CHL Not Winning Every Battle

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A lot has been made this summer about the ongoing recruiting war over players between the CHL and NCAA programs. While the number of players backing out of their college commitment in favour of the CHL has actually gone down the last few years, the high profile players doing it in a short span this summer have drawn more attention to the subject.

I think it would be hard to argue that the CHL isn't winning this border skirmish and will continue to do so unless the NCAA alters some rules specifically for NCAA hockey and I am not sure if that is even possible for them to consider. But until then, they'll continue to lose more of the big players than they win.

But that's not to say that college hockey is not without some victories of their own. There are plenty of cases where high caliber players with CHL options are still headed down the college path, or at least haven't eliminated that option.

Tuesday night on TPS: More money raised for wildfire victims

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Tonight on the big show we got the latest on an upcoming huge trade in the Q, discussed some upcoming coaching hires in the WHL and chatted with an American forward heading to the BCHL. We also raised more money for the victims of wildfires and flooding in the Slave Lake, Alberta region.

Last Saturday we auctioned off a similar package with a Ryan Nugent-Hopkins autographed jersey and the winning bid came from O2's Taphouse in Edmonton ponying up $2800. Tonight we put up a Mark Pysyk autographed Oil Kings jersey, along with the Jasper Park Lodge golf and spa package, and a Moosehead prize package and thanks to One 9 Construction inc we were able to raise another $1600 for our cause. That's $4400 so far with one more auction to go on Saturday. We will have the JPL and Moosehead packages up for grabs along with a signed Tyler Ennis Buffalo Sabres jersey and thanks to our good friend Sam Cosentino a couple of autographed baseballs from Aaron Hill and Adam Lind!!!! That's Saturday from 10-noon mst.

Oil Kings Lose Key Prospect to BCHL

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If there is one thing the modern-era Edmonton Oil Kings haven't had a lot of over their 4-year existence it's big, impact centermen. Yes, Jeff Lee had a 62-point season in 2008-09 but that's about the end of the list. Can Travis Ewanyk become that guy? Maybe, although offensive production isn't what most are expecting of him. Jordan Hickmott was good for the team last season but at 6' and 185 lbs, he wasn't the kind of center we're talking about here.

What the Oil Kings have lacked is a 6'2, nearly 200 lb pivot that can step in and anchor the second line spot and give the team a pair of effective scoring lines. Unfortunately for them, that guy appears to have chosen the BCHL and NCAA over just such an opportunity here in Edmonton.