Fallon Leaves NTDP; Others Suspended
by WCHBlog on Jan 19, 2010 10:32 AM PST
4 comments
There's been a lot of speculation over the past week about the future of NTDP players Jacob Fallon, Jon Merrill, Kevin Clare, and Matt Nieto, who were allegedly suspended by the team for involvement in a sexual harrassment case at Pioneer High School.
It's unlikely we'll ever hear the full story, but for now, at least we know the end. Jacob Fallon has left the program, apparently by his own volition, while the three others have just been suspended until the end of the month. Fallon was suspended for the better part of the beginning of the year for a drinking-related suspension, along with forward Shane Sooth, who left the program for the USHL earlier this year.
If nothing else, this whole ordeal is an amazing adventure in double-talk from those north of the border. On one hand, you hear strong condemnations of the NTDP program for allowing these horrible atrocities to take place, while at the same time, getting near breathless anticipation that whatever they did could be what it takes to get them to break their college commitments and go to the CHL. It's no secret that discipline begins where hockey ability ends up there--compare the treatment of Michael Liambas to what's going to happen to Patrice Cormier--but it still makes you shake your head to watch it. Who knows, maybe they'll get lucky and next time one of these kids will mug an old lady or something.
0 recs |
4 comments
|
Email
Print
Comments
If it were my kid...
…and he was good enough to crack a roster, I’d pick a USHL team over the NTDP. I’m not going to debate the merits or disadvantages of either option, but for my kid, I’d want him mentored by a 19 or 20 year-old trying to earn college scholarships, not hanging around other 17 year-olds, each with a massive sense of entitlement. In fact, I’d take aside the most responsible 20 year-old on his USHL roster and personally request that he watch over my kid and help him make the best decisions possible. I know that doesn’t guarantee anything, but I think it’s a better situation… for my kid anyway.
by The Exiled One on Jan 19, 2010 11:40 AM PST reply actions
Have you met these kids that you seem to think they all have a sense of entitlement? You are making a generalization that simply isn’t true. Good luck taking aside that 20 year old to babysit your 16, 17 year old. This is juniors not day care. Both programs have there positives and negatives…. and both programs have kids that make mistakes only the NTDP is alot more in the spotlight.
ntdp
hockeyguru’s observation is well considered; the ntdp is great for some; and not so great for others; if you have a mature young man who can handle being away from home, then the rigor and oversight of the ntdp might be best; the fact of the matter is that the ntdp is WAY more structured/organized than playing for your average ushl team (and seriously though, do you think it’s better for a sophomore/junior in HS to be “mentored” by a kid who just graduated from HS and is taking a class or two at the local community college); it is also way more rigorous and pressure packed (because of the spotlight); you cannot seriously compare the training provided these young men with any ushl team. the flip side to that is that if you do not end up as one of their featured players, you will probably get lost in the shuffle; this usually happens at the 18 level when some are demoted to u17, while others are brought up to u18; if a kid falls into this category, he might have been better off going the ushl route and being the go to guy on power plays, etc. Then there are kids like jerry d’amigo who were never featured @ ntdp, but who just kept getting better; despite not being the featured guy on power plays, etc. So any generalization is just plain stupid.
“and seriously though, do you think it’s better for a sophomore/junior in HS to be "mentored" by a kid who just graduated from HS and is taking a class or two at the local community college.”
Honestly, yes, I actually think it would be good for both parties involved. If you want to make a 19 or 20 year old grow up in a hurry, ask him to be responsible for somebody other than himself (from personal experience). Also, it’s not like the team captain doesn’t voluntarily take that responsibility already… this just personalizes it. And, there’s a big difference between a high school sophmore/junior and a kid one year removed from high school… especially one who’s playing hockey for the sole purpose of earning a college scholarship. Odds are, a kid like that will attempt to avoid making dumb decisions.
Finally, to hockeyguru, if you want to criticize me for generalizing the NTDP players… fine I can understand that. But seriously, if you don’t know the difference between a “mentor” and a “babysitter”, you’ve obviously never had nor been a mentor… which is something I sugest you might want to try.
by The Exiled One on Jan 20, 2010 8:57 AM PST up reply actions
Certain photos copyright © 2010 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
