THE WHL vs THE NCAA (why we chose different paths)

Me and my best friend have played hockey for years together growing up. He ended up in the WHL and I ended up in the NCAA. In this video we explain what caused our paths to split and how we ended up where we did! I hope the decisions we made and why we made them can help you make the right decisions in your hockey career.
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[@matthewdangelo9900]

lets go, this is my favorite channel easily

[@lawsonmcdonald5396]

Matthew Dangelo I appreciate that 👍🏼

[@NYchalktalk]

CHL is only the right option for players that get a truthful and neutral opinion from a coach/scout that they have a shot to make the NHL. If there is any doubt whatsoever, the player should go the NCAA route.

[@jean-francoisvachon9311]

Disagree. It's all depends on what are your objectives. The Usports hockey (Canadian University Level) isn't a bad level. It's a great hockey level, underestimated right now, and if you played in the CHL for 2-3 years, the tuition cost for university are cover. If you don't wanna go to the university, CHL is a good option too. Like, some players prefers to be a mechanic than a mechanical engineer.

[@frame3139]

The NCAA has produced its share of NHL’ers by share, I mean ALOT.

[@NorthernTemplar]

@@frame3139 The London Knights have a more impressive alumni list than most NCAA CONFERENCES, let alone programs.

[@kennykaminsky2756]

I love your channel because you make informative videos…these are things hockey players like me want to know

[@lawsonmcdonald5396]

Crafty Hky thanks I’m glad they can teach you something!

[@iamstillkai5956]

Ur channels great my guy, I always look forward to ur uploads👍

[@lawsonmcdonald5396]

Iamstillkai thank you!

[@thetendy6758]

thanks for answering my question and great video!

[@jltgp6703]

Keep up the hard work fellas and you’ll get to where you want to be. No two roads to success look the same.

[@matthewzarzour7273]

exactly. people think that if it worked for someone else it'll work for them. just simply isn't the same. gotta do what's in YOUR best interests and what plays to YOUR strengths.

[@evman1094]

Awesome video Lawson! God videos like this always make me wish I pushed myself that much harder when I was younger. Now at 21 with just 12 games of JrC under my belt, I gotta push even harder if I even want a chance for someone to see me. I wish my school in Alberta had a High School team, mightve been a little less political than the AA system. Dreams not dead yet though the grind continues!

[@MeSoOnFire]

I was drafted to the Calgary Hitmen, and this video couldn’t be more accurate. I hope more up and coming athletes see this video. It’s important to stress once you sign a standard WHL player contract you lose your NCAA eligibility, unless that’s changed recently? My game with the Hitmen was in o9’-1o’ so it’s been a while. Great video, take care fellas!

[@lawsonmcdonald5396]

Very cool, I agree you have to weigh out your options and make the best decision for the long run! Don’t sign just because

[@TR-cf3ff]

love your channel 👍🏻

[@dhshsshaha3664]

Working night shifts. Because of this pandemic going around in Manitoba. Sure helps pass the time. Awesome videos.

[@huntersellers2014]

i play OHA in pen!!

[@aidanhamilton3456]

Can you make video about you and switching from d1 to d3

[@CamBist29]

Is that a Manchester Monarchs jersey behind you?

[@stevenbell1411]

I played for OHA this year, great place and awesome place to live.

[@TheBigfootsfeet]

Great video, but next time turn the music down. Was way too loud and distracting

[@protraining940]

great video, but maybe try to lower the backround noise a bit 👍

[@lawsonmcdonald5396]

Thank you, thanks for the tip, your right it’s to loud

[@seanvasilyev5293]

Im going to OHA next year

[@fowlerlittle654]

Love your videos! Is there any tips you can give to get to the next level(AAA) or (AA)?

[@lawsonmcdonald5396]

Fowler Little find ways to get better every day! Whether it’s your hockey skill or athletic ability focus on something and improve it. Small improvements over a long period of time

[@samthomas6689]

Your videos are great there my favorite

[@lawsonmcdonald5396]

Thanks!

[@caseyminner3259]

That first clip the save by Kehler I miss him in Portland

[@thecreedslair]

I haven't seen Cole Kehler since 2018! Lets Go Hawks

[@ramirezdesante9824]

Same thing that happened to the goalie happened to me but as a player

[@southtext3400]

I wish they had college hockey or major juniors in California

[@lucasmclaughlin7331]

Did Cole ever play at the Huntington Center

[@lawsonmcdonald5396]

Yes he did!

[@prosportsclips5564]

Hi massive fan. I’m 13 years old and I play AA but I am very capable of playing well in AAA. I have always wanted to play college hockey. I have a lot of skill but I am scared that since I live in Maryland, nobody will notice me. But I just wanted to ask to anybody what they think I should do with the rest of my life. Please respond to me if anybody has an opinion because I am in a confused time of my life and I’m going into my second year of Bantam and I need to have a route in mind

[@lawsonmcdonald5396]

I think people will still notice you out there, you can always make your way to other leagues when you get older to with more exposure like NAHL. I think you should keep trying to peruse your hockey career! Never know where that will take you

[@prosportsclips5564]

Lawson McDonald yep. NAHL is not a bad choice since there is a team in Maryland now :D

[@rayansprott7516]

It's real great hearing stories from where I'm growing up now!

[@owenmorgan8742]

Hey Lawson, do you think if you choose Cornell that you might not be playing d3 hockey and do you think that you might still have a shot at pro hockey in some shape or form

[@bendervillebenders9940]

Cornell was ranked 2nd in the country last year. If anything, that would have made it harder for him to stay on that team as they were better than Nebraska Omaha was

[@lawsonmcdonald5396]

Owen Morgan you never know, being on a better team could have helped because they wouldn’t have been as eager to make major changes but I definitely still have a shot at pro hockey!

[@Joe28Cno]

How much does size play a factor in college. I’ve talked with multiple junior teams and my main goal is to play D1, but my biggest worry is not being able to keep up physically at 165 6’0

[@lawsonmcdonald5396]

Size doesn’t matter but you have to be strong enough to hold your own because the guys are older and stronger.

[@PCSPounder]

General observation: bigger players in Major Junior. Obviously it’s quite subjective (rooted for a 5’5” lad in the old pro WCHL), and there’s ways to survive in the pros at a smaller size. You’re probably more likely to end up in college.

[@sten13gaming43]

finally making my jump to sweden FUCK YEAH

[@andrewheath353]

Is OHA the Ontario one ?

[@lawsonmcdonald5396]

Andrew Heath okanogan hockey academy

[@jacekoskimaki6701]

i live in kamloops and went the camp in Penticton😂

[@tendyboss1380]

same, but i didn’t go to penticton

[@bxrboy18]

Lawson do you plan on playing after college?

[@lawsonmcdonald5396]

I’m not sure yet!

[@collinlemanski1512]

Will you play pro after college and if you do where?

[@lawsonmcdonald5396]

CML SKI possibly! Maybe in Europe!

[@scottchegg828]

why is the music so loud?

[@boston7704]

Lawson, out of curiosity why not the Canadian university system?

[@lawsonmcdonald5396]

NCAA D1 was a step up in my opinion

[@boston7704]

@@lawsonmcdonald5396 Agreed - level of play is a little higher. You can see that in some exhibition games, D1 teams seemed to win the puck battles. UW is a great program, you made an excellent choice.

[@jg2790]

Barzy!! #lgi

[@marner1656]

How did the kid that got drafted to the whl not make midget aaa but the kid who didnt get drafted make midget aaa

[@lawsonmcdonald5396]

He was a goalie and I wasn’t, the position and spots that were open we’re very different

[@marner1656]

Lawson McDonald word, love the vids btw

[@JNJ1014]

Lawson I love you dawg but JFC Omaha instead of CORNELL..... THE IVY LEAGUE?! 🤦

[@_evangupta]

Yo wtf i go to oha

[@ISB97]

Why didn’t you answer my comment

[@lawsonmcdonald5396]

Sorry I didn’t answer the other one, we both have never played those guys and don’t know much about them

[@ISB97]

Lawson McDonald you should of continued to play D1 instead of go D3

[@bendervillebenders9940]

I Snipe Bardownski I don’t think he had a choice because he has said before he lost his spot not choose to leave

[@ISB97]

Benderville Benders I know he said he could of transfered to another D1 school but have to wait a year to play which I would do instead of D1

[@lawsonmcdonald5396]

I Snipe Bardownski I know it’s hard to understand but if your not happy where your at even if it’s D1 it won’t be fun

[@awoods910]

Collab with trav4oilers?

[@lawsonmcdonald5396]

Arthur Woods that’s a very high possibility, we are from the same place

[@ozzyosborne1426]

nc dubs with a beer league jr b goalie? lol