I’m not sure the CHL and Jr Devils development are mutually exclusive.
Success brings fresh eyes to the game (just compare the BBT crowds with what we get today) and this will naturally lead to more interest in playing the game. Even I’ve bought some skates and I’m nearly 30. You can all rest assured though that I will never make an appearance for any team, so the Devils are safe.
Unfortunately, Wales is a limited talent pool where sports have seen a decline in participation across the board. As much as I sound like and old man saying it, kids want to play on their Xbox or PS4’s these days, that is the new socialising.
So it will take investment and a long time before there is a system in place, and that system will take time again to produce any talent.
So I don’t think the short term spend on the CHL has a negative consequence for the development of talent.
I think the Calgary 4 and Todd have taken more of an interest in the junior ranks than has been present for many years, but that is going to be very much a long term project.