Canadian Development Model

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 setup 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 thefollowing 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.

Criticism

The Canadian Development Model has come under fire by many, including most notably, President of the Greater Toronto Hockey League 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 it 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.

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.

Exceptional Players

*John Tavares

In 2007, John McFarland of the Toronto Jr. Canadiens (Bantam at the time) applied for such status and was denied.

External links

* [http://www.ohf.on.ca/web_doc/gen_pdf/cdm_manual.pdf Ontario Hockey Federation CDM Book]