Jeff Marek hosts Sportsnet’s weekly CHL podcast, a one-stop shop for news, analysis, opinion and interviews covering the WHL, OHL and QMJHL. Sam Cosentino, the CHL’s top analyst/insider, joins Jeff each week to discuss the latest from around the league, as do newsmakers from across the CHL.
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This week, as always, Sam kicks off the pod. He and Jeff discuss raising the NHL Draft age to 19, moving the CHL to a 17 to 20-year-old league and memories of Cooperalls, thanks Kamloops.
Dressing room is set up with the @CCMHockey Propac pants ahead of tonight's game vs Kelowna! pic.twitter.com/534ejUuh93
— Kamloops Blazers (@blazerhockey) March 4, 2016
The guys then talk stretch drives across the country, including: The deeeep Frontenacs, the QMJHL’s West Divsion (Is it the CHL’s best?) and whether Brandon has finally arrived.
Jeff is then joined by Wheat Kings star and CHL Player of the Week Jayce Hawryluk to talk about, among other things, the tale of two seasons in Brandon, 2017 NHL Draft stud and teammate Nolan Patrick, and what it’s like to be rumoured in trade talks at the NHL trade deadline.
Prospects-Stats.com has Hawryluk at second in WHL primary points per game. (Larry MacDougal/CP)
Finally, L.A. Kings VP of Hockey Operations and Director of Player Personnel Mike Futa stops by to discuss some of the finer points of scouting, break down the 2016 NHL Draft, reminisce about scouting Drew Doughty and whether he thinks the NHL should raise the draft age.
Doughty was drafted second overall by Futa’s Kings in 2008 from the Guelph Storm. (Mike Carlson/AP)