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NCAA or CHL? Which route is better for elite hockey players?

Every player has different obstacles and different attributes that take them one way or another..if they are skilled and fortunate enough to take either route. To say one is better is a guess and personal opinion and arguments as well as examples for both are everywhere. Keep in mind that in the end, the top .05% actually make it....the other 99.05% are on here telling you how to make it...

The NCAA you get an education.

You can get an education playing CHL/WHL/OHL/QMJHL. Most teams (if not all) have a program in place to pay for school (reimbursement) so that argument is not a good one.
I say play where you want to play...if you can. Major junior hockey is much more suited for getting you ready for the next level, just check the draft and you will see that 50% of the players come from onr of these programs.

oldschoolpuckster wrote:Major junior hockey is much more suited for getting you ready for the next level, just check the draft and you will see that 50% of the players come from onr of these programs.

That has much more to do with the fact that it is the preferred development route for Canadian players than the CHL offering better development. The talent coming out of the CHL you mention would be drafted just as high coming out of NCAA Hockey.

Two different models, both work.

NCAA will get the player more practice time and weight room work due to the schedule. CHL will get more games and more bus ride time.

Each has good selling points but I personally believe NCAA hockey is the way to go.

The problem with Major Jrs. is you had better prove yourself as pro worthy by age 20 or you are going to find yourself playing low level minor league hockey or Canadian college hockey (which is a joke).

Maintain your college eligibility as a teen. Play high school, in a US juniors league (USHL/NAHL), or maybe even BCHL. Keep your options open.