So, as the NHL has been locked out for the whole season I've been trying to get into college hockey a lot, but its really confusing me and I need some help.
1st of all: I don't get how players like Al Montoya and other NHL draft picks can play in college hockey. Have they not signed contracts with their pro teams yet? or is there some special exception?
2nd: Am I correct in saying that CCHA and WCHA and the like are just different conferences just like the ACC and BigTen and the like?
3rd: Is the way they decide a championshp is the winners of the conference championships go into the NCAA tournament and then its decided?
if any of these assumptions are wrong I would love to be filled in. Its hard to enjoy college hockey when I don't understand a lot of it.
thanks guys.