College hockey opens its doors to Canadian major junior players

GRAND FORKS Canadian major junior hockey players will be eligible to play Division-I college hockey next season.

The NCAA Division-I Council cleared the way Thursday with a vote to amend a longstanding rule that deemed the Western Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League and Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League as professional leagues.

ADVERTISEMENT Canadian Hockey League players are eligible to be recruited now.

They can be placed on rosters Aug.

1, 2025 and play next season.

The development will have a seismic impact throughout the hockey world.

More than 1,000 junior hockey players will become eligible for college hockey, making the player pool deeper than ever.

CHL teams will begin losing top talent to the NCAA.

Junior leagues like the United States Hockey League, North American Hockey League and British Columbia Hockey League will have to battle to retain their top college-bound talent, because they'll now have more options.

The NHL will have to re-define its Collective Bargaining Agreement, which has different entry-level signing parameters for CHL and NCAA players.

"We think it's a big moment in college hockey," College Hockey Inc., executive director Sean Hogan said.

"In our opinion, it provides an opportunity for college hockey to share all the best players in the world.

We're excited about those changes." For decades, NCAA Bylaw 12.2.3.2.4 has deemed CHL players ineligible, because there are a few players in the CHL who have signed NHL contracts.

ADVERTISEMENT Players who have signed pro deals are still ineligible for college.

In August, a player filed a class action lawsuit in the Western District of New York accusing the NCAA of violating antitrust laws by making CHL players ineligible.

The player, Rylan Masterson, played two preseason games for the Windsor Spitfires in the OHL.

The NCAA opted to amend its rules instead of fight the lawsuit, as its done in several other instances recently.

The new rule brings men's hockey and skiing under the same rules as other NCAA sports, allowing amateur players to compete against professionals as long as they're not paid more than "actual and necessary expenses," including meals, lodging, transportation, apparel, equipment, coaching, ice time, medical treatment and entry fees.

The new legislation also will have an impact on Europeans retaining NCAA eligibility.

The legislation comes just seven months after NCAA coaches gathered at their annual meetings in Florida and largely opposed opening up the CHL.

ADVERTISEMENT At the time, they acknowledged the possibility of a lawsuit changing the rule and formed a committee to study the issue.

That committee is no longer needed.

College Hockey Inc., has served as a recruiting and promotional arm for the sport for more than a decade.

In addition to being a resource for schools looking to start Division-I programs and researching information for programs, it also has helped college hockey battle the CHL for top players.

That fight will now shift to making sure players stay academically eligible.

"It's no longer fighting a battle with the CHL," Hogan said.

"Our role is to make sure the young players understand college hockey is at the top of the pyramid.

"We'll still serve the role of educating all players including current CHL players, families, agents, coaches and really anybody who has an influence on young players making sure they understand not only the benefits of playing college hockey, but also knowing what they need to do to stay eligible on the road to college hockey," Hogan said..

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