Since it always seem to come up I thought it would be a good idea to get all this information into one place.
CHL/WHL Guidelines
Age for the CHL is calculated from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31. Thus for the 2006-2007 Season anyone born in 1986 will be considered a 20 yr. old. Anyone born in 1990 is a 16 yr. old.
15yr. old restrictions
15 yr. olds are allowed to play a maximum of 5 games in the WHL, until their parent team is eliminated from the playoffs.
16 yr. old restrictions
Starting in 06-07 each team in the CHL will be allowed to carry a maximum of 4 16 year old players. See Wingnuts post below for links.
20 yr. old restrictions
from www.whl.ca
16. How many 20 year olds can a team use?
WHL teams are allowed a maximum of three overage players. Teams having more than three overage players to start the season may continue to rotate them in and out of the lineup until October 16th at which time they must select determine the three that they will keep. Other 20-year-olds become free agents for the other teams in the League. From October 16th until February 10th, teams may bring in an overage player, but, if they have three already, then they have to release one. February 10 of each year is the roster deadline and all players who are with a team on that date are there for the duration of the season.
In the past, expansion teams have been allowed to carry 5 20 yr. olds, this should be the same for when the Bruins come into the league on '06-'07
WHL Draft
The WHL drafts 14-15 year olds from around Western Canada and the Western US.
NHL DRAFT
Anyone who is 18 by September 15th of the year of the draft is automatically entered into the Draft*. Any Non-North American born players over the age of 20 can also enter the draft.
Those who turn 19 by September 15 and are not older than 20 by December 31 are automatically eligible for selection.
A North American player who is not drafted by the age of 20 is an unrestricted free agent. All non-North Americans must be drafted before being signed, regardless of age.
-- Makes things a little confusing as a player in the CHL can be considered a 17 yr old, but for the draft he is eligible. Brule is a good Example - Born Jan. 1/87 he was a 17 yr. old in the CHL, for the 04-05 season; but Eligible for the NHL Draft in '05 since he was 18 at the time of the draft.
World Tournaments
Summer U-18 Team Junior World Cup
This is the one held in August each year.
Age is based from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31. As the name of the tournament implies you have to be under 18.
Thus for this year any 1988 born player is eligible.
U-18 Junior World Championship
This is the one held in April each year.
Age is based on your Age at Dec. 31st the year prior to the actual Tournament.
For example - For the '06 Tournament any '88 born player is eligible. Thus you have a lot of players who are "technically" 18 playing in this tournament.
--Basically the players who play in the summer tournament are eligible to play in the Spring Tournament the following year.
World Junior Tournament - U20
Age once again is calculated by Jan.1-Dec.31. Anyone under 20 yrs. old is allowed to participate.
Thus for the '06 Tournament in Vancouver, it is 1986 born players and younger. 16 yr. olds can participate, but it is rare.
--- Hopefully this helps everyone out.
-- I can't seem to find any other changes to the NHL draft age limits or CHL stuff, so I believe this is all accurate. If I've made a mistake let me know and I will fix it up.![]()
Cheers,
Beaner.
LIST OF CHANGES:
1) NHL Draft opt-in/out clause removed after 2005 CBA changes.
2) Updated 16 year old rules as per CHL changes posted by Wingnut below.