Oh yeah kids, lets get just a little controversial. Hey Coaches, ya might want to pull your heads out of your butts for just a few minutes here because the proof is in the totals.
Over and over Coaches say “we need to get bigger”, “you cant teach size”, and “I don’t know if he can hold up physically against the bigger players”.
Interesting isn’t it? Everyone has heard it. My boss always says “A big player has to prove he can’t play, and a smaller player has to prove he can.” No one here at TJHN believes that it should be that way, but a lot of the time it is.
The numbers say different though…….Yeah, you might want to look at your lineup Coach to see who is producing.
In the OHL, three of the top ten scorers are under six feet tall. Several of those listed as six feet tall are questionable measurements.
In the QMJHL, 50% of the top ten scorers are under six feet tall. That trend continues through the top twenty scorers.
In the WHL, 50% of the top ten scorers are under six feet tall. This is the league known for “big physical” players. Go to the second half of the top 20 and players under six feet tall represent six of ten in scoring.
Lets not forget the BCHL either kids. Six of the top ten in scoring are under six feet tall, and ten of the top twenty are six feet tall. They do a pretty good job of moving players on to NCAA hockey and the pro’s too.
Are we seeing a trend here yet kids? No? Alright then let look south of the border…..
In the USHL, 50% of the top ten scorers are under six feet tall. The top two scorers are under six feet tall. In the top 25 scorers 15 of them are under six feet tall. Interesting isn’t it? Defensively, four out of the top ten defenseman in plus/minus are under six feet tall.
In the NAHL, the short players out number the six foot or bigger players in the top ten of scoring six to four. Go through the rest of the top twenty and the under six footers outnumber the big players eight to two! Nah, those short guys cant hold up and they sure cant score! Ok Chester, you sure know how to grade players!
That’s right boys, when ya go through the rest of the leagues, not much changes. Look at the other Junior A leagues in Canada, and size has nothing to do with scoring. Look at Midget AAA and Tier III junior in the States and size has nothing to do with scoring.
Am I reaching you here? So what’s the point right?
The point is, when you are struggling for wins, and you wonder why you cant put up enough points, you might want to look back over the undersized guys you cut, or weren’t interested in signing. They are probably ripping it up somewhere else. You might want to stop looking for the player with size and just take the player that can play this tryout season.
That Crosby kid is pretty good aint he? How about that kid from Buffalo named Kane? Don’t want him on your team? Hell, I’ll take both of them. Then again, what do I know, I just looked at the numbers.
David Wagner – The Angel Of Death – For Those Who Live Stupidly I salute You
*The Death Pool is a mix of comedy, and satire in connection with recent events. It is not an official report of current events although it may look as though the news is so accurate that it could one day happen or may be happening.
