This week the hockey world has gathered in Toronto, Ontario for the World Hockey Summit to discuss what can be done to improve the game. On Tuesday, the main topic was junior hockey of which was the major focus was player recruitment.

The entire Canadian Hockey League – which includes the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League – has seen more American players play north of the border. A good portion of these kids have already given a verbal commitment to a NCAA school, in some instances, even signed a Letter of Intent to the school foregoing his eligibility.

Could the NCAA and CHL work together, so these teenagers could play in both systems?

“If there’s ever a partnership between the leagues would be great for hockey,” said Lewiston Maineiacs General Manager Roger Shannon. “I think it’s always a shame when opportunities are taken away from kids regardless.”

“Anything that benefits kid’s opportunity in the future, I think would be great.”

Maineiacs head coach Jean-Francois Houle, who was an assistant coach with Clarkson University from 2003 until last December also said he would like to see a partnership.

“It would be nice if the two would work together and form a bond together,” Houle said Tuesday. “It’s two different leagues and two different mindsets.”

“It’s going to be tough to make it happen.”

CHL teams have the ability to talk to players earlier than their counterparts, although Shannon doesn’t see it as too much as an advantage.

“I am not sure if anyone has the advantage,” Shannon stated. “(The CHL) doesn’t work on verbal commitments, we work on a draft system where we can’t go out and recruit. You go out and observe and follow a procedure in terms of drafting.”

While at Clarkson, Houle faced those recruiting challenges.

“It’s really hard for colleges to get those young players,” he said. “The Canadian Hockey League is very strong, and they advertise a lot.”

“It’s competitive out there, and it’s tough for colleges to get the best players.”

What if a player could play in the CHL as a 16 and 17-year old then have the option of going to the NCAA at 18?

“It would be a lot easier if I could play both,” smiled Connor Anthoine who left Maineiacs training camp Tuesday to keep his NCAA eligibility. “It would have made my life a lot easier.”

On the management side, it would be very challenging.

“It would create a lot of work,” laughed Shannon. “That’s one good thing from a CHL perspective (under the current format) you can plan. You know 18 year olds only can play in the NHL and not the AHL. If he’s not playing in the NHL, he’s playing for (his CHL) team.”

Shannon would like to see players play in the NCAA after their CHL career is over.

“The American college system would get older and players would be mature. That obviously lengthens their hockey careers greatly.”

Someone would have to take a hit in a potential CHL-NCAA partnership and it would be the Canadian Interuniversity Sport. CHL players who don’t professionally can play college hockey in Canada where the CHL teams’ pay for the tuition for every year the player played in the CHL.

Roger Shannon is also the general manager of the University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds.

“There would be no question,” Shannon said. “The CIS would lose out on some players, but in the same breath, having the ability to recruit American (players) to play in the CIS.”

He thinks it could bring the NCAA and CIS into one mega league if the CHL-NCAA were to work together.

For now, kids will have to decide which league is best for them.