2026 Draft

[GEEMAN]

Not 2026 draft eligible but we’re going to start seeing a lot more well heeled US kids who move to Canada to play top youth hockey programs … like Kade O’Rourke - would be the first American kid to receive exceptional status in Canada

Kade O’Rourke seeking exceptional status in OHL

www.sportsnet.ca

I was at the game with by buddy who had his cousin playing , he was really good and decent size at 15 for a D

No published stats on this years GTHL league to check his stats

 

[Sal_Butera]

I was at the game with by buddy who had his cousin playing , he was really good and decent size at 15 for a D

No published stats on this years GTHL league to check his stats

Apparently did really well at OHL Cup moreover for a 15 yr old

1st time an American team has won OHL Cup (Honeybaked - Hutson’s old youth hockey team)

 

[GEEMAN]

Apparently did really well at OHL Cup moreover for a 15 yr old

1st time an American team has won OHL Cup (Honeybaked - Hutson’s old youth hockey team)

Why come across the border when USA hockey has better training and development system

 

[Sal_Butera]

Why come across the border when USA hockey has better training and development system

This is only my observation… which won’t buy you a cup of coffee:

US youth programs (especially high end ones) develop excellent individual skilled players but playing the “game of hockey” (hockey IQ for lack of better terminology) I find is still superior amongst top end Cdn programs like GTHL.

Also, the margin between top to bottom player in Cdn youth hockey I find is smaller than US

Hughes bros were denied OHL exemption status which is why they went USNTDP route - despite all playing GTHL

Keep in mind unless US player gets into & dominates NTDP enabling Div I route, they still need to play juniors (USHL etc) to be viewed by scouts as having played legit competition - CHL is still the best 16-19 (junior) league in the world.

I expect CHL (WHL, OHL and Q) teams will go hard after US Youth hockey players.. increasing offensive skill level while lowering the avg age & likely increase # of exemption status players

 

[TheCountofMonteCristo]

when we used to play American teams, on average our players were better but there was always 1-2 on the American team that were better and dominated. One difference though was how our teams were more physical than the Americans

 

[Sal_Butera]

when we used to play American teams, on average our players were better but there was always 1-2 on the American team that were better and dominated. One difference though was how our teams were more physical than the Americans

$$$

American kids from non traditional markets who are standouts, are on the ice 4-5 days a week year round w a personal skating & skills coach from a very young age. Matthews, Keller, Robertson etc

 

[legoalie]

Have you seen Carels play

My buddy says he is going to be a top pair stud

The Vees have advance to the 2nd round and we play PG starting tonight, I will get to see Carels play in a playoff mode tonight and tomorrow night for sure.

 

[habsfan]

$$$

American kids from non traditional markets who are standouts, are on the ice 4-5 days a week year round w a personal skating & skills coach from a very young age. Matthews, Keller, Robertson etc

Yeah, it’s this. My kid is this world and plays AAA in the GTHL. The American parents and orgs are pumping so much cash into the sport, it’s very difficult to keep up.

You’re also seeing the remnants of COVID. Ontario kids missed upwards of 1.5 seasons of formative hockey years and it shows. Team like Little Caesars and to a lesser extent Honeybaked are regional all-star teams. We know kids from 4 different states that play for Little Caesars, so comparing a program like that to Toronto Junior Canadiens is an apples to oranges comparison.

 

[Sal_Butera]

View: https://x.com/jerome_berube/status/2052470553689165988?s=46

 

[lecoqsportif]

Knock on effect of the NCAA rule.