NCAA Pushing Canadian Juniors for Top Prospects

A decade ago, the following comments would be considered blasphemy in Hockey Country: The Canadian Junior Leagues may soon have a high-quality American peer.

College hockey is sky-rocketing towards being a strong competitor and alternative option to playing in one of the three leagues within the CHL. The one major difference - and the one that will likely continue to keep the NCAA away from topping the CHL - is the fact that college hockey players are older than their CHL counterparts. Phenom Jonathan Tavares is playing at 16 in the Ontario Hockey League when his application would be chucked into the burn pile at any hockey program in the United States.

However, should American players feel that their talents are better served while acquiring a post-secondary education, it is quickly becoming evident that the NCAA offers a premier program.

While the 2004 and 2005 drafts were dominated by the impact of non-collegians like Sidney Crosby, Alexander Ovechkin, and Evgeni Malkin, last years top five draftees included three collegians - Erik Johnson, Jonathan Toews, and Phil Kessel.

CSTV explains more, and includes a partial list of players taken in the first two rounds in recent drafts: Simon Danis-Pepin, Paul Stastny, Tom Fritsche, Dan Bertram, Nate Hagemo, Al Montoya, Drew Stafford, Grant Lewis, Adam Pineault, David Booth, Hugh Jessiman, Zach Parise, Mark Stuart, Ryan Kessler, Jeff Tambellini, Patrick Eaves, Danny Richmond and Jimmy Howard.

As for the 2007 draft beginning Friday night? Faceoff Factor's own Jesse Marshall listed his top prospects and it obviously includes some interesting collegiate players. Besides Colorado College's Bill Sweatt, USCHO.com lists several incoming freshmen that could be selected relatively early on draft day.

Following the draft, check back here for a list of all college players selected.