Goalie Recruit For This Fall (Omar Kanji)

tretiak · May 07, 2009, 12:59:08 PM

if you want to play college/nhl in canada you play junior. in the states you can make the jump from high school to college/nhl. kudos to omar for being one of the few to make the leap.

mnagowski · May 07, 2009, 01:13:05 PM

QuoteHigh level athletics really is about as close to meritocracy as you'll find in America.

That's why so many hockey players were born in January and February.

QuoteIf he can stop the puck, I don't care if the guy's the bacterium Yersinia pestis.

I imagine most of the spectators in Lynah would think otherwise.

Josh '99 · May 07, 2009, 06:21:06 PM

[quote tretiak]if you want to play college/nhl in canada you play junior. in the states you can make the jump from high school to college/nhl. kudos to omar for being one of the few to make the leap.[/quote]Right, that's basically what I was getting at. Kanji could certainly still be a wonderful hockey player who's simply going the route less traveled for Canadian players because academics are very important to him.

KeithK · May 07, 2009, 06:57:31 PM

[quote mnagowski]

QuoteHigh level athletics really is about as close to meritocracy as you'll find in America.

That's why so many hockey players were born in January and February.[/quote]
Yeah. Kids born earlier in the year are probably bigger and stronger in their age groups and therefore perform better. This is merit based. The fact that the merit may be more coincidence of the calendars than inherent talent doesn't change that.

cbuckser · May 07, 2009, 07:03:31 PM

[quote Josh '99]Kanji could certainly still be a wonderful hockey player who's simply going the route less traveled for Canadian players because academics are very important to him.[/quote]
Colin Greening is a first-rate student, too, and he played in the BCHL in between UCC and Cornell. I suspect one reason Omar Kanji won't be spending next year on Vancouver Island is that Cornell had a goaltending roster spot to fill. If Cornell did not, he probably would either have gone to an Ivy that had a slot for him or played a full year of Junior A hockey.

RichH · May 07, 2009, 11:12:55 PM

[quote cbuckser][quote Josh '99]Kanji could certainly still be a wonderful hockey player who's simply going the route less traveled for Canadian players because academics are very important to him.[/quote]
Colin Greening is a first-rate student, too, and he played in the BCHL in between UCC and Cornell. I suspect one reason Omar Kanji won't be spending next year on Vancouver Island is that Cornell had a goaltending roster spot to fill. If Cornell did not, he probably would either have gone to an Ivy that had a slot for him or played a full year of Junior A hockey.[/quote]

It's also pretty difficult to predict how a goaltender will adjust to moving up levels. We've had U-18 National team goalies not make a dent in the lineup, and found Australians and Texans who were award-winners. Even beyond college, it often takes years and years for the best college goalies to crack the NHL. (See Thomas, Tim)

Swampy · May 07, 2009, 11:48:57 PM

[quote KeithK][quote mnagowski]

QuoteHigh level athletics really is about as close to meritocracy as you'll find in America.

That's why so many hockey players were born in January and February.[/quote]
Yeah. Kids born earlier in the year are probably bigger and stronger in their age groups and therefore perform better. This is merit based. The fact that the merit may be more coincidence of the calendars than inherent talent doesn't change that.[/quote]

Only merit based in relation to the arbitrary break point in the year. If a youth league or school system divides its levels using August to July, the kids born in August and September have the advantage.

amerks127 · May 08, 2009, 04:40:21 AM

Looks like some people here are keeping up on their Malcolm Gladwell readings.

http://www.behindthenet.ca/blog/2008/12/malcolm-gladwells-outliers-and-making.html

mnagowski · May 08, 2009, 08:07:57 AM

QuoteLooks like some people here are keeping up on their Malcolm Gladwell readings.

You betcha.

QuoteOnly merit based in relation to the arbitrary break point in the year. If a youth league or school system divides its levels using August to July, the kids born in August and September have the advantage.

Exactly. If the difference between making the All-Star team at the age of eight and subsequently being given more attention and training to make the travel team at the age of 12 is largely driven by such a random factor, I have a hard time arguing that the sports world is a strict meritocracy.

Now, I'm not trying to suggest that our athletes don't work incredibly hard towards their goals. Because they do. All I'm suggesting is that our notion of 'merit' should be re-considered.

A great book to read, by the way, is this pseudo-academic/science fiction book called 'The Rise of the Meritocracy'.

Rita · May 08, 2009, 10:50:41 AM

[quote amerks127]Looks like some people here are keeping up on their Malcolm Gladwell readings.

http://www.behindthenet.ca/blog/2008/12/malcolm-gladwells-outliers-and-making.html[/quote]

Malcolm Gladwell recently spent the day at ESPN and did a few segments on the Colin Cowherd show. I heard some of the interviews and it was very interesting, especially about the age divisions with respect to the calendar influences "success rates".

This link should connect you to the podcast archives for some of his radio interviews.

Josh '99 · May 08, 2009, 10:55:58 AM

[quote Rita][quote amerks127]Looks like some people here are keeping up on their Malcolm Gladwell readings.

http://www.behindthenet.ca/blog/2008/12/malcolm-gladwells-outliers-and-making.html[/quote]

Malcolm Gladwell recently spent the day at ESPN and did a few segments on the Colin Cowherd show. I heard some of the interviews and it was very interesting, especially about the age divisions with respect to the calendar influences "success rates". [/quote]History has been made, ladies and gentlemen. For the first time ever, something interesting has happened on Colin Cowherd's show.

CowbellGuy · May 08, 2009, 11:05:55 AM

[quote mnagowski]1) This kid is a lot smarter and/or hits the books a lot harder than the rest of the 'all-stars' listed. Good for him.[/quote]

QuoteIB1 student Omar Kanji is such a player. He has been given the St. Michael's Majors Minor Midget 'AAA' Scholarship Award that is presented annually by the Greater Toronto Hockey League, which is the largest minor hockey league in the world.

"The scholarship is a one-time award of $1,000 and it is given towards my tuition at whichever university I attend," says Kanji. "The award was presented at the Hockey Hall of Fame, where I got the chance to meet former Toronto Maple Leafs legend Ron Ellis."

The criteria for winning the award was that the recipient had to have a high standard of excellence in hockey and at school. Kanji's College average is 91, and he's also involved in a lot of other UCC activities.

This past school year, he was a member of the Community Service Council at the College, a member of the investment club, a plenary head for the World Affairs Conference and he received a bronze medal for the Duke of Edinburgh Award.

http://www.ucc.on.ca/podium/default.aspx?t=204&id=m3IVc3src7w%3D

RichH · May 08, 2009, 11:06:07 AM

[quote Josh '99][quote Rita][quote amerks127]Looks like some people here are keeping up on their Malcolm Gladwell readings.

http://www.behindthenet.ca/blog/2008/12/malcolm-gladwells-outliers-and-making.html[/quote]

Malcolm Gladwell recently spent the day at ESPN and did a few segments on the Colin Cowherd show. I heard some of the interviews and it was very interesting, especially about the age divisions with respect to the calendar influences "success rates". [/quote]History has been made, ladies and gentlemen. For the first time ever, something interesting has happened on Colin Cowherd's show.[/quote]

And someone was actually tuning in and heard it!

billhoward · May 08, 2009, 11:42:30 AM

Fascinating stuff about the birthdate disparities among hockey players, and a reason to keep browsing eLynah in the off-season.

Rita · May 08, 2009, 12:28:17 PM

[quote RichH][quote Josh '99][quote Rita][quote amerks127]Looks like some people here are keeping up on their Malcolm Gladwell readings.

http://www.behindthenet.ca/blog/2008/12/malcolm-gladwells-outliers-and-making.html[/quote]

Malcolm Gladwell recently spent the day at ESPN and did a few segments on the Colin Cowherd show. I heard some of the interviews and it was very interesting, especially about the age divisions with respect to the calendar influences "success rates". [/quote]History has been made, ladies and gentlemen. For the first time ever, something interesting has happened on Colin Cowherd's show.[/quote]

And someone was actually tuning in and heard it![/quote]

Hey, I am trying to have some "balance" in my life, it can't just all be NPR. ;-)

Sometimes the guests on the Diane Rehm Show and Fresh Air are not of interest to me. Not much choice when driving around Lafayette... NPR, ESPN, country music or the "God" Stations. Thus what 2 stations would you be flipping between?

Here's today PSA: Sunday is Mother's day, so make sure you call your Mom, especially if she ever got up at 4 am to take you to a 6 am hockey practice! ::rock::