I believe it depends on where the player is born - if it's a Canadian player returning to Canada from the NCAA, no redshirt year is required (this is quite common on the women's side, and it also happens on the men's side fairly regularly). But a redshirt year is required for Americans or Europeans.
Kowalski was born in Man, so he would qualify.
The NCAA Division I Council voted on Thursday to adopt proposal No. 2024-56, which eliminates previous legislation classifying CHL players as professionals.
Beginning next season (2025-26), CHL players are eligible for NCAA Division I hockey. The new legislation will be effective August 1, 2025.
The proposal will also permit involvement with professional teams and leagues, provided that no more than actual and necessary expenses for participation are received or guaranteed.
Here are some key details on the adopted proposal:
Before initial full-time enrollment
— CHL players who have not signed NHL entry-level contracts will maintain NCAA eligibility provided they are not paid more than their actual and necessary expenses.
— Players can participate in tryouts with professional teams before their initial full-time enrollment, provided they are not paid more than their actual and necessary expenses (players cannot represent that professional team in any game or scrimmage, including exhibition games).
— Players can participate in practice sessions conducted by professional teams before initial full-time enrollment, provided they are not paid more than their actual and necessary expenses.
— Before initial full-time enrollment, a player can compete with a professional team provided they are not paid more than their actual and necessary expenses.
After initial full-time enrollment
— After full-time enrollment, players can participate in practice sessions conducted by professional teams, but three conditions must be met:
They do not receive any compensation for participating in those sessions
They do not enter into any contract or agreement with a professional team
They cannot take part in any outside competition (games or scrimmages) as a representative of a professional team
Players are still ineligible if …
— If they have entered any contract or agreement with a professional team, either verbally or in writing, “regardless of the legal enforceability of that agreement.” The only exception is if a player signs an agreement BEFORE initial full-time enrollment. The agreement must not provide any payment (or promise of future payment) above the player’s actual and necessary expenses to participate with that team.
— Players cannot sign a nonbinding agreement or future contract with a professional team. In other words, a player cannot sign a post-dated contract after their NCAA eligibility with the promise of future payment (i.e. players cannot be signed to an NHL entry-level contract, assigned to a CHL team, and maintain NCAA eligibility).
