Latest news with #DanMacKenzie
Globe and Mail
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Globe and Mail
As Gavin McKenna commits to Penn State, CHL is confident it won't get left behind
Gavin McKenna, the 17-year-old who has skills so elite that he has been likened to Connor McDavid, became the first marquee player from the Canadian Hockey League to jump to the NCAA on Wednesday when he committed to Penn State University. A rules change that was adopted in November allows CHL players to play at the NCAA Division 1 level for the first time and receive compensation as well. In McKenna's case, the package he was offered is believed to be in the neighbourhood of US$700,000 ($958,000). A left wing, McKenna had an otherworldly 2024-25 campaign for the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League. In 58 regular-season contests, he had 41 goals and 129 points while leading the Tigers to the WHL championship. During the playoffs and Memorial Cup he added another nine goals and 29 assists. Those numbers certainly are McDavid-esque. Canadian hockey phenom Gavin McKenna heading to Penn State As the OHL hopes for another top NHL pick, Canada's junior hockey landscape faces change Medicine Hat lost in the championship final to the London Knights, but there is little more McKenna could have done. 'Gavin is a great player but this is a unique situation based on his development,' Dan MacKenzie, the president of the CHL, said Wednesday afternoon. 'He deserves everything he has coming to him and I'm very happy for him. 'But I think we have to be careful when we assess this. I don't think his experience is going to be the same for many other players that decided to go to the NCAA.' MacKenzie said that 158 CHL players have committed to NCAA teams since the rule change was announced. Of those, however, 85 per cent are foregoing their overage season (their 20-year-old season) or are graduating players (who, at 21 years old, are too old to play in the WHL, Ontario Hockey League, or Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Only five players (roughly 3 per cent) of the NCAA commitments made by CHL players for the 2025-26 season are currently committed to play in the NCAA during what will be their 17-year-old and 18-year-old seasons. That group of five includes just two prospects in their first year of eligibility for the NHL draft heading into the 2025-26 season. Since the NCAA rule change in November, more than 165 players from the United States Hockey League and junior-A leagues have either committed to play in one of the CHL's member leagues (WHL, OHL & QMJHL) for the 2025-26 season, or have already come over to play with a CHL club during the 2024-25 season. Many of those players are ones who have come to the CHL as a result of the rule change that now permits them to maintain their NCAA eligibility while competing in the CHL. At the June NHL draft, the CHL and its member leagues had 90 players chosen, the most in nine years. Twenty-one players from the CHL were drafted in the first round, only the fifth time since 1969 – and the first in more than a decade – that the CHL reached that total. 'I've been hearing a lot of hyperbole about how [the rule change] marks the end of the CHL,' MacKenzie said. 'That is absolutely ridiculous. 'We have a long history of players who get picked in the NHL draft. Only time is going to tell.' MacKenzie said the CHL is focused on raising its standards to become more competitive with the NCAA. That includes improving teams' strength and conditioning programs and nutritional standards. A number of clubs have already begun the process of upgrading their facilities. Among them are Drummondville, Kitchener, Barrie, Oshawa and London, or have plans for new arenas (including Sudbury, Brantford and Ottawa). That is part of the CHL's ongoing efforts to strengthen the environment that its clubs offer players, both on and off the ice. 'Our teams are focused on being competitive,' MacKenzie said. 'We are hoping to make whatever changes we have to moving forward. We are always going to do what we have to do to be the best that we can be.'
Ottawa Citizen
29-06-2025
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
Calgary & Lethbridge to be host cities for the 2025 CHL USA Prospects Challenge
Article content Calgary and Lethbridge will the host cities for the 2025 CHL USA Prospects Challenge. Article content The first game of the two-game series will take place on Tuesday, November 25 at Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, while the second contest will be held the following night on Wednesday, November 26 at Arena in Lethbridge. Article content Article content First introduced in 2024, the CHL USA Prospects Challenge is a two-game series that sees the top NHL Draft-eligible prospects from the CHL's Member Leagues (WHL, OHL & QMJHL) compete against those from USA Hockey's National Team Development Program (NTDP) Under-18 Team. Article content Article content 'We are thrilled to bring the CHL USA Prospects Challenge to Calgary and Lethbridge this November,' said Dan MacKenzie, President of the CHL. 'These two passionate hockey communities will provide an exceptional backdrop to highlight the CHL's top prospects eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft, giving fans in both of these markets the opportunity to see a premier best-on-best competition featuring the next generation of NHL talent. This event not only highlights elite competition but also strengthens the cross-border rivalry that makes this series so compelling for fans and scouts alike.' Article content Article content
Calgary Herald
29-06-2025
- Sport
- Calgary Herald
Calgary & Lethbridge to be host cities for the 2025 CHL USA Prospects Challenge
Article content Calgary and Lethbridge will the host cities for the 2025 CHL USA Prospects Challenge. Article content The first game of the two-game series will take place on Tuesday, November 25 at Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, while the second contest will be held the following night on Wednesday, November 26 at Arena in Lethbridge. Article content Article content First introduced in 2024, the CHL USA Prospects Challenge is a two-game series that sees the top NHL Draft-eligible prospects from the CHL's Member Leagues (WHL, OHL & QMJHL) compete against those from USA Hockey's National Team Development Program (NTDP) Under-18 Team. Article content Article content 'We are thrilled to bring the CHL USA Prospects Challenge to Calgary and Lethbridge this November,' said Dan MacKenzie, President of the CHL. 'These two passionate hockey communities will provide an exceptional backdrop to highlight the CHL's top prospects eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft, giving fans in both of these markets the opportunity to see a premier best-on-best competition featuring the next generation of NHL talent. This event not only highlights elite competition but also strengthens the cross-border rivalry that makes this series so compelling for fans and scouts alike.' Article content Article content
