Spruce Grove Saints - ajhl

[little esso]

At 46-4-1-3 = 96pts and the absolute class of the AJHL this year, how do you think the Spruce Grove Saints would fare if they played in the WHL this season?

[moon]

Originally Posted by little esso

At 46-4-1-3 = 96pts and the absolute class of the AJHL this year, how do you think the Spruce Grove Saints would fare if they played in the WHL this season?

They would likely finish last and have real trouble even fielding a team considering that they have 8 20 year olds on the team.

Replacing the five guys they would have to get rid of would likely really weaken their team.

If you ignored the rules and let them compete with their full roster I think they may be better than the bottom 2-3 teams but even that would seem like a stretch.

[Prototype]

AJHL - Where WHLers who don't want to go to college go when they get cut.

[little esso]

Got to disagree with you guys. More and more tier 2 players are drafted year by year. Most who play in tier 2 do so because they have NCAA aspirations and not because they aren't good enough for tier 1.

[Resolute 14]

Actually most who play tier 2 do so because they aren't good enough for tier 1. The number of players who are good enough but choose the American college route is certainly growing, and continuing to do so, but they are still a distinct minority.

As far as the Saints go, they could probably give the Cougars, Thunderbirds, Oil Kings and Hurricanes a run for their money, but would fare poorly against even a low to mid level WHL team.

[MelBridgeman]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Actually most who play tier 2 do so because they aren't good enough for tier 1. The number of players who are good enough but choose the American college route is certainly growing, and continuing to do so, but they are still a distinct minority.

As far as the Saints go, they could probably give the Cougars, Thunderbirds, Oil Kings and Hurricanes a run for their money, but would fare poorly against even a low to mid level WHL team.

True, and some are good enough, just not big enough

[MoneyGuy]

I live in Spruce Grove and love the Saints, but I'm not fooling myself. They're a great Tier 2 team, but would fare badly against even a poor WHL team. However, lots of great prospects come out of the AJ, and we've produced lots of great NHLers (Mark Messier, Stu Barnes, Grant Fuhr et al). The Grove is hosting the league all-star game again this season and the scouts really pay attention.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by little esso

Got to disagree with you guys. More and more tier 2 players are drafted year by year. Most who play in tier 2 do so because they have NCAA aspirations and not because they aren't good enough for tier 1.

That would make sense, except for the fact that the Saints carry 8 20 year olds. If you're 20 years old and still hoping to go the NCAA route you're kidding yourself.

[fundmark19]

Originally Posted by valo403

That would make sense, except for the fact that the Saints carry 8 20 year olds. If you're 20 years old and still hoping to go the NCAA route you're kidding yourself.

How about you pull your head out of your ass. Lots of players finish off their AJHL career before going to the NCAA. That is the whole point of going to the AJHL instead of WHL to play your junior career then move on to college. I am not sure if you know but the states are not like Canada. Many kids mostly athletes do not go to college right after grade 12. They then do 1 or 2 more years in prep school to get up their grades and physcial strength and these prep schools offer more exposer to better schools. After prep school they move on to college.

So you graduate 18 + 2 years in prep school you are 20 what do you know the math adds up.

[fundmark19]

Originally Posted by MoneyGuy

I live in Spruce Grove and love the Saints, but I'm not fooling myself. They're a great Tier 2 team, but would fare badly against even a poor WHL team. However, lots of great prospects come out of the AJ, and we've produced lots of great NHLers (Mark Messier, Stu Barnes, Grant Fuhr et al). The Grove is hosting the league all-star game again this season and the scouts really pay attention.

Nick Johnson currently playing with the Pens and baby Pens was also a product of the Saints and then moved onto college to play for dartmouth

[valo403]

Originally Posted by fundmark19

How about you pull your head out of your ass. Lots of players finish off their AJHL career before going to the NCAA. That is the whole point of going to the AJHL instead of WHL to play your junior career then move on to college. I am not sure if you know but the states are not like Canada. Many kids mostly athletes do not go to college right after grade 12. They then do 1 or 2 more years in prep school to get up their grades and physcial strength and these prep schools offer more exposer to better schools. After prep school they move on to college.

So you graduate 18 + 2 years in prep school you are 20 what do you know the math adds up.

Wow, take it easy tough guy. You'd think I just hopped on your sister.

I've had plenty of friends play in the AJHL and then move on to the NCAA, the majority of them did so well before they were 20. There are guys that play out their full eligibility in Jr. A before going south, but most make the move before their 20 year old season.

Speaking of removing heads from asses, the whole point of going to the AJHL instead of the WHL is the fact that doing the latter would make you ineligible for the NCAA.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by fundmark19

Nick Johnson currently playing with the Pens and baby Pens was also a product of the Saints and then moved onto college to play for dartmouth

Guess how old he was when he left for Dartmouth?

[fundmark19]

And I know lots of guys that play out their full career and then go to college. You are slamming Jr hockey players saying they have no chance going to NCAA if they finish their AJHL career which is wrong.

Johnson was just a reference to a saint who is currently contending for a spot in the NHL

[valo403]

Originally Posted by fundmark19

And I know lots of guys that play out their full career and then go to college. You are slamming Jr hockey players saying they have no chance going to NCAA if they finish their AJHL career which is wrong.

Johnson was just a reference to a saint who is currently contending for a spot in the NHL

I didn't slam anyone, the fact is that most guys who stick around until their overage year aren't going to NCAA D1 programs.

Seriously, I haven't had relation with any of your family members so chill the f out.

[Yeah_Baby]

Originally Posted by MoneyGuy

I live in Spruce Grove and love the Saints, but I'm not fooling myself. They're a great Tier 2 team, but would fare badly against even a poor WHL team. However, lots of great prospects come out of the AJ, and we've produced lots of great NHLers (Mark Messier, Stu Barnes, Grant Fuhr et al). The Grove is hosting the league all-star game again this season and the scouts really pay attention.

Is the allstar game at Grant Fuhr or the TLC?

[calculoso]

Originally Posted by Yeah_Baby

Is the allstar game at Grant Fuhr or the TLC?

He's a year ahead (at least). This year's all star game was Jan 30, 2010 in Ft. Mac:

AJHL North 14 – AJHL South 9 @ Fort McMurray, AB – January 30, 2010
http://ajhl.ca/news/2010/01/30/2010-...game-boxscore/

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by valo403

I didn't slam anyone, the fact is that most guys who stick around until their overage year aren't going to NCAA D1 programs.

The AJHL makes this pretty easy to prove too. They have a page that lists every player who has committed to an NCAA program this year, most with an accompanying press release. Of the releases that include the players ages, the breakdown currently is as follows:

16yr - 1
17yr - 8
18yr - 11
19yr - 4
20yr - 3

Some 20-year-olds will still go to American colleges (of those three, only one is a D-I school in 2010-11, another is D-II and the third will be independent), but if you are 20 years old and in Junior A, the CIS or job market is very likely your next step.

That is, of course, not to mock Junior A. I actually like that level, and it is a growing trend for players to go the Jr A-NCAA route. The AJHL is also one of the stronger leagues in the CJHL, which makes it better. It's actually unfortunate that the AJHL and BCHL have to face each other for the Doyle Cup, as it pretty much guarantees that one of the strongest contenders for the Royal Bank Cup is eliminated before the tournament even begins.

[MoneyGuy]

Originally Posted by Yeah_Baby

Is the allstar game at Grant Fuhr or the TLC?

Next one is at the TLC.

[Inferno]

Originally Posted by little esso

Most who play in tier 2 do so because they have NCAA aspirations and not because they aren't good enough for tier 1.

Sorry man, but that's not true at all. Most Junior A players are players who are good players but just aren't good enough for Major Junior. Yes, there are players who decide to not go the Major Junior route because they want an NCAA scholarship but the majority of them are players who just cant make that jump to the next level. You do have your 20 year old WHL vets but as someone said the WHL doesn't allow the number of 20 year olds that a Junior A team does.

I know what it's like to cheer for a top ranked team who has had players drafted by NHL teams. The team we had here was amazing in 01-02 and probably would have beat Halifax in the RBC final had it not been for a hot goalie. But that doesn't mean they could compete in Major Junior.

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

AJHL teams aren't nearly as good as WHL teams of course but there are definitely some gems in the AJ. I remember having an argument with someone back in '99 about who's better - Dany Heatley of the Calgary Canucks or Pavel Brendl of the Calgary Hitmen. Brendl's numbers were better than Heatley and he played in the WHL while Heatley played in the AJHL but we all know how that turned out.

Heatley singlehandedly won the Canucks the championship that year, went off to college and the rest is history. Rene Bourque is another player who had a great year in the AJHL in 99-00. He went off to Wisconsin and was never even drafted.