Just wondering if any AA kids have ever been drafted?

Two years ago two were taken from GTHL AA East, latter rounds. The year before, Joey Hishon was taken in the first round from a AA program.

It happens, but not that often.

This is a strong draft year and extremely hard for AAA kids to make draft list never mind AA. Good luck though.

Hishon was recruited to play AAA all over the place, but wanted to play close to home with his friends. He shouldnt really be used as an example.

cool....thanks much

I think that sometimes a team owner will draft a friend's kid, even if he's not AAA, in the very late rounds as an act of friendship.

Theo Peckham was AA

Your talking about less than one half of one percent here folks.
It may happen rarely, but if you really want your kid to get a shot get him to AAA anyway you can. Pay whatever price you have to pay so he gets his shot.

10:07am Irrespective of the circumstances, he got drafted out of AA. Full stop.

Brandon Prust was cut by AAA LJK every year and played AA.

Well done Brandon. Embarassing for the LJKs.

Shit happens. People make mistakes, players are overlooked.....happens all the time.

"10:07am Irrespective of the circumstances, he got drafted out of AA. Full stop."

If thats what helps your AA kid, then so be it. He isnt like 99 percent of the other AA kids out there today.

My son plays AAA, on the radar to be drafted.

You sir are a moron.

why would he be a moron, hes stating the truth. I hear so many dads out there saying 'well joey hishon got drafted, my kid will to'. they dont acknowldge that hishion wasnt a real aa player. its fun with numbers, thats all.

Hillabrian of the redwings played A up to age 9 and then AA up to age 15. Played Midget AAA only before the Bulls of OHL drafted him in the 4th round

Just shows AAA is way overweighted

There are probably 10+ players in AA who for whatever reason arent playing AAA and could easily get drafted, but unfortunately many dont get looked at. There are even more goalies playing AA who are way better than many AAA goalies, but never got a chance because very few turnovers happen at the AAA level in the goalie spot.

I do know of a few AA goalies who will get OHL camp invites without being drafted.

Not to mention Hishon was playing with the age group above and dominating the league. Played in the alliance that year and he was hands down best player on the ice every night.

good point about hishon. So many dads use him as the 'hope' for their kid, without even looking at the actual facts.

Brandon Prust was cut by AAA LJK every year and played AA.



better get your story right, Brandon Prust did not try out for AAA, he played by choice Forest City until I believe was major bantam. Everybody tried recruiting him out but he liked played forest city. When he did tryout he tried out for AA because he was recruited by the coach and bunch of his buddies were going to play on the team too. The following year he did tryout for AAA midget and of course made the team

11:07am He's a moron because he jumped to a conclusion about my son and the motives for my answer.

Pretty much all of these AA to the NHL stories are like that. But AA dads don't like the entire storey, because it hurts their dream for their kid.

"Jumping to conclusions" and morons are what keep N54 interesting.

read an article in the star a few months back.
12% of NHL players were never drafted. Support your kid to play as high as he can for as long as he can. the beer league is forever.

12 percent of NHL'ers never where drafted into the NHL. Id bet that of that 12 percent, 99.9 percent where drafted at the OHL level.

You may make it as a grinder for a few years in the OHL, but thats about it, statistically its almost impossible.

once in a while someone beats the odds. but the fact of the matter is that kids who play aa most of their lives have just not had the same chance to develop as the aaa kids. that means the gap between their skills, game experience, etc. just haven't had the same opportunity to develop so they are going to be several steps behind the aaa kids. scouts know this, just like everyone else does. no conspiracy here just the facts of development.
if you can get to aaa do it as fast as you can, anyway you can if you want a real shot for your kid.

I know Brandon well ..... Ill text him for his version of what happened

most of the time they dont make aaa because they arnt good enough thou. there may be 10 percent of the kids in AAA that shouldnt be, and 10 percent of kids in AA should be in AAA, but its not like it a huge issue.

What is Provincial B and C?

If there is any good undersized AA kids with AAA skill, they have the better chance of being drafted or making the jump as a free agent to the ohl. Scouts and hockey people know that kids all mature and hit growth spurts at different times. I have heard many scouts talk about this over the years. I'm not in the AA loop but is there any kids that play like AAA players and play bigger then their size? My money would be on those kids. At the end of the day, enjoy the game and just keep playing hockey. My kid if he's lucky with be a very late round pick and if he's drafted he will be no further ahead then an undrafted kid come the following year.

ST 96AA has a player who previously played with MNS. Great speed, nice shot, fearless, needed to play with head up more but could be playing AAA now and contributing. Goes to school at MC.

there is usually at least 1 aa kid drafted and probably a few 95's

You also have to consider that there are many AAA kids that drop back to AA in the MM year due to school etc.

Remember ADAM FOOTE, BIG D
So there is always hope.
So work hard and don't give up.

Adam Foote played AA by choice, he was like high second round pick in the OHL Draft. Another Hishon.

Theo Peckham on Edmonton was drafted in the 13th round by Owen Sound out of Goulding Park Minor Midget 'AA'. A couple of years later, Wayne Simmonds got passed on as a Minor Midget (AA) and first year Midget (AAA) and was then drafted as a second year midget playing provincial Junior Hockey. A year later he was drafted to the NHL by LA. Just goes to show, if you have the talent, you will be found. There was also a kid from Nobleking who got drafted in the late rounds to OHL out of Midget 'A' hockey.

Good luck, but odds are out of the 1000's that play AA a year, your kid isnt going to be the 0.1 percent

No never

yes for sure in small town centers that only have AA as there top team and no AAA teams around.