hockeyfan99

Just thought I'd chime in on this. Besides the USHL, the NAHL, and Canadian Jr A leagues are very good at placing players to NCAA Division 1. However, with that being said, people often look down on the NCDC in not being able to produce NCAA, let alone Division 1 commits when in the matter is, that simply just isn't true. The NCDC is a decent league, with a few teams, such as New Jersey Hitmen, Boston Jr Bruins, and New Jersey Rockets producing actual in-season NCAA Division 1 commitments. While they do claim many Division 1 commitments who committed elsewhere, before stopping in the NCDC, there are a handful of actual Division 1 commitments that were earned actually while playing in the league. Here are some of my opinions on the NCDC... Pros: 1. - The NCDC does tend to place a few actual Division 1 commitments every season. For example, PM (hitmen - LIU), DL (hitmen - penn state), JW (rockets - Niagara), PW (PAL - Mercyhurst), HC (Northeastern - PAL), all played a full season with their team and committed during or after the season. HOWEVER, with that being said, many of these players who go from the NCDC to Division 1 are walk ons and DO NOT see almost any ice time. A kid committed to Vermont from the Hitmen organization and was given a full ride, however simply because he didnt go BCHL or USHL and decided to play NCDC, he was not ready for that level and transfered to Mercyhurst. If you look at any of the Division 1 commits from Hitmen NCDC, you can see almost none of them are doing well right now in the collegiate level. 2. - The league is a EXCELLENT league for very high level NCAA Division 3 placement. Schools like Adrian College, SUNY Genesceo, NESCAC, flock to the league to pick up kids. NCAA d3 is very competitive. Adiran almost beat USNTDP U18 and Bowling Green Division 1 a few years ago. Many D3 schools could give low end NCAA D1 teams like LIU a run for its money. 3. - it is close to home. For many players, they play in this league because it is close to home. Opting for a year of potentially not even billeting before going out midwest for a year. 4. Great option for 18U players to start the experience of junior hockey. Many kids even from programs, like PPE, Esmark, to name a few cannot succeed well in the NAHL. It simply is so much more fast and physical. A year here before going to NAHL, BCHL, AJHL, is a great option. Cons: 1. This league is where many NCAA D1 commitments go to die. Although commits are gained from this league, some commits also die from this league. Many Division 1 programs, especially powerhouse programs, see players who get cut from USHL, canada jra, and NAHL and end up in this league as players that didn't develop right. IHC had a couple of kids who lost their NCAA division 1 scholarships because they played there. In fact, on Hitmen NCDC, there are two kids who lost their D1 commit playing there this season or in the last two seasons. BC (Bentley decoed), AC (Cornell decoed), (TS Qunnipiac decoed, went to Trinity) and TS (Holy Cross decoed, went to Tufts). 2. Many teams in this league have scummy people running them. Aka hidden fees, players much worse making the team, and getting sent down to premier for no reason. 3. Many players who get a division 1 opportunity often transfer right out of division 1 after a year. Example: (RP - Hitmen - from Maine to utica). Don't hate on ACHA either... we all know Liberty ACHA D1 beat LIU NCAA D1, and could give the lower half of atlantic hockey as well as almost all of d3 a run for its money.

Heard about a new team in Wilkes Barre... anyone know how they're gonna be and who they signed?