CHL/College Signings Galore

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This time of year, everybody is looking for a job.

Each spring NHL teams line up for the key free agent collegians available and also get busy on inking their drafted NCAA prospects too. This year has been no different and several important players have either left school early or have signed their entry level deals after completing their college eligibility.

Another popular feeding ground for NHL teams this time of year is in the waters of the overage, undrafted CHL player. Players drafted out of the CHL in the 2009 draft have to be signed to prevent teams from losing their rights, we've seen a number of those entry level contracts as of late as well.

A bunch of names have been scratched to contracts, some made news and some went unnoticed and there are still some high profile free agents available. Here is a team-by-team breakdown of what has happened so far and at the end, a list of other guys I think should be on the radar for teams.

Holy Suspensions Batman

The QMJHL was busy handing out suspensions late Friday/early Saturday as an unlucky 7 were sat for Saturday games and beyond.

The official release is here.

I haven't seen any video of the hits, punches or slew foots so I can't say whether or not their deserving suspensions or an over reaction. If the hits are as dangerous as the ones we are seeing in the NHL lately then good on the league for reacting quickly and somewhat severely. Sitting a guy in the playoffs has an almost 3-1 ratio to regular season games in some hockey peoples eyes.

Saturday Morning Special

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Another busy show this weekend as The Pipeline Show looked ahead at the coming NHL season and bravely predicted this year's Calder trophy winners and candidates - with the help of an old friend from Hockey Night In Canada. We also went South to check in on the Barons of OK City as they prepared for their one and only pre-season tilt in advance of the regular season. Our 2011 eligible guest is considered the top player available from the AJHL. And after a wild affair last night in Regina we were joined by someone who was not only in the building but had the call of the brawl between the Pats and the Oil Kings.

"If you missed it live... click the archive!" but continue reading for more of a re-cap.

German Attendance Record About to be Smashed

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Thursday's outdoor game at Veletins Arena in Gelsenkirchen, Germany between the host nation and USA was memorable for two reasons. First, Germany won the game beating the Americans 2-1 in overtime and secondly, the 77,803 fans who packed the soccer stadium represented a record number of people to take in a hockey game.

The Germans like to party and they hooted and hollered, chanted and chortled throughout the entire contest, some may have even cared about the game. I am half kidding - I know there is a dedicated following for the sport in Germany but having been in the crowd at the Heritage Classic in 2003, I can tell you that being able to say you were there is probably as satisfying (if not more than) than actually living through that freezing experience. For now, congratulations to Germany for putting on a big show and setting the new record.

Enjoy it while you can because in 8 months your record is going to be just another footnote. Circle Dec 11th on your calendar and prepare for what is bound to be a hockey spectacle like no one has ever seen before.

Canada is the World Junior capital

At the conclusion of the senior World Hockey Championship today it was announced that the IIHF has awarded Canada even more World Junior Championships than the 2010 and 2012 tournaments our country is already hosting in Regina/Saskatoon and Edmonton/Calgary respectively.

You can add the 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2021 events to the list as well. Expect Toronto to get one tournament after they lost out recently to the Alberta bid. Winnipeg and Halifax will also get consideration after successful shows in the past. How about Montreal or Quebec? Why not go north? Alaska held it once. Let's have it in Tuktoyaktuk...okay that's silly as the whole idea for going to Canada so much is the events sell out and there is a ticket sharing program between Hockey Canada, IIHF and the member countries.

One other Hockey Canada note. A new partnership was announced today that is being described as "Ground Breaking" and will see the NHL try and give Junior A hockey a boost.

Hockey Canada, the CJHL and the NHL will team up to expose the 10 leagues and 143 Junior A teams even more. Events like the World Junior A Challenge that was held in Camrose last year will get more hype as will the CJHL top prospect game and the RBC Cup - who's final is tonight by the way between Vernon and Humboldt - in hopes of growing the game and players at the Tier II level. The program will see more NHL central scouting bird dogs take in more Junior A games.