Canadian Development Model
Encyclopedia
The Canadian Development Model (CDM) was created during the summer of 2005 at the Hockey Canada
Annual General Meeting
in Saint John
, New Brunswick
. The Canadian Development Model was set up to create a uniform system for players from Vancouver to St. John's.
participate in Junior Hockey under the guidelines indicated in the
following matrix:
Under the Canadian Development Model the league may be allowed to use a league average system. Hypothetically a Major Junior team could have five 16 year-olds signed as long as the league average per team remains four.
John Gardiner. At the 2007 annual general meeting the criticized the direction the CDM was taking hockey. The CDM is also criticized by others not in the hockey administration, most cite that the CDM is "holding players back". In fact the CDM has allowed for the creation of niche market, as seen through the creation of leagues such as the Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League
and the WHA Junior Hockey League
. These leagues are not members of Hockey Canada and therefore not subject to the Canadian Development Model.
The restrictions on 16-year-olds at the Junior A level can be seen as an attempt by Hockey Canada to reduce the amount of Canadian-born players leaving for the NCAA. The CDM hurts players' chances of being recruited by NCAA coaches and subsequently makes it easier for Hockey Canada to filter players through the Major Junior system.
In 2007, John McFarland of the Toronto Jr. Canadiens (Bantam at the time) applied for such status and was denied.
Hockey Canada
Hockey Canada, formally known as the Canadian Hockey Association, is the national governing body of ice hockey in Canada and is a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation. Hockey Canada controls a vast majority of ice hockey in Canada, with a few exceptions...
Annual General Meeting
Annual general meeting
An annual general meeting is a meeting that official bodies, and associations involving the public , are often required by law to hold...
in Saint John
Saint John, New Brunswick
City of Saint John , or commonly Saint John, is the largest city in the province of New Brunswick, and the first incorporated city in Canada. The city is situated along the north shore of the Bay of Fundy at the mouth of the Saint John River. In 2006 the city proper had a population of 74,043...
, New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
. The Canadian Development Model was set up to create a uniform system for players from Vancouver to St. John's.
The model
The CDM stipulates the maximum amount of players at ages fourteen (14) through seventeen (17). It seeks to make Midget AAA the primary development ground of players sixteen (16) years old, as most players ended up moving on to Junior hockey, after Minor Midget.Player Matrix
Players sixteen (16) years of age will be allowed to register andparticipate in Junior Hockey under the guidelines indicated in the
following matrix:
| Level | 05-06 | 06-07 | 07-08 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Major Junior | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Junior A | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Junior B | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Junior C/D | 1(local) | 1(local) | 1(local) |
Under the Canadian Development Model the league may be allowed to use a league average system. Hypothetically a Major Junior team could have five 16 year-olds signed as long as the league average per team remains four.
Criticism
The Canadian Development Model has come under fire by many, including most notably, President of the Greater Toronto Hockey LeagueGreater Toronto Hockey League
The Greater Toronto Hockey League , formerly known as the "Metro Toronto Hockey League", is a minor level ice hockey organization based out of the Toronto region of Ontario. The league was founded in 1911 as the Beaches Hockey League by Fred C. Waghorne, Sr., and it is the largest minor hockey...
John Gardiner. At the 2007 annual general meeting the criticized the direction the CDM was taking hockey. The CDM is also criticized by others not in the hockey administration, most cite that the CDM is "holding players back". In fact the CDM has allowed for the creation of niche market, as seen through the creation of leagues such as the Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League
Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League
The Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League is a Canadian Developmental Junior "A" ice hockey league. The GMHL is not affiliated with the Canadian Junior Hockey League or a member by Hockey Canada...
and the WHA Junior Hockey League
WHA Junior Hockey League
The WHA Junior Hockey League was an independent Canadian junior ice hockey league based out of British Columbia, Canada. The league marketed itself as a Junior A league, but was an unsanctioned independent loop with its own rules, processes and procedures, and was marked by franchise instability...
. These leagues are not members of Hockey Canada and therefore not subject to the Canadian Development Model.
Exceptions
The Canadian Development Model also allows for the exceptions to be made. Players who are extremely talented are given Exception Player status to play in a higher category, typically Major Junior.The restrictions on 16-year-olds at the Junior A level can be seen as an attempt by Hockey Canada to reduce the amount of Canadian-born players leaving for the NCAA. The CDM hurts players' chances of being recruited by NCAA coaches and subsequently makes it easier for Hockey Canada to filter players through the Major Junior system.
Exceptional Players
- John Tavares
In 2007, John McFarland of the Toronto Jr. Canadiens (Bantam at the time) applied for such status and was denied.