After months of speculation, it finally happened: on November 7, 2024, the NCAA agreed to create the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) players eligible for Division 1 hockey programs for the 2025-2026 season. Previously, the NCAA banned players from the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), Western Hockey League (WHL) and Quebec Maritime Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) because they received a monthly stipend of $600 and therefore, in the eyes of the NCAA, were professional athletes. However, last summer, a class action on behalf of a player losing his college eligibility opened up the possibility of change.

There is no doubt that this is a monumental decision that could change the face of junior hockey, and Division 1 schools can begin recruiting CHL players immediately after deal. However, in reality, little will likely change for the parties involved. Each league offers something different for developing players, and since the organization of the league will not change with this new deal, fans will not see a mass influx or departure of players from their favorite teams.

The CHL will not see an exodus of top stars

The biggest issue after Thursday’s deal is the lack of information, but one of the biggest questions raised was which players the NCAA would target for recruiting, as it appears the CHL’s top 18- and 19-year-olds will be high on university radars. One OHL general manager saw this discrepancy as a serious threat to the health of his league, stating, “(The) NHL needs to get involved. Otherwise, 18- and 19-year-olds could jump ship” (from “Everything You Need to Know About the NCAA’s Decision to Make CHL Players Eligible,” Athletics – 07/11/2024).

The exodus could have already started. In September, the Regina Pats forward Braxton Whitehead has verbally committed to Arizona State University for the 2025-26 season, and it’s unclear how many other players have already secretly entertained recruiters in anticipation of this deal.

However, at 20 years old, Whitehead is in his final season of CHL eligibility, meaning he wouldn’t have had a spot with the Pats next season anyway. As it currently stands, CHL teams are only allowed three 20-year-old players as the development of younger players is considered a higher priority. This forces some teams to make difficult decisions; Earlier this season, the Saskatoon Blades severed ties with longtime goaltender Austin Elliott, despite starting the year with a 3-0-0 record, following the return of one of their 20-year-old forwards from the NHL rookie camp. The team already had its starter in Evan Gardner, and using one of its excess spots on a backup goaltender didn’t make sense for the team. The OHLs The London Knights claimed him off waivers, but that forced the Knights to release their own surplus goaltender Owen Willmore, who still has no place to play.

With the NCAA ban lifted, players like Willmore and Elliott could find a Division 1 team to play for without fear of pushing someone else out of their spot. The NCAA is much more relaxed with free agency rules; players can sign a professional contract after their first season if they are not yet eligible for the NHL draft, which is why many college free agents are signed between the ages of 21 and 23 or older.

Related: NCAA will allow players to participate in the CHL

The new deal will also not include players who have already signed an entry-level contract, according to Mike McMahon, College Hockey Insider publisher. This means the WHL won’t have to worry about losing Berkly Catton, Riley Heidt, Terik Parascak and Andrew Basha, all of whom signed entry-level contracts in recent months. Although that still leaves undrafted players like Roger McQueen, Michael Misaand Caleb Desnoyers as potential targets, there is no guarantee that they will be able to qualify for the university where they wish to play. A CHL coach who coached at the Junior A level commented, “I had a lot of kids who wanted the Harvard or even the Clarkson, but guess what? They couldn’t get in” (from “Everything You Need to Know About the NCAA’s Decision to Make CHL Players Eligible,” Athletics – 07/11/2024).

Junior A and USports are most at risk

There are a lot of detractors for CHL players who want to play NCAA hockey, especially if they are still eligible for their current club. But these won’t be as strong for players at the Junior A level. In 2023, the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen drafted Noah Kosick in the first round of the bantam draft, but the talented center opted to pursue the career path. NCAA and therefore went to play with the Sioux Falls Stampede of the American Hockey League (USHL) before joining the University. of Michigan. However, with the new deal, he will not lose his college eligibility with the Hitmen, and so come October, he signed an agreement with a CHL player and has two points in six games so far.

Junior A is a lower level than the CHL and is not as competitive as its major/junior counterpart, but for many Canadian hockey players wanting to play college hockey, it was the only way to maintain their eligibility . This is why Cale Makar chose to play with the Brooks Bandits of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) instead of the Medicine Hat Tigers, who drafted him in the 2013 WHL Bantam Draft, or why Adam Fantilli went to play with the Chicago Steel of the USHL instead of joining the Saginaw Spirit of the OHL. With the new deal, players can play with the CHL team that owns their rights before joining an NCAA program.

This is arguably one of the biggest advantages for CHL teams. A WHL general manager commented on Scott Wheeler of Athletics“On the positive side, we will have all the best young players coming to the CHL because we are the best development option at that age,” while another from the OHL said, “We think it’s a good thing” because “USHL and British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) players will likely return to the CHL” (from “Everything you need to know about the NCAA’s decision to make CHL players eligible,” Athletics – 07/11/2024).

The Canadian Junior A leagues will likely be hit harder than the USHL, since the American league has become one of the top junior programs in the country and more comparable to the CHL than other Junior A organizations. This also provides American players with a more local path to development. So even though fewer Canadians will play in the league, more Americans will have the opportunity to pursue their dreams closer to home.

Then there’s USports, Canada’s university sports organization. While many schools offer top-notch education, USports is a step below the NCAA when it comes to athletic programs. CHL players receive a scholarship when they graduate from the school of their choice, but until now this scholarship has been limited to Canadian universities. Few players have moved from these programs to the NHL, and although there are examples like Logan Thompson and Joel Ward, players can now use their scholarship for major NCAA programswhich is a much more attractive option. While this is a good thing for the players, it will hurt American sports in Canada.

Junior hockey is always about choices

The new deal boils down to providing more options for high-level athletes to play hockey. However, this choice has been around for decades, and while one route has become much easier, it is not for everyone. NCAA programs only play about 30 games per season, while CHL teams play 68. There are positives and negatives to both journeys that players, parents and agents have no problem with. constantly thought and debated as they tried to find the best path to achieve their dreams. .

Former NHL player and current president of the OHL’s Sarnia Sting, David Legwand, has an excellent way of looking at things. “I think guys are maybe overthinking it,” he told Athletics before Thursday’s agreement. “There is a route for everyone and choosing that route is difficult. It’s a lifelong decision and making it at such a young age is difficult. And you never want to see someone make the wrong decision. If the rules change, it will help the kids and maybe extend that life decision for a few years and give the kids the best opportunity to see where they end up… It will be the kids’ decision. Every league wants the best kids, but that will come through recruiting, visiting your facilities and getting them involved so they want to be on your team. (from “What’s Next for the CHL? Latest on NCAA Decision, Expansion, Draft Age Changes, Memorial Cup”) Athletics – 10/18/2024).

So while the deal is an important step for the CHL and the NCAA, it won’t result in widespread changes to either league. Some players will leave the CHL early and some Junior A programs will experience a decline in talent, but at the end of the day, everyone has their own opinion on what’s best for them, and this decision hasn’t changed any of that.

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