source of future NHL talent so it makes practical sense to keep the gears churning, 2) NHL owners have often had personal financial stakes in the ownership and/or operation of Canadian junior teams.

I have no problem with this. Nor do I have any problem with the fact that the NHL pays transfer fees to national federations in Europe and, in lieu of a formally negotiated transfer agreement with Russia, has paid money on a case-by-case basis to KHL clubs. There is also money channeled to USA Hockey. All well and good in my book.

When it comes to compensating U.S. collegiate programs, though, there is none. Nonetheless, hockey participation has grown by leaps and bounds. Hockey in the U.S. is not longer the nearly exclusive domain of New England states, Minnesota and, to a lesser degree, parts of Michigan. It's everywhere, and it continues to grow. For example, the recent Chowder Cup was won by a team from New Jersey. There have been NHL draftees who got their starts as kids in Florida, California, Texas and even a couple pro players from Alabama. Likewise, programs such as Hockey in Harlem, Snider Hockey and others have helped to start changing some of the registered player demographics by providing academic and athletic scholarship opportunities through access to hockey for inner city kids.

American-born players now comprised about one-quarter of the National Hockey player ranks. Officials are another story, but we won't get into that here. In terms of collegiate players, I think the kids who play all four years before turning pro tend to bring a certain level of maturity, intellect (both book smarts and hockey smarts) and perspective because they are a little bit older than kids who go the junior hockey route in Canada. They have balanced course workloads with sports while, by age 20, the CHL route kids are done with school.

When NHL teams draft collegiate or college-bound players, they have an advantage of having the duration of the player's amateur eligibility to evaluate his progress. In the later rounds of the draft, this is especially helpful compared to a two-year window on CHL players. In fact, in the case of drafted USHL kids who go on to collegiate hockey and eventually to the pros, there is as much as a five-year evaluation window before having to make a decision on whether to offer a contract.

The NHL reaps these advantages, so there ought to be a compensation system as well. Is the NHL getting on board? Well, it seems that perhaps some baby steps are being taken. I recently read with interest an NHL.com article about the NHL sponsoring studies to explore the viability of establishing future Division I programs. The success of hockey programs such as Penn State's is getting others to recognize the possibilites.

On the surface, when you read these headlines and you are a fan of Pitt, URI, U-Penn, Illinois, Oregon, USC, Berkley, Annapolis or any number of other Universities that have dabbled in Hockey, you start to dream the dream that your favorite school soon will be competing on the national level for The Frozen Four NCAA Championship.

Listen, there are a lot of hurdles to overcome before the URI Rams will be facing BU at Boss Arena but for a hockey fan who also supports these schools, it helps to have a dream. "Dreams are what make life worth living." I stole that line from the lunchroom scene with the cupcake, the candle and The Notre Dame jacket from the movie,Rudy.

However, it does cause me to pause here for a moment and remember another line that I read somewhere, "Beware of Greeks bearing Gifts." I am pausing here because I have to wonder why now would the NHL suddenly put seed money into the American Collegiate Game?

The American collegiate player ranks in pro hockey (both among U.S. born and Canadian born players) were meager when I broke into Hockey as a Pro. There was a Minnesota Sheehy or two, a Tony Esposito, a few Fusco's, Peter McNab, a goalie named Dryden and a few more names that would have you all nodding and saying, "Oh yeah, I remember him."

Why now, why college Hockey? Is this not a break from the tradition of the NHL mostly being staffed by Canadian Junior players save for a few Americans, a few Europeans and even fewer college graduates.

Being one of them, with tassel and laurel leaves, I plowed my way thru the levels of Pro Hockey, often facing a hazing and a ridicule that bordered on cruel and unusual punishment.
Being from Dorchester and knowing what tools I would have to use, fighting my way past the roadblocks was not a daunting task. I considered it a rite of passage and a price that I was willing to pay.

In the years that followed, we saw huge growth and a gradual changing of attitudes. Could it be that full respect (and don't fool yourself, in the hockey business world, respect is measured in monetary investment) will eventually start coming from the NHL to collegiate hockey on the same basis as other sources of talent? If so, will I live to see that day?

I don't know. But I do know that college hockey, beyond its own great history and traditions, has provided value to the NHL that has grown by leaps and bounds. The more that value is respected and rewarded, the more possible it becomes to grow Division I hockey. Dare to dream.

*********

Paul Stewart holds the distinction of being the first U.S.-born citizen to make it to the NHL as both a player and referee. On March 15, 2003, he became the first American-born referee to officiate in 1,000 NHL games.

Today, Stewart serves as director of hockey officiating for the ECAC.
Join the Discussion: » 12 Comments » Post New Comment
More from Paul Stewart
» The Stew: Kevin Pollack, We Nearly Missed, Thank You Fans
» Officiating: Reasonable Doubt vs Miscarriages of Justice
» My Advice to Matt Rempe
» Greig, Rielly and "The Code"
» Chirping Zebras Podcast