Best approach to starting a 'Be a Pro' mode?

[Ejfalcon9]

I love sim gaming so I want to take the most realistic approach to becoming a star in the NHL. I'm new to the sport and game and assume the pick a team feature is I just pick a team and start with a decent rating. I made a Center and began for the Kitchener Rangers. I'm not really sure i'm doing it right though.

For 1 ,what would be the best position to start out with, as in the easiest to play as and also starting off in the OHL, is that how it works out in pro hockey? Sorry if these are pretty noob questions. I mainly play NBA 2k and Madden/NCAA so my mind is blown by the depth of this sport and game. Apparently breaking into Hockey is much different from the world of Basketball and Football where you just play in high school, get scholarship, play in college, get drafted, play professional.

[bleafer]

Re: Best approach to starting a 'Be a Pro' mode?

Assuming you started from the memorial cup..

Basically you are on the OHL winning team in a four team tournament called the Memorial Cup. It is a battle of the winner of the WHL, OHL and QMJHL (top 3 junior leagues in Canada) + the host team. You use these four games to prove how good you are, and then you are put into the NHL Entry draft. The better you do in the memorial cup, the higher you are drafted.

Once you are drafted you go to NHL training camp and try to play your way onto the team. Since you probably aren't very good overall wise and by what I'm reading, gameplay wise, you will not make the team. I'm not sure if you go to the AHL or the CHL, but if I remember correctly you go to the AHL and play down there. As you start getting better you'l get more minutes and will eventually be in the NHL.

About the second thing you mentioned, it basically goes like this (in Canada):

AAA Hockey up until age 15-16.
Either get drafted to the CHL, play Junior A, or go play College hockey.
If you get in the CHL you have a much higher chance of getting drafted.
If you get drafted, yay for you and you play CHL or make the NHL.
If you don't get drafted you can keep playing til I think age 20 (might be 21).

Highschool stuff isn't very big in Canada, at least its not in BC.

[Ejfalcon9]

Re: Best approach to starting a 'Be a Pro' mode?

Assuming you started from the memorial cup..

Basically you are on the OHL winning team in a four team tournament called the Memorial Cup. It is a battle of the winner of the WHL, OHL and QMJHL (top 3 junior leagues in Canada) + the host team. You use these four games to prove how good you are, and then you are put into the NHL Entry draft. The better you do in the memorial cup, the higher you are drafted.

Once you are drafted you go to NHL training camp and try to play your way onto the team. Since you probably aren't very good overall wise and by what I'm reading, gameplay wise, you will not make the team. I'm not sure if you go to the AHL or the CHL, but if I remember correctly you go to the AHL and play down there. As you start getting better you'l get more minutes and will eventually be in the NHL.

About the second thing you mentioned, it basically goes like this (in Canada):

AAA Hockey up until age 15-16.
Either get drafted to the CHL, play Junior A, or go play College hockey.
If you get in the CHL you have a much higher chance of getting drafted.
If you get drafted, yay for you and you play CHL or make the NHL.
If you don't get drafted you can keep playing til I think age 20 (might be 21).

Highschool stuff isn't very big in Canada, at least its not in BC.

Oh ok, thanks for the run down man. I'm getting pretty good at the game and starting to understand hockey. I was trying the practice, quick game, practice, quick game method, but was just getting frustrated. I'm just winging it in Be a Pro mode and learning the ropes of the game lol. It's a good break from Madden/NCAA and will keep me occupied until the release of NBA 2k13. Only bad thing is dang, now i'm about to have to drop $60 on NHL 13.

[FBeaule04]

Re: Best approach to starting a 'Be a Pro' mode?

Just to add a bit info on what was answered, see in bold. As for the approach, if you want to learn slowly and get the basic, I would suggest starting as a 15 years old with a CHL team. You'll play on a 3rd line to start with, have the ice time related to a 3rd center, but you'll develop and by the time (if you're patient enough, it's true), you'll be a complete player starting your 3rd season and be drafted that year.

***About the second thing you mentioned, it basically goes like this (in Canada):

AAA Hockey up until age 15-16.
*Right, since the Province of Quebec allowed 16 years old guys to play in the AAA Midget, you can play AAA Midget until 17 years old.*

Either get drafted to the CHL, play Junior A, or go play College hockey.
*The OHL is the only league where a phenom can play underage (15 years old). Othewise, the 3 leagues have players between 16 and 20. In the Province of Quebec, Junior A is Junior AAA.

If you get in the CHL you have a much higher chance of getting drafted.
*The NCAA draftees are getting more and more attention due to the entry-level signing process that makes it longer for NCAA players to get signed by the team who drafted them. While it was right before, more and more players playing in Russia, Europe and in NCAA are getting drafted higher.*

If you get drafted, yay for you and you play CHL or make the NHL.
*You are eligible for the NHL draft when 18 or just before turning 18. You can play in the NHL at 18 years old, the team as 10 games before sending you back before you lose your rookie year (that would have incidence on you Restricted Free Agent status when your entry-level contract expire). You can't play in the AHL before you're 20 (exceptions is when your junior team is out of the playoffs, you are allowed to play for the affiliate of your NHL team). Except for that, you are sent to your junior team.*

If you don't get drafted you can keep playing til I think age 20 (might be 21).
*It's 20 before the season start. You can turn 21 in the season. In the CHL, there's 3 roster spot for 20 years old guy (exception for expansion team Sherbrooke Phoenix this year who can have five, but down to 3 in 2013). Add to that you are allowed 2 euro players per team (3 if there's a lockout in the NHL, but only dress 2 in a game).****

[piffbernd]

Re: Best approach to starting a 'Be a Pro' mode?

i would buy NHL 11 or NHL 12 (if u have XBOX 360). NHL 13 has only better Skating engine. for me Center is hard to play, if u want play forward play Left winger or Right winger. This is a very good tutorial how to play Center. He has other good be a pro tutorials. first i would play rookie then later u can change to pro or allstar.

In CHL is speed very important.