Council proposes rule to allow CHL players to play in NCAA

Council proposes rule to allow CHL players to play in NCAA

The wheels are continuing to roll toward a significant shift in hockey development.

During an NCAA committee meeting on Tuesday, the Division I Council introduced a proposal that would allow players who have played major junior the ability to retain NCAA eligibility.

“As the council continues its review of the full spectrum of NCAA eligibility rules,” Josh Whitman, athletics director at Illinois and chair of the council, said on Tuesday. “This proposal, focused on a singular issue, represents a pragmatic step in aligning … men’s ice hockey with other sports in terms of allowable pre-enrollment activities.”  

The vote on the rule is set for when the council meets in November. While the release from the NCAA doesn’t specify which date, the D-I Council Coordination Committee meets every Wednesday.

If the rule is approved, it will become effective on Aug. 1, 2025, just in time for some late-stage recruitment for next season.

The wave of momentum for many calling to allow players from the Canadian Hockey League to play NCAA hockey has picked up over the past several months. During the annual coaches’ meeting in May, the discussion of getting rid of NCAA Bylaw 12.2.3.2.4, which categorizes players from the WHL, OHL and QMJHL as professionals, came up. However, the majority of the coaches elected not to change the rule, instead forming a subcommittee to explore the issue, and look out for what legal battles the NCAA might ensue if the rule stays in place.

Fast forward to August, when junior player Rylan Masterson filed a lawsuit against the NCAA and 10 schools, alleging the organization’s ban on CHL players violates antitrust laws. Masterson, who appeared in two exhibition games with the Windsor Spitfires in 2022. Masterson mentioned Canisius University, Niagara University, Rochester Institute of Technology, Boston College, Boston University, University of Denver, Quinnipiac University, University of Notre Dame Du Lac, Stonehill College and University of St. Thomas in the lawsuit.

The heat really picked up last month when Braxton Whitehead of the Regina Pats verbally committed to Arizona State University despite the ban still being in place. Whitehead was the first CHLer to commit to an NCAA program, telling ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski that he and ASU hope the rules change prior to the fall of 2025.

“[ASU’s] slogan is ‘Be the Tradition,’” Whitehead said. “I think they love the idea of me being a trailblazer throughout all this and paving the way with NCAA and CHL relations. I’m very hopeful that [the rules] will turn over before the 2025-26 season.”

If next month’s vote goes through, then Whitehead will be a Sun Devil this time next year.

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