Juniors draft

upnorthhockey · Post by **upnorthhockey** » Fri May 04, 2007 12:24 pm

Juniors draft
When is it?
Who do you think will get drafted?
whats the deal?

This might belong in the juniors section but since high schoolers are gonna be drafted I thought ide put it here

gh12345 · Post by **gh12345** » Fri May 04, 2007 3:40 pm

USHL Draft is May 15th.
Hockey players will be drafted.
The deal is, you have to tryout, for the team that drafted you, 1st

breakout · Post by **breakout** » Fri May 04, 2007 3:58 pm

I have heard there is a prospect draft in which they can draft players and hold their rights for two years. Is that true?

If so, did those players have to tryout as well? Or, were they scouted in high school games, advance camps, etc.?

gh12345 · Post by **gh12345** » Fri May 04, 2007 4:10 pm

You're talking about the Futures Draft, which is in October. Not exactly sure about the players picked in it, but I would imagine they would have to tryout. They get your rights for, I believe, a year.

Being drafted only guarantees a spot at the tryout. You have to work your way on to the team. It's alot like how the NHL runs things

breakout · Post by **breakout** » Fri May 04, 2007 4:20 pm

gh12345 wrote:You're talking about the Futures Draft, which is in October. Not exactly sure about the players picked in it, but I would imagine they would have to tryout. They get your rights for, I believe, a year.

Being drafted only guarantees a spot at the tryout. You have to work your way on to the team. It's alot like how the NHL runs things

Thank you

Gopher Blog · Post by **Gopher Blog** » Fri May 04, 2007 9:16 pm

gh12345 wrote:You're talking about the Futures Draft, which is in October. Not exactly sure about the players picked in it, but I would imagine they would have to tryout. They get your rights for, I believe, a year

For the Futures Draft, how long a team owns your rights depends on what the player's age is when drafted. Last year, a player that was Futures pick and was a 1990 birth date has their rights held by the team for three years. 1989 players have their rights held for two years and 1988s for only one year.

I would gather that any 1991 pick for the next Futures Draft would have their rights held for three years, any available 1990 that is drafted for 2 years and any available 1989 for one year.

gmoola89 · Post by **gmoola89** » Sat May 12, 2007 11:20 pm

probaly a dumb question but.. in the USHL draft is there certain rounds dedicated to an age group, such as, lets say the first round for the 90's, and so on..?

falcons30 · Post by **falcons30** » Sat May 12, 2007 11:53 pm

This should help answer your questions.

http://www.ushl.com/draft/2007/

upnorthhockey · Post by **upnorthhockey** » Sun May 13, 2007 9:47 pm

how often do teams draft players then end up cutting them during tryouts? is that rare or what?

Blue&Gold · Post by **Blue&Gold** » Mon May 14, 2007 4:08 pm

That depends on the team, and the needs of that team. An example is Sioux City last year, the first 7 players drafted, (the #1 didn't show up (Matt White)) the next six all made the team. Now, they draft up to 30 players on the roster, and none of the other players that were drafted made the team. At Tri-City, they had players on the roster that were drafted in the 12th and later rounds.

Some teams had done so much trading and releasing by mid-year, that many of the drafted players were down in the NAHL or out in the east playing juniors even after making the team at the beginning of the season.

Some players that aren't drafted but are invited to the tryouts do make the team at that time. So.. if you're drafted doesn't mean you'll make the team, and because you're not drafted doesn't mean you won't make the team. OH, and just because you're protected (a veteran from last year) doesn't guarantee you'll be playing either.

Junior hockey is like a business, and the teams need to pull fans into the arenas, so they need to win. It's not a walk-on for anybody (think of Austin Lee last year) so you have to prove yourself every time you lace them up.

breakout · Post by **breakout** » Mon May 14, 2007 5:10 pm

Blue&Gold wrote:That depends on the team, and the needs of that team. An example is Sioux City last year, the first 7 players drafted, (the #1 didn't show up (Matt White)) the next six all made the team. Now, they draft up to 30 players on the roster, and none of the other players that were drafted made the team. At Tri-City, they had players on the roster that were drafted in the 12th and later rounds.

Some teams had done so much trading and releasing by mid-year, that many of the drafted players were down in the NAHL or out in the east playing juniors even after making the team at the beginning of the season.

Some players that aren't drafted but are invited to the tryouts do make the team at that time. So.. if you're drafted doesn't mean you'll make the team, and because you're not drafted doesn't mean you won't make the team. OH, and just because you're protected (a veteran from last year) doesn't guarantee you'll be playing either.

Junior hockey is like a business, and the teams need to pull fans into the arenas, so they need to win. It's not a walk-on for anybody (think of Austin Lee last year) so you have to prove yourself every time you lace them up.

It's good that people know those things before going in. Some players can get cut and have no college plans or other hockey teams to fall back on. As stated, it's a business.

upnorthhockey · Post by **upnorthhockey** » Mon May 14, 2007 9:22 pm

Thank you. that helped. and if two teams are interested in a player, the first one drafts him, he tries out and does not make the team. can the other team that was interested in him give him a tryout?
weird questions i know but the whole juniors thing intrigues me

gh12345 · Post by **gh12345** » Mon May 14, 2007 9:25 pm

he can tryout for the other team as long as the team that drafted him releases his rights.

upnorthhockey · Post by **upnorthhockey** » Mon May 14, 2007 9:41 pm

oh wow, so even after you dont make the team they still have rights to you?

Blue&Gold · Post by **Blue&Gold** » Tue May 15, 2007 1:17 pm

A team will have a 30-man roster at the end of their camp, and on July 1 I think that the number is 25 that you can protect. If you are on that 30-man roster b4 7/1, or the 25-man after 7/1, OR on the Affiliated roster, then your rights are owned by that team. If you're sent packing, or not on the 30-man roster after camp, then you're free to go anywhere. So basically, at any one time a team has 30 players protected until the time when they reduce the number across the board.

When the draft is done, each team will have 30 players listed on it's roster along with it's affiliated roster. They will sit on these for two weeks, then trading, etc. can take place.

Does this make sense??

Hockey=Life · Post by **Hockey=Life** » Tue May 15, 2007 8:29 pm

Can anyone explain what the "affiliate" is?... Say a player never got drafted in todays draft, can they still make the list?, also what does it mean to be on the list?

Thanks.

wild77 · Post by **wild77** » Tue May 15, 2007 9:21 pm

Hockey=Life wrote:Can anyone explain what the "affiliate" is?... Say a player never got drafted in todays draft, can they still make the list?, also what does it mean to be on the list?

Thanks.

Some of your questions can be answered here http://ushl.com/draft/2007/

The affiliates list is made of U-18 players that do not adhere to the 10 game roster rule.

FYI.....It is very important, if you plan on playing junior hockey, to ask questions and become familar with the different leagues, the age requirements, and some of the rules. Ask questions on this board, pose questions to other junior players, ask coaches, ask parents of junior players....learn learn learn. It can be a very confusing and intimidating world if you don't do your homework and aren't in the upper echelon of skilled hockey players. There are many hockey players trying to get to the next level and it is very common for many to get lost along the way. There are things you can do to better your chances or to give yourself a safety net should you not succeed at a certain level. Just IMO.

Hockey=Life · Post by **Hockey=Life** » Tue May 15, 2007 9:29 pm

So are you saying you must be drafted in order to be put on the list?

wild77 · Post by **wild77** » Tue May 15, 2007 9:34 pm

Hockey=Life wrote:So are you saying you must be drafted in order to be put on the list?

No, you do not have to be drafted to be put on the affiliates list, but I believe many are. They are generally younger kids (remember they are u-18 ) and generally come from the futures draft.

Pucknutz69 · Post by **Pucknutz69** » Tue May 15, 2007 10:30 pm

Does anyone that has been through this process have any advice for a freshmen? Should he be attending the futures tryouts that some of these teams are having? I notice Green Bay and Des Moines are having one.

Are they worth it to get his name out there or a waste of time?

Blue&Gold · Post by **Blue&Gold** » Wed May 16, 2007 6:35 am

It never hurts to play in front the scouts. In MN, the best way to get the attention of the USHL and NAHL teams is to bust your hump in the "Selects" and get into Upper Midwest High School Elite League. Especially for the USHL....

Don't give up is the best advice I can give you. If you are invited to a tryout camp, GO. Every team will end up taking some kid(s) from the camp that wasn't drafted. Or they getthe teams attention and get the spot next year.

I can NOT emphasize enough that MANY drafted players won't play in the league. (sounds like the NHL, doesn't it?) Here's an example: One of the USHL teams came into the draft with 17 players protected, (that included a mix of veterans and '89 affiliates that were protected) and drafted to 30. They have to pare that down to 23, OH and of course there are still 4 or 5 affiliated players that are '90s and may choose to play their senior year away from home. So we have let's say 35 listed players right now, and there will be probably 80 players at camp.. Historically if a player is drafted after round 8 or 9, they don't stand as good a chance of making a team, and playing. (but they might, some late round players do nicely.. so there is no sure answers)

Did I mention that the teams carry 23 rostered players, but only roster 20 for the games? Just keep that in mind as well. Somebody sits every game.

I'm not trying to paint a gloomy picture here, MANY players are very successful in junior A hockey. I just want to clarify to everyone that the draft is just one means of getting players, and that being drafted isn't a sure-fire way to get on a team, and not being drafted doesn't mean you won't make a team.

I do have first-hand knowledge of Junior A, so ask away.. (USHL)

Observer85 · Post by **Observer85** » Wed May 16, 2007 8:37 am

Pucknutz69 wrote:Does anyone that has been through this process have any advice for a freshmen? Should he be attending the futures tryouts that some of these teams are having? I notice Green Bay and Des Moines are having one.

Are they worth it to get his name out there or a waste of time?

If you are invited to a USHL tryout camp, GO!! I have been at at least 6 USHL camps watching and most have 15-20 college coaches watching at some point during those 3 days of camp.

Best recent example I can think of. Danny Vranek of Eden Prairie. He is a talented young player and I have seen him at many different venues. I know that he attended the Sioux City Muskateers camp last June. He skated well and made the final "all-star" game. He ended up not making the team and came back to Minnesota for his senior year. In the stands for 3 of the 4 days of that camp was a coach for New Hampshire. Now Vranek is headed for UNH next fall.

You really never know who is watching and what they are looking for....

breakout · Post by **breakout** » Wed May 16, 2007 10:27 am

Observer85 wrote:
Pucknutz69 wrote:Does anyone that has been through this process have any advice for a freshmen? Should he be attending the futures tryouts that some of these teams are having? I notice Green Bay and Des Moines are having one.

Are they worth it to get his name out there or a waste of time?
If you are invited to a USHL tryout camp, GO!! I have been at at least 6 USHL camps watching and most have 15-20 college coaches watching at some point during those 3 days of camp.

Best recent example I can think of. Danny Vranek of Eden Prairie. He is a talented young player and I have seen him at many different venues. I know that he attended the Sioux City Muskateers camp last June. He skated well and made the final "all-star" game. He ended up not making the team and came back to Minnesota for his senior year. In the stands for 3 of the 4 days of that camp was a coach for New Hampshire. Now Vranek is headed for UNH next fall.

You really never know who is watching and what they are looking for....

In my opinion, you can over-expose as well. Plus, there is cost for each camp. Use this forum and find mentors that have "been there - done that". Pick their brain and ask questions.

Talk to your high school coach. Many of them have contacts at higher levels. If your kid is deserving and talented enough, they should recommend them for the Elite league(s) and to Jr. and college coaches. There is tremendous exposure to scouts and coaches in the Elite League(s).

Also, there are Jr. scouts and college scouts at high school games. If they have heard about a kid.............they will find games and watch.

gomnhky · Post by **gomnhky** » Wed May 16, 2007 10:45 am

It seems that it becomes a lot more challenging in deciding what might be the best option for a young player based on the results of this year's draft and what appears to be a preference in the early rounds of this draft by selecting the more "seasoned" players (i.e. experience in other junior leagues/prep schools) - should those players who are later round draft picks, and even those who were not drafted, be better off to consider playing in one of the other leagues (NAHL/EJHL) where a player may get more playing time and experience in still a pretty decent competitive league versus not making the team and/or riding the pine in the USHL?

Observer85 · Post by **Observer85** » Wed May 16, 2007 1:04 pm

breakout wrote:In my opinion, you can over-expose as well. Plus, there is cost for each camp. Use this forum and find mentors that have "been there - done that". Pick their brain and ask questions.

Talk to your high school coach. Many of them have contacts at higher levels. If your kid is deserving and talented enough, they should recommend them for the Elite league(s) and to Jr. and college coaches. There is tremendous exposure to scouts and coaches in the Elite League(s).

Also, there are Jr. scouts and college scouts at high school games. If they have heard about a kid.............they will find games and watch.

You definitely have to be at your best if you are young and going to the camp for the exposure and experience of it. The last thing you want to do is go in out of shape and play poorly as a result. A coach watching, if impressed, will either keep watching later in the year (they will find you) or have someone watch for them.

Breakout, you are right about the cost factor. You have to make good decisions. I was told last year Des Moines had their Open tryout the week before their regular camp, had 90+ players and only 1 or 2 were asked to attend the following week (for the main camp). In this case, this was merely a fund raising opportunity for the organization and a chance for the organization to help local hotels with their vacancy rates.

My kid has been there, done that. He was at a USHL camp between his sophomore and junior season (for the experience), was heavily recruited to play his senior year in the USHL, instead stayed in his Minnesota HS. Played in the Elite League 2 years but had to tryout that 1st year to make it. Played this year in the USHL and is headed to college next year.