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Road to Becoming a Pro

Being a Canadian goaltender, the CHL draft is a big thing to look forward to on your second year of bantam hockey. Like myself, most goalies of that age are expecting to get drafted if they have a good season in a high caliber league. But the truth is, most of us will not get drafted in either the WHL, OHL or the QMJHL (depending on where you live). That leads to a lot of disappointment in young goalies, as all of their hope were resting on one of the CHL drafts.

It's the thought of getting drafted into the CHL that makes a goaltenders heart flutter, there's a certain glory that comes along with it. But for most goalies, the CHL is actually a road block from further development. Don't get me wrong, the CHL is a great league for those select few who play there, but there are a lot of flaws in the system. Once signing a CHL contract, you're considered a "pro" player, since you make a very small salary while playing. This rules you out of any hopes of playing in the NCAA. 

Since it's the rout that I'm on currently, I personally believe in what the NCAA does for its student athletes; especially the hockey players. The road to the NCAA is a little longer, but for a young goaltender, the longer the better. Goaltenders in some cases take an extra year or even two to fully develop. In order to get to the NCAA, in particular Division 1, a goaltender must play junior "A" in leagues like the BCHL (B.C), AJHL (Alberta), SJHL (Saskatchewan), or any of the other leagues throughout eastern and central Canada. The province of Ontario has a couple junior "A" leagues to itself! 

Junior "A" leagues have fewer games in the regular season, less travel and even better schooling options. This allows for more development of not only the body, but the mind, which is extremely important. Less games and less travel means less "wear and tear" on the body which leads to longer careers in most cases. 

The NCAA allows you to get an education while playing an extremely high level of hockey. It also allows you to play for longer, as it goes into your twenties, whereas junior hockey ends at twenty. That extra time allows young goaltenders and smaller skaters to develop into NHL ready athletes. Canadians are currently making up about 30% of all players in the NCAA division 1, and that number is growing every year. Current NHL goaltenders such as Cam Talbot who plays for the Edmonton Oilers, was an NCAA signing to the Rangers after his NCAA div. 1 years. He was passed up on the draft and look at him now! So if you're going through the disappointment of not getting into the CHL draft as a goalie, just know that for us, there is a better option out there!    

For more info on what NHL teams are thinking about NCAA goaltenders checkout: What the NHL sees in NCAA div. 1 goaltenders 

To hear players perspectives on the topic, take a look at: Canadian skaters believe NCAA is a better fit for some Canadians



   
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