Many young Canadian boys grow up idolizing the game of hockey, learning to skate soon after their first steps.

Many of them dream of getting drafted into the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) on their way to the National Hockey League (NHL). Yet as much as the NHL would be considered the end goal for these boys, not all of them get drafted. Even if they do, few get to play a single game at the highest level. So, when prospects leave the CHL but can’t find a home in the NHL, where do they go?

What is the CHL?

The CHL consists of the Western Hockey League (WHL), the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), and the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). Playing in one of these leagues is the first major stepping stone to entering the NHL one day. While prospects in the CHL cannot play until they are 16 years old, elite players are sometimes granted “Exceptional Status” if they are considered to be the best of the best, allowing teams to draft them a year earlier. Only nine players in history were given this privilege, including Connor McDavid, Connor Bedard, John Tavares, and Shane Wright, all of whom showed immense potential at a young age and have carved out legendary NHL careers.

Path to the NHL

As soon as these boys enter the CHL, their every move is being watched by NHL scouts. This is their time to work themselves to their full potential in hopes of being noticed and later on drafted at 18 years old. If a player does get drafted into the NHL, they attend training camps where they must prove that they are skilled enough to skate and stickhandle with the best of the best. Unfortunately, most drafted players do not get selected for the team’s roster right away and are moved back down to the CHL team they came from, or to the team’s affiliate in the American Hockey League (AHL).

Alternative routes

In Canadian collegiate hockey, almost every team employs the services of CHL alumni. U SPORTS hockey offers a high level game feel for these boys and it gives them a chance to continue playing the sport they love while attending their choice of Canadian university. With scouts in attendance at many games, most players have a chance to get drafted until the age of 21, and in some cases, can be signed onto NHL or AHL teams afterwards. U SPORTS athletes who have played in the CHL tend to drastically outplay those who didn’t, and MRU’s own Connor Bouchard is a great example of this. Now in his third year as a Cougar, Bouchard is one of the most skilled collegiate athletes in the country. His immense skill runs in the family, as his cousin, Evan Bouchard, is a defenseman for the Edmonton Oilers. Even though Connor went undrafted, he continues to put his heart and soul into playing hockey every time he suits up for the Cougars.

Another route that is taken by some undrafted players is to take their careers overseas, with many choosing European hockey leagues. They are a great way for players to learn how to be true professionals and feature an insanely high level of competition. Cougars alum Connor Blake, for instance, now plays professional hockey in France in Ligue Magnus for Anglet.

Falling from the top

Matt Berlin, former University of Alberta goalie, is an example of how you can get so lucky yet fall so short at the same time. On Jan. 28, 2023, Berlin was called up as an emergency backup goalie for the Edmonton Oilers. Berlin’s only task was to sit on the bench to back up netminder Jack Campbell. Little did he know that at the end of the game, team captain Connor McDavid would urge the coaches to put Berlin in net to play the last two minutes of the game. The Oilers were up 7-3 against the Chicago Blackhawks, so they had nothing to lose at that moment. Berlin saved 1 shot and holds a perfect 1.000 save percentage in the NHL.

Even though Berlin got to play in the NHL for one night, he was never drafted or signed. He retired from hockey after graduating in 2023, but fans will always remember the bravery Berlin showed by stepping up to the plate despite not expecting to play at all and having a perfect night.

Berlin’s two minutes of ice time also stood as an inspiration to those coming up through the CHL and others vying for a spot in the NHL. With 224 draft spots available every year, players must remain hopeful, work hard, and play to the best of their abilities if they want to make their boyhood dreams come true.