CHL/NCAA

[Fergus31]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1857124367752437994

 

[OMG67]

The NCAA is increasing the number of full ride hockey scholarship that D1 schools can offer. Previously the number of full ride scholarships was capped at 18 but is increasing to 26 for next season. In a lot of cases, it won’t matter if an OHL player leaves the OHL before their career is done and loses their scholarship money since they will get a full ride NCAA scholarship anyways.

An Advisers Life - NCAA Roster Size Limits And Scholarships Increased For 2025-2026 In Landmark Settlement

In a landmark settlement agreement, the NCAA has increased college scholarship ice hockey numbers, and put strict limits on NCAA roster sizes beginning in the 2

thejuniorhockeynews.com

“Beginning in 2025-2026 NCAA ice hockey programs will be allowed to provide for twenty six full scholarships for each team. That is twenty six full rides which dramatically improves conditions for player who earn the opportunity to play Division One hockey.

With that increase in scholarships, comes strict roster limits for each team that will be set at twenty six player as well. This is important to note because teams have at times been known to roster as many as thirty players who may or may not have been active at any point during a season.”

It still does actually matter in some respects:

1> NCAA athletic scholarships cover tuition, room, and board. They do not cover any ancillary costs like books, clothing, transportation etc. This is where the OHL GOLD PACKAGE Scholarships can help bridge that gap even for full ride scholarships.
2> The players have 18 months after their OA year to access their scholarship. If a player leaves at 19, then they have that additional 12 months making it 30 months. In that circumstance, a player can hold off accessing funds, play 5 semesters in the NCAA and take a few summer courses to complete a three year program. Then come to Canada and access their scholarship for a post-grad Certificate type program if they wish. Or, they can transfer their credits from their NCAA school to Canada and finish their education in here. This would be rare, I admit, but there are a lot of cases where a student completes a University level Degree in 3 or 4 years and then takes a one or two year College level program that includes some form of specialized work program. The player could do it that way and get it all covered whereas they wouldn’t be able to under a four year scholarship.

EDIT:
I received a note and I did a quick search. Point #1 is not accurate. If it is a full 100% scholarship, funds “may” be applied for certain eligible expenses that include books and transportation etc. However, there is a difference between the two scholarships so there is a possibility that the GOLD Packages would cover some excluded expenses. Additionally, I think hey are also working on combining multiple scholarships with athletic scholarships. There is something about competitiveness that doesn’t’ allow multiple scholarships when applied to athletic scholarships. MAybe someone with more knowledge can chime in on that. For example, Player X is offered a 75% Athletic Scholarship and they use their CHL Scholarship to cover the remaining 25%.

 

[bcspragu]

Something I haven't seen mentioned in this is how this ruling may potentially impact trades in the future within the OHL. Going to need a lot more conditional picks traded on deals that don't include NHL drafted players or non oas because what would stop a team from trading a player with multiple years left who they may know intends to go NCAA after that season. Could bite a team not paying attention in the ass real quick

 

[Otto]

Something I haven't seen mentioned in this is how this ruling may potentially impact trades in the future within the OHL. Going to need a lot more conditional picks traded on deals that don't include NHL drafted players or non oas because what would stop a team from trading a player with multiple years left who they may know intends to go NCAA after that season. Could bite a team not paying attention in the ass real quick

If teams are not paying attention they deserve to get bitten in the ass

 

[bcspragu]

If teams are not paying attention they deserve to get bitten in the ass

The issue becomes any kid who's not signed to an NHL deal could potentially walk at any point, so unless your trading for one of those it becomes a risk for an OHL club. Trade your stud 19 year old for a 16 year old rookie? he could go NCAA as soon as 18. Even more so if he doesnt like his new landing spot after a year. Lots a variables

 

[OMG67]

The issue becomes any kid who's not signed to an NHL deal could potentially walk at any point, so unless your trading for one of those it becomes a risk for an OHL club. Trade your stud 19 year old for a 16 year old rookie? he could go NCAA as soon as 18. Even more so if he doesnt like his new landing spot after a year. Lots a variables

I really think people are making a mountain out of a mole hill here. It is like we are automatically calling the OHL a 16-18 year old league as if players are going to bolt in mass numbers.

Players will make their intentions known. Maybe you will see the odd disgruntled player say F-It, I am leaving and taking another route. But, this doom and gloom approach where we need to change rules or massively change trading to account for early graduation seems silly to me.

 

[Otto]

The issue becomes any kid who's not signed to an NHL deal could potentially walk at any point, so unless your trading for one of those it becomes a risk for an OHL club. Trade your stud 19 year old for a 16 year old rookie? he could go NCAA as soon as 18. Even more so if he doesnt like his new landing spot after a year. Lots a variables

I get that.. doesn't change the fact that if management isn't smart enough to do their homework they deserved to have their asses bitten

 

[ohloutsider]

Just a thought but I wonder how much this new ruling will impact the OHL draft in April? I'm not sure how players will be able to threaten the NCCA route to manipulate their way onto a team of their choice? Maybe we see the first true draft in years? Thoughts?

 

[Kingpin794]

Just a thought but I wonder how much this new ruling will impact the OHL draft in April? I'm not sure how players will be able to threaten the NCCA route to manipulate their way onto a team of their choice? Maybe we see the first true draft in years? Thoughts?

Maybe a little less manipulation but the USHL still exists. Guys can still play in a decent enough league while they wait for their rights to get traded to someone else. As a GM you still want to do your homework and be sure a player is going to show up. But i'd guess a few more Americans get picked in the first 2 rounds from now on.

 

[coolhandluc44]

I would give this a listen. Andy is the dad of Guelph Storm Charlie Paquette and runs Power Tech Hockey. I would give his opinion more weight than media pundits who have not watched or followed major junior hockey or ncaa in their lives but yet have now become experts

 

[OMG67]

I would give this a listen. Andy is the dad of Guelph Storm Charlie Paquette and runs Power Tech Hockey. I would give his opinion more weight than media pundits who have not watched or followed major junior hockey or ncaa in their lives but yet have now become experts

I think the last segment provides the best perspective. Where they say 5 of 20 are Pro’s and don’t give a damn about school, five others don’t give a crap about school because they aren’t really students and have no interest in education, that leaves 10 guys on each roster. Of those ten guys, they have to have the combination of ability to play NCAA AND have to have the grades to qualify.

Where the CHL Scholarship makes more sense for a lot of players is it is valid for a wide range of education opportunities, not jsut the traditional College/University route. So, the CHL Scholarship is still very valuable for a lot of players.

 

[coolhandluc44]

I think the last segment provides the best perspective. Where they say 5 of 20 are Pro’s and don’t give a damn about school, five others don’t give a crap about school because they aren’t really students and have no interest in education, that leaves 10 guys on each roster. Of those ten guys, they have to have the combination of ability to play NCAA AND have to have the grades to qualify.

Where the CHL Scholarship makes more sense for a lot of players is it is valid for a wide range of education opportunities, not jsut the traditional College/University route. So, the CHL Scholarship is still very valuable for a lot of players.

And of those ten guys when would they want to make that jump? Most guys (not elite NHL projected 1st or 2nd rounders) are finally getting top 4 D minutes or top 6 forward minutes in their 3rd year of eligibility in the league if not the 4th. Why would you leave the league rate as your going prime minutes to be freshman that either a) does get minutes or b) scratched all together.

I still am of the belief most players wont make that wont move until their OA year a the earliest, after their age 19 season. Plus if you new path is going to be CHL then NCAA, I would think your value would be higher after your 4th season of eligibility as you are older, more mature etc. I'm sure there will be lower end schools recruiting players to jump leagues earlier, but what would be the point? Those same schools and more will still likely be recruiting you after your 4th or OA season of eligibility.

For the high end players (1st or 2nd round NHL draft pick players) I still do not see the upside of going NCAA for a year. Even if the Cowan's, Musty's and Barlows of the world where eligible to play NCAA hockey this year, why would you want to go play half a schedule and have the burden of taking university level courses. Unless you have had this dream to play at Michigan or Boston College for a year, it just does not make any sense to me.

 

[OMG67]

And of those ten guys when would they want to make that jump? Most guys (not elite NHL projected 1st or 2nd rounders) are finally getting top 4 D minutes or top 6 forward minutes in their 3rd year of eligibility in the league if not the 4th. Why would you leave the league rate as your going prime minutes to be freshman that either a) does get minutes or b) scratched all together.

I still am of the belief most players wont make that wont move until their OA year a the earliest, after their age 19 season. Plus if you new path is going to be CHL then NCAA, I would think your value would be higher after your 4th season of eligibility as you are older, more mature etc. I'm sure there will be lower end schools recruiting players to jump leagues earlier, but what would be the point? Those same schools and more will still likely be recruiting you after your 4th or OA season of eligibility.

For the high end players (1st or 2nd round NHL draft pick players) I still do not see the upside of going NCAA for a year. Even if the Cowan's, Musty's and Barlows of the world where eligible to play NCAA hockey this year, why would you want to go play half a schedule and have the burden of taking university level courses. Unless you have had this dream to play at Michigan or Boston College for a year, it just does not make any sense to me.

To be fair, only rare circumstances for true elite players will they go NCAA at 18. If they do, they likely Red Shirt as Freshmen. The question really comes down to their 19 year old season. I could see a few players decide it snot worth it to stay in a stagnant situation. So, if a team is unable to offer a solid opportunity to either compete or maybe the franchise itself is stagnant or poor, maybe a player could jump early. However, that is on the franchise, not the player.