They stay playing in leagues that allow them to sleep in their own beds every night, just like all the players that into MLB, the NFL, and the NBA. They can then choose to attend a university or play for a CHL team.
I'd much rather player get drafted into the NHL at age 21 or 22 anyway. Very few 18 year olds make it in the NHL in their draft year, and for the handful (or less) that do, I'd rather them play CHL or NCAA hockey for a few years before getting drafted. We all know that drafting 17-18 year olds is a huge lottery anyway, and I'd much rather draft picks be worth more as you'd be drafting guys ready to play in the NHL right away.
The only reason this is allowed to happen is because of greedy CHL owners and their monopoly of youth hockey. Look at the Hitmen - you're telling me the Flames don't make a fortune off the backs of these kids who play for hamburger money? They are professional players sacrificing the prime learning years of their lives to ride buses all over Western Canada, and should be compensated as such.
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