NCAA to allow CHL players to play hockey?

[MeHateHe]

I could see less interest in stuff like the Centennial Cup and World Junior A challenge, but I think local teams will be alright.

I think this could lead to greater interest in national championships. The focus in Junior A has been heavily skewed toward individual success - leagues and teams promote themselves as ways to get players to scholarships. With that now limited, teams and leagues will need to boast more about team success.

This is how things were in the 80s and 90s. I suspect we go back there.

As for the BCHL, the smart thing for them to do is to continue to market themselves as a development spot for players coming out of high school who still need some seasoning before they go the college. They won't be playing as high quality competition every night as in the WHL, but avoiding some of the ridiculous road trips in the Dub would surely be a selling feature. It might lead to some retrenchment in the BCHL, but they could still survive with 12-16 teams in a purely BC league. Those Alberta teams should probably go crawling back to the AJHL.

 

[edog37]

Statement from the WHL commish:

Statement from WHL Commissioner on NCAA men's hockey eligibility changes - Western Hockey League

We are thrilled that upon graduation from the WHL, players will have additional options as they pursue the next step in their personal and hockey journey. We look forward to the opportunity to welcome a new wave of talent and we take great pride in our responsibility to support all WHL players in the pursuit of their goals – be that on the ice, in the classroom, and as contributing members of the community.

Players completing their eligibility with the WHL will continue to receive access to our leading post-secondary scholarship, funded by our 22 Member Clubs. In the 2023-24 season, the education bills for over 300 WHL Alumni were paid directly by the League and Clubs totalling in excess of $3 million in funding. The WHL is proud to continue this practice.

The key points are "graduates"...so this implies that you can't break the CHL contract to join a college. This muddies the water a bit.

Sure they could. The NCAA team offers said kid a full ride, thereby negating the CHL scholarship.