For more information on the new NCAA-CHL legislation, click here
Here are my takes on the new rule that will allow players with CHL experience to still play NCAA college hockey (if they so choose).
Take #1 – It’s About Time
Once the NCAA installed the NIL (name-image-likeness) rules, it was only a matter of time before the CHL-NCAA relationship changed. The reason for the NCAA deeming CHL players ineligible was pay. The CHL – in the eyes of the NCAA – was considered a professional hockey league because players were receiving living expense cheques. NIL grants college athletes the ability to make money off their name, image and likeness in things such as jerseys, video games, and so on. I always felt that college athletes should have been getting a slice a long time ago; just think of how much money the NCAA was making from branded merchandise alone? (This was the theme of a really cool season of the show Ballers)
Take #2 – It Benefits The Top Players
You will see more first round CHL picks go the Major ‘A’ route vs going to the BCHL/NAHL/USHL because they can play with their hometown team and jump to college after age 18 if they choose to. You’re starting to see this already – there was a player who was playing in the BCHL until the news broke, and now he’s back playing with the Victoriaville Tigers (click for article – I remember this player from last years QMJHL Cup. Nifty and smart player).
Take #3 – It Makes The CHL Drafts So Much Clearer
For many years, CHL teams had to try and navigate the “I’m keeping my options open” quote-unquote players (players that were on the fence about which route to go). Until now, CHL teams would draft a 15 year old in hopes that he would report to camp, and then offer him a stick or hotel room and hope that he accepted it. I feel that teams can have a draft board and take the best player available in the 2025 CHL Drafts because more players will report (closer to home, great hockey, flexibility to go Stateside later vs going out West or the USA first).
Take #4 – The Dynamics Will Take a While to Unfold
When a change of this magnitude happens, there are a lot of moving pieces. Trends have yet to form because it’s so fresh. Will players from Canada stop going to the USHL? Will the changes effect the Western Canadian Junior ‘A’ Leagues? Will NCAA programs focus their scouting efforts on the CHL vs Junior ‘A’ Leagues? Will D1 programs de-commit a large portion of their 2025 class to try and lure Major ‘A’ players to their respective programs? If players try to leave USHL teams en mass to head north, will the USHL protect its assets by imposing gigantic player transfer fees that CHL teams cannot afford (aka holding players hostage)?
There are just so many questions, and the only way to get answers is to let things play out for a couple of years.
Take #5 – Teams Will Have No Choice But to Develop All Players On Their Roster
I think that the CHL-NCAA pact will usher out the 16 year old QMJHL 4th liner playing 8-9 minutes a night. Where the players now have a lot more power, they likely won’t stay around if they’re not playing and/or developing (I think both go hand-in-hand). I think that if CHL teams take 16’s, they will have to accept the growing pains if they want to have them in their program past Year 1 (or send them back to U18).
Until Next Time
AP
Related Media
Hot Takes on the World of Hockey Scouting (article) – – – https://vhghockey.ca/what-is-being-a-hockey-scout-like-my-experience/
SportsCraft Source for Sports; An Iconic Piece of NL Hockey (article) – – – https://vhghockey.ca/sportscraft-source-for-sports-an-important-piece-of-nl-sports-history/
What Does a Jr Hockey GM Look for in a Player (video) – – – https://youtu.be/vEf-WbdT9kY?si=pNU7jXuSNK58nPUQ