[Report] NCAA Preparing Vote To Expand Eligibility To CHL

[RWJC]

NCAA Preparing Vote To Expand Eligibility To CHL

 

October 4th, 2024 at 6:11pm CST • By Gabriel Foley

 

The NCAA is prepared to vote on a proposal that could expand eligibility to CHL players, per NHL player agent Allan Walsh and Jim Connelly of USCHO.com. Connelly adds that the vote will implement emergency legislation, if passed, and could occur during one of the board’s routine Tuesday and Wednesday meetings.

 

This decision follows pressure from an antitrust lawsuit filed in August, that claimed the NCAA’s exclusion of CHL athletes is unlawful. The NCAA organized a committee to review the league’s eligibility in response to the lawsuit and received an official recommendation to expand eligibility.

 

While this vote formalizes the news, the topic of allowing CHL players into the NCAA has rapidly gained popularity over recent months. That hype peaked when Regina Pats forward Braxton Whitehead announced a commitment to Arizona State University. Current rules list Whitehead as ineligible to join ASU, as he’s already played five seasons and 199 games in the WHL – suggesting that a change is imminent. Whitehead scored 96 points in those outings, slowly climbing his way up Regina’s roster and finding his footing as a responsible, middle-six winger.

 

It’s presently unclear how this vote would impact the NCAA, or when fans may be able to expect the new recruiting pool to open up. The standard CHL player contract already covers costs of post-secondary schooling – though that’s typically led players to Canadian universities. CHL contracts also hold players through the age of 20 – or four CHL seasons – a rule that would seem sensible to translate into a partnership with the NCAA.

 

Whitehead’s verbal commitment currently has him joining the Sun Devils for the 2025-26 season. He may not be the only Canadian juniors player to make that jump, should the looming vote go through.

 

 

https://www.prohockeyrumors.com/2024/10/ncaa-holding-vote-to-expand-eligibility-to-chl.html#ref=home

[Fanuck]

This decision could have pretty huge implications for the CHL depending on how free the NCAA makes their eligibility/transfer process.  Not to mention the CHL is in court as we speak in a lawsuit brought by former players to stop any CHL leagues from holding an entry draft or any team from keeping a players' rights for longer than 1 season.  

 

Like it or not I feel we've essentially seen an end to how the entire CHL does business.  

[Alflives]

7 minutes ago, Fanuck said:

This decision could have pretty huge implications for the CHL depending on how free the NCAA makes their eligibility/transfer process.  Not to mention the CHL is in court as we speak in a lawsuit brought by former players to stop any CHL leagues from holding an entry draft or any team from keeping a players' rights for longer than 1 season.  

 

Like it or not I feel we've essentially seen an end to how the entire CHL does business.  

If the NCAA accepts CHL players that might kill the tier 2 junior leagues. Why would any good young guys, who have college and even pro aspirations, choose the BCHL or AJHL (and other tier two leagues) over the far superior CHL leagues? 

[Fanuck]

8 minutes ago, Alflives said:

Why would any good young guys, who have college and even pro aspirations, choose the BCHL or AJHL (and other tier two leagues) over the far superior CHL leagues? 

Good question?  

[Alflives]

2 minutes ago, Fanuck said:

Good question?  

I wonder if the tier two leagues are lobbying (lining the pockets of the decision makers of) the ncaa to protect their interests? 

[Ghostsof1915]

Because Alf where do you think a lot of NCAA players come from? 

BCHL has been a talent pool for the NCAA for years. This could throw a monkey wrench into the CHL as well. Why would you return  to the CHL if you turn 18 when you can go to the NCAA? Worst part, why would you go pro right away, when you can go to college for 2+ years? 

 

This would affect everything, the NHL draft, the CHL, BCHL. The reality is we need more talent especially if the NHL is going to expand. I'm not sure if this is going to help anything.

 

[Fanuck]

1 hour ago, Alflives said:

I wonder if the tier two leagues are lobbying (lining the pockets of the decision makers of) the ncaa to protect their interests? 

If all obstacles are eliminated and players across North America have essentially no rules governing where they can play I suspect the 'under the table' deals to acquire players would be rampant (not that they aren't already).  How would teams like Trail or Prince George from the BCHL stand a chance to recruit players for example?

[Alflives]

14 minutes ago, Fanuck said:

If all obstacles are eliminated and players across North America have essentially no rules governing where they can play I suspect the 'under the table' deals to acquire players would be rampant (not that they aren't already).  How would teams like Trail or Prince George from the BCHL stand a chance to recruit players for example?

Yup. The tier two leagues would get only tier two players. Kind of like it used to be years ago. Hence the level two. The good players would once again flock to the CHL. 

[King Heffy]

On 10/5/2024 at 11:03 AM, Ghostsof1915 said:

Because Alf where do you think a lot of NCAA players come from? 

BCHL has been a talent pool for the NCAA for years. This could throw a monkey wrench into the CHL as well. Why would you return  to the CHL if you turn 18 when you can go to the NCAA? Worst part, why would you go pro right away, when you can go to college for 2+ years? 

 

This would affect everything, the NHL draft, the CHL, BCHL. The reality is we need more talent especially if the NHL is going to expand. I'm not sure if this is going to help anything.

 

I really wouldn't mind having 20 being the age, but the right time to do that was the lockout.

[Alflives]

On 10/4/2024 at 7:03 PM, Ghostsof1915 said:

Because Alf where do you think a lot of NCAA players come from? 

BCHL has been a talent pool for the NCAA for years. This could throw a monkey wrench into the CHL as well. Why would you return  to the CHL if you turn 18 when you can go to the NCAA? Worst part, why would you go pro right away, when you can go to college for 2+ years? 

 

This would affect everything, the NHL draft, the CHL, BCHL. The reality is we need more talent especially if the NHL is going to expand. I'm not sure if this is going to help anything.

 

What’s stopping the ChL from making a rule that players can go to US college after two years in their league? That way prospects could develop their game in the CHL and then go to US college early and avoid the AHL. 

[King Heffy]

5 minutes ago, Alflives said:

What’s stopping the ChL from making a rule that players can go to US college after two years in their league? That way prospects could develop their game in the CHL and then go to US college early and avoid the AHL. 

How old are most of the best players in the CHL?  The quality of the on-ice product would instantly plummet.

[Alflives]

Just now, King Heffy said:

How old are most of the best players in the CHL?  The quality of the on-ice product would instantly plummet.

Why? Lots of guys would choose to stay in the CHL. This would, however, attract the prospects who choose the tier two route to get to us college hockey. IMHAO this would bring more elite talent to the CHL. 

[stawns]

This would be a disaster for tier 2 Jr, as well as Canadian University Hockey.  I don't think it would be particularly good for the CHL either.  The only beneficiary is the NCAA

[King Heffy]

12 hours ago, stawns said:

This would be a disaster for tier 2 Jr, as well as Canadian University Hockey.  I don't think it would be particularly good for the CHL either.  The only beneficiary is the NCAA

I don't think it even benefits the players.  I'm a proponent of having more kids go the current NCAA route and stay closer to home while they're still kids.  While it may help them as hockey players, it will hinder their development as men.

[wai_lai416]

so what does this actually mean? if a player is in say the WHL they can request to be released and go to the NCAA? i still don't like NCAA prospect having so much power where they can literally just threatened to play out their senior year and become a free agent if they dont like the city or if they aren't guaranteed a roster spot.

[Alflives]

23 hours ago, stawns said:

This would be a disaster for tier 2 Jr, as well as Canadian University Hockey.  I don't think it would be particularly good for the CHL either.  The only beneficiary is the NCAA

The tier two league will regress to where they used to be for talent. Much more like a junior B league. 

[Don Brodka Jr]

Canadian Universities would be the biggest loser in all this. Numerous players accept CHL paid scholarships to play at Canadian Universities after the age out of The CHL.. 

I like it for the players though.. A chance at a better education at a more prestigious school and a chance to further their amateur career and polish their skills to eventually turn pro if that's the end game. Just like 19 year olds being AHL eligible I support change in this field.

At the end of the day I'm on the side that's best for the players!