Alec Baer Headed to the Dub

[YouthHockeyHub]

It's official, 15 year old whiz kid Alec Baer is a Vancouver Giant. We got a press release from Vancouver today.

http://youthhockeyhub.com/bsms-alec-bae ... r-the-dub/

Enjoy,

TS

[GatorLand]

I wish this youngster the best.

I hope this is not a route taken by future US 9th graders.

[forcerocks]

I like junior because instead of playing 24 high school games they play 72

almost three times the amount of hockey in one season

you can see why Seth Jones and other high end draft picks are going to major junior

[MNHockeyFan]

I like junior because instead of playing 24 high school games they play 72

almost three times the amount of hockey in one season

How many games is enough?

What is the ideal practice-to-games ratio?

Are you forgetting about before and after high school season games? (Elite League and AAA club, plus other tourneys)?

And what becomes of this kid if he doesn't make the NHL? (which very few of them won't).

[Bonin2121]

I like junior because instead of playing 24 high school games they play 72

Oshie, Leddy, McDonagh, Bjugstad, etc. seem to be doing alright.

[yawannago]

I'm not a Vancouver Giant fan, though I enjoy being able to watch the WHL in Kamloops. Always look forward to watching new young talent.

Hope he grows a bit, as it is a tough league and as has been mentioned on this forum, you're playing against young men up to 20 years old. It is also tough adapting to a 72 game schedule, the travel, billeting and being away from home. Though it can also be a great experience living in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, getting a real look at what an NHL type schedule is like.

What I don't get on this forum is all the anti WHL sentiment. We in Canada don't whine, moan and bitch when one of our young players decides on US College hockey, why are so many posters here so adamant that the WHL is such a bad option? Alex will get one year of post secondary education at the school of his choice for every year he plays.

The Seattle Thunderbirds drafted two Canadian kids who are likely to choose the US college route and no one is bashing their decision that they deem is in their best interest. Shouldn't people just be happy that these kids have options available to them, regardless of where they play.

I bet 95% of the posters on this forum have never seen a WHL game, yet so many of you run the game down, the coaches, the team owners, everything about it. It's no different than the college option, there are coaches who aren't so great, schools that don't have the kids best interest and then there are schools that are awesome.

Also, many of you run down the school benefit these kids get from the WHL. US College is no better. A full ride is BS. Often Canadian kids parents are supplementing their kids education to the tune of 30-40 thousand a year when their kid is at a US school on a full ride. These full rides are also reviewed after EVERY season, so in reality are only one year scholarships that can extend to four years. A lot of these schools also have a less than stellar record of looking after young athletes who are injured while playing for them.

I don't care which option these kids take, but there are risks for either option and it is up to each kid to decide. There are kids who did well going the college route, but many who have done well going the WHL route. I just watched a game tonight that had five American kids who are enjoying their experience up here. Be happy for them and ease up on the sniping at a hockey league most of you really don't know anything about.

[northwoods oldtimer]

I'm not a Vancouver Giant fan, though I enjoy being able to watch the WHL in Kamloops. Always look forward to watching new young talent.

Hope he grows a bit, as it is a tough league and as has been mentioned on this forum, you're playing against young men up to 20 years old. It is also tough adapting to a 72 game schedule, the travel, billeting and being away from home. Though it can also be a great experience living in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, getting a real look at what an NHL type schedule is like.

What I don't get on this forum is all the anti WHL sentiment. We in Canada don't whine, moan and bitch when one of our young players decides on US College hockey, why are so many posters here so adamant that the WHL is such a bad option? Alex will get one year of post secondary education at the school of his choice for every year he plays.

The Seattle Thunderbirds drafted two Canadian kids who are likely to choose the US college route and no one is bashing their decision that they deem is in their best interest. Shouldn't people just be happy that these kids have options available to them, regardless of where they play.

I bet 95% of the posters on this forum have never seen a WHL game, yet so many of you run the game down, the coaches, the team owners, everything about it. It's no different than the college option, there are coaches who aren't so great, schools that don't have the kids best interest and then there are schools that are awesome.

Also, many of you run down the school benefit these kids get from the WHL. US College is no better. A full ride is BS. Often Canadian kids parents are supplementing their kids education to the tune of 30-40 thousand a year when their kid is at a US school on a full ride. These full rides are also reviewed after EVERY season, so in reality are only one year scholarships that can extend to four years. A lot of these schools also have a less than stellar record of looking after young athletes who are injured while playing for them.

I don't care which option these kids take, but there are risks for either option and it is up to each kid to decide. There are kids who did well going the college route, but many who have done well going the WHL route. I just watched a game tonight that had five American kids who are enjoying their experience up here. Be happy for them and ease up on the sniping at a hockey league most of you really don't know anything about.

Great informational post yawannago. Welcome your comments anytime into the league. I am sure you can expect some "expert" rebuttal to follow.

[yawannago]

No worries.

Actually, up late and bored, just went through the ten teams in the Western Conference of the WHL and there are 32 American kids on those ten teams, I can't believe there are 32 parents who have all lost their minds sending the kids to a league that just grinds em up and spits em out as some of you seem to think.

Portland Winterhawks have eight US kids and are the number one ranked team in the entire Canadian Hockey League.

[O-townClown]

Force, Seth Jones could have sat out the season and gone 1 or 2 in the Draft. He didn't go there at age 17. Considering he's certain to start his first season as an adult playing a majority of his games in the NHL, NCAA doesn't make a lot of sense. He will have more earning years and get to his peak at a younger age. College is a good thing, but at some point he'd have an Economics class and realize he didn't maximize his earning potential by going. Furthermore, he's from Dallas and there isn't a lot of hockey there for teenagers. Minnesotans understand his decision.

Ya, thanks for signing up and posting. You make many great points. One thing I've noticed is that it is accepted practice in the States to sign baseball contracts at age 18 rather than attend NCAA schools. Sure, some kids play college baseball. But all have their price and the ones there just didn't get offered the big bucks. Rarely - ever? - are there kids that turn down big money like $2 million. Kids are turning down five figures...big difference.

I think the problem Minnesotans have with leaving for the WHL at 15 or 16 is the crock of crap that comes out of parents' mouths to justify their decision. They repeat the same drivel they were told as if it is fact. Admit it: school isn't high on your priorities. Cut the "superior accelerated player development" that doesn't exist. Kids at the top level can go a different route and reach the same destination. Johnson of the NTDP and Carlson of the USHL were examples for their age group. Get to college early like Okposo.

While many kids make it out of Major Junior, many don't. Shane McColgan is a player that has not advanced his hockey future in the WHL. He's seen by everyone as having less potential than he did just three years ago. If it were the magic bullet that couldn't happen. So what we see here is a kid that could have played Junior hockey in the United States or a provincial league and still have gone to an NCAA school. Playing hockey, having fun, gettin' a degree. And still be under consideration for an NHL career. That doesn't happen in Canadian universities, so anyone that pretends it's the same just doesn't understand.

I wish him well. We live in a world where everyone is free to make their own decisions.

This has a lot of similarities to the basketball decisions from my friend's family. I hope it ends better.

Good luck Alex Baer. Vancouver is a world-class city.

[O-townClown]

YHH Says: It’s frustrating to watch a top end talent like Alec leave Minnesota to find greener pastures. We wish him the best of luck

Tony, one minor edit. Not "find" greener pastures, but to "look for" or "in search of".

There's no guarantee.

[Cootslayer]

O-town,

Don't forget, that altruistic "family advisor".

You know, that guy who convinces little Johnny Superstar's family that he just has the best interests of Johnny at heart.

You know, the guy who convinces the family that all of the people around Johnny and his family are just hunyuks and don't understand how hockey works.

Oh yeah, you know the guy who doesn't get paid if Johnny goes NCAA.

Yeah, that guy, the guy that gets paid by the Dub team for delivering the kid.

I have no idea if this young man has an advisor. Most do. They get convinced that they need an advisor to guide them through all of the "misinformation" about the WHL, particularly the "education" package.

O-town hit the nail on the head with the baseball comparison. You and your family want to chase the bright lights and get after it, good luck! College isn't for everyone. Way too many people think everyone needs to go to college. Quit the BS about the education.

You become a 21 year old who didn't pan out. Guess what, that advisor will "help" find you a gig in the SPHL. Now you have played "pro" hockey. Guess what, WHL is off the hook on that "education" package and you better hope Dad owns a company you can work for...

The high end of HS hockey is a use and be used situation, like it or not. Kid was using BSM to get his next gig, like many do. Team was using kid to win. Coach didn't like the distraction the kid was bringing to the team and dealt with the situation.

IMHO, lock this one up. Lock up any new threads about this or Farmington.

Time to move on and enjoy sections and the best state tourney in any sport anywhere.

The game is bigger than any "Johnny Superstar" or any attention craving Jackwagon.

[Tigers33]

Yawannago - the difference is it is away of life up there. Remember high school hockey and college hockey are not that competitive in Canada because of major junior. In America that's completely different, and especially in Minnesota.

We take pride in being the best state for high school hockey and college hockey. So for a Minnesotan, or US player to take that route they are in the minority. It's not even close to comparing the amount of Canadians playing college hockey.

It's funny you talk about the whining thing, cause don cherry was whining the complete opposite. He was just throwing a temper tantrum a little bit ago saying that major junior should close its doors to only Canadians.