College vs AHL Comparisons

F

Frank Lee

Well-known member
I never watched any NCAA hockey in my youth. BU, BC, RPI, etc were too far away with Princeton probably being the closest. I had no access or interest. But I did get to many AHL games in Hershey (100+?). Although a step behind the NHL, AHL play is good hockey. Over the past few years, I have been watching PSU hockey from afar as well as some AHL highlights, and the thing that strikes me as being the biggest differences between the two levels are the crispness in passing and the strength along the boards and in the crease. This may be do to average age, with the AHL having some older NHL-experienced guys.
I don't know if college hockey allows for older, experienced amateurs, or if they even exist, whether from Canadian Junior leagues or from Europe. I'm not saying to replace the roster, but sprinkling in a few older "ringers" could be a strategy for any college hockey team.
 
Guy wants a fast, finesse style, but after watching the PSU-ND game tonight, I believe the team still needs to get bigger. ND may be a last place team, but they scrap and win pucks along the boards better than the Lions.
 
Without Cerrato and most likely McKenna, the team will need to figure things out. For the coming seasons, bigger is better, but still retain speed. This past MSU series exposed some of the size and strength deficiencies. Hopefully, these guys are in a managed, rigorous S&C program.
 
The MSU@UM game last night was entertaining hockey. 3-1 MSU after two, but UM wins in OT. Crisp, threaded passing, puck control, movement into the slot, good D and in goal. UM #1, MSU #2, and PSU #5 seems about right.
 
Frank Lee said:
Without Cerrato and most likely McKenna, the team will need to figure things out. For the coming seasons, bigger is better, but still retain speed. This past MSU series exposed some of the size and strength deficiencies. Hopefully, these guys are in a managed, rigorous S&C program.
Click to expand...
McKenna was never leaving the team because that felony charge was completely bogus. It would have been pled down broken bones or not. The cops have egg on their face from their initial report to the DA. The only thing that clown had broken was his pride. Ceratto should be back for the playoffs.
 
A response on reddit related to the question of what leagues/levels are better than others...

"The Ontario Hockey League, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, and the Western Hockey League are the three leagues which comprise the Canadian Hockey Leagues (CHL).

The American Hockey League is a professional league, primarily serving as a farm league for current NHL teams.

To answer your question:

1. AHL
2. NCAA
3. OHL
4. WHL
5. QMJHL

The CHL probably has a higher skill ceiling. You’re correct that more elite players (historically) have been drafted out of the CHL. However, the age limit for CHL (16-20yo seasons) lowers the physical strength needed to compete. For NCAA teams, no one is younger than an age 18 season, and players may be as old as 24. The physical development gap constitutes for the increased difficulty."

My contention is that the competitiveness and money now in NCAA hockey will get it to evolve more so to bigger, faster, and more skilled with a greater number of players easily jumping to the AHL level. Within a few years.

Older and Stronger...
 
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