Hide Article Text (OCR)
‘WHL needs baby draft’VANCOUVER (CP) -\ Major junior hockey is robbing the cradle to stay even with professional hockey, says a Western Hockey League franchise owner.Critics say the WHL turned back the clock with its so-called baby draft but the draft was necessary If major junior hockey is lo remain profitable, sa;d league chairman HrJan Shaw of Portland, Ore.Shaw said the WHL was forced to waive previous age restrictions and draft younger players for the future . to compete against other leagues, and because of the National Hockey League's own push for younger players.More teenaged players are being signed by the NHLthan ever before, said Shaw, meaning the major Junior leagues must look for prospects who have yet to face a safely razor.Among the 91 minor hockey players selected by 14 WHL teams last month were dcwny-cheeked lads of 13 and 14 and one 12-year-cld. Previously, a boy couldn’t he added to a club’s list of 50 protected players unless he was 13 years old.This season, the age limit has been removed, theoretically allowing a child’s WHL playing rjghLs lo be decided before he's through teething. However, most teams won’t sign playersyounger than 13. Aiding a pre-teen player to its protected list costs a club two positions on the list.Considering that the players and their parents have no say where a boy’s future in the WHL'may lie, September’s draft has been termed arbitrary and backward by some hockey people, such as Fred Page of North Vancouver.As «i former president of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association, Page said he fought to give young hockey players more freedom of movement by putting an end tc NHLsponsorships.
Newspaper Details
Lethbridge Herald
Lethbridge, Alberta, CA
Sat, Oct 16, 1982
Page 25
Full Page
Clipped by
Jason P.
USA 16 Dec 2018
Other Publications Near Lethbridge, Alberta
Prairie Post
Lethbridge Sun Times
Lethbridge Herald
Lethbridge Daily Herald
