OUA key to Canadian hockey development
Jamie Lambier

After a recent lack-lustre finish by the Canadian Olympic team in Nagano, hockey officials were left scrambling to assure a concerned nation all was well with Canadian developmental leagues.

Hockey players across the nation, as young as 15 years of age, are scouted by OHL, OUA and American colleges. Basically, the question has come down to who can offer the best program that will produce the most well-rounded hockey player in terms of skill, psychological strength and academic standing.

The Ontario Hockey League continues to produce the majority of the NHL’s young talent. Unfortunately, a social stigma has evolved deeming the OHL the only effective developmental league. It is assumed that those who don’t make it in the OHL, or who are more concerned with gaining an education, will pick up a lucrative US scholarship.

So where does the OUA fall within the competitive market of young hockey talent?

"From a game outcome perspective, the OHL and OUA are about the same," states Reg Higgs, current head coach of the Sudbury Wolves and ex-bench master of the Western Mustangs.

"The CIAU is a great place for a young player who wants to develop as a student of the game. The younger players compete against much older men, many who were captains of their respective OHL teams," explains Higgs.

Assistant coach of the recent Canadian University bronze medalists in Slovakia and ex-Golden Hawk coach, Wayne Gowing, echoes Higgs statement, "Technically speaking, OUA is the best developmental hockey in Canada. People fail to realize the quality of product that university hockey offers."

"There is a perception that the number of people that attend games is an indication of the quality of the game," says Gowing. The result is the OUA has remained a secret to the public, yet is a gold mine of talent for the NHL and other leagues in the US and Europe.

"People fail to recognize how good the OUA is," explains Gowing, "The Canadian National Junior team plays exhibition games against an all-star team of players from the OUA and (they) are beaten fairly consistently."

Maturity level is the main difference between the OUA and OHL. The majority of the players in the OHL are 17-19 while the OUA averages about 19-23.

"Steve Rucchin (UWO alumni), currently starting center for the Anaheim Mighty Ducks between Paul Kariya and Teemu Selanne, is an excellent example of the benefits of the OUA," notes Higgs.

Having been assistant coach for both the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers, Higgs is well aware of what it takes to be an NHL calibre player and was pivotal in the development and signing of Rucchin to the Ducks.

"The OUA was perfect for Steve. Every day he was pushed to the limit by a player who dominated in the OHL," explains Higgs.

There is a myth that few players ever came out of the OUA. Higgs vehemently disagrees stating, "If you’re good enough, they [the NHL scouts] will see you, and believe me every team in the NHL is very aware of Canadian university hockey".

The absence of an official red-line, a rule implemented by the OUA in 1981, allowing two-line passes spreading the players out across the ice, creates a fast style of play very similar to the dominant European style of hockey. Higgs predicts, "Fairly soon the NHL and OHL will follow suit, the open ice play prevents a large number of concussions, a serious issue facing the NHL to date."

The issue of a quality education has become increasingly important to parents who are aware of the slim possibility of a long career in the NHL.

"Ontario universities are a long way from adopting athletic scholarships," admits Gowing. "Yet, the quality of education is excellent across Canada while in the US it varies incredibly from school to school. You could say Canada is in the education business and the US is in the athletic business."

"The graduation rate of Canadian hockey players playing in US schools is about 38-44 per cent," explains Higgs. "US schools pay for your four years of eligibility then drop you - the problem is the players are only allowed to take half the course load so they can focus on athletics. Once their four years are up, they have to pay for the last two years of school, which can range anywhere from $17,000-45,000 a year," states Higgs.

"What we are witnessing is a globalization of the game. If it were a question of economics, no one would be surprised, but when it’s our national pastime, you can understand the outcry after Nagano," states Higgs. Gowing agrees that, "playing in the international tournament last month was an unbelievable experience. We were received warmly by everyone. The world loves the tough style of Canadian hockey".

"The world now owns hockey," explains Gowing, "Yet, Canada has shown it can adapt. We have won five of the last seven World Junior Championships - I call that dominance. Canadian hockey has displayed an ability to change, and it will do so again if it has too."