Post by scotiahockey on Jan 18, 2022 15:05:17 GMT -4
I know some of the guys that have left school, they’re not leaving because they’re bad students. In a lot of cases, these kids are a semester or 2 away from graduating due to all the courses they’ve taken over the years.. they’ll finish their school, forfeit education money that they don’t really need and get to play hockey.
USports did change the rules last year to let guys come back but I don’t know where they’re at now with those rules.
And wouldn't this seasons tuition be paid by now? They could be doing distance courses as it is and keep being students while playing in the AHL.
Now obviously some of the kids in USports are leaving cause school isn’t their thing but the ones that I know of who’ve left, it’s not because of that. This type of thing usually happens but it’s not once the 2nd semester has started, this year really is just a perfect storm for them.
The realization is there that the season is likely cancelled and that there will be no nationals, for a lot of them they’ve played 1/2 a season of hockey in the last 2 years and want to play. You have pro teams that need players and are offering contracts to guys and they’re taking them up on the offer to play pro hockey and start doing it when they’re 22/23 instead of 25/26 like a lot of the guys finishing up university hockey.
I can’t remember exactly how it is but I believe you need to take a minimum of 2 classes per semester to qualify for your education money while in the CHL and some kids take more, a lot of the kids are doing 3 years of university classes before they ever get there and have a year+ worth of credits under their belts. Some of the kids who are taking 3 or 4 classes, are getting roughly 2 years worth of schooling done before they step foot on campus and are either A) only there to play hockey and taking course loads and majors that show that or B) are there for serious reasons but don’t actually need the 4/5 years to complete a degree and take the lightest course load they can to remain eligible and then, in a lot of cases, leave once hockey is over for a pro shot and never even finish their last semester.
Is it worth while to leave now? That’s up to every player to decide but if you actually want a degree you’re probably close to finishing it anyways (or finished) and you have the opportunity now, to pursue something that you were likely going to try in a few years anyways. If you aren’t actually interested in a degree and just there to play hockey/for the university experience (plenty of those on teams) then I can completely understand why you’re bailing now.