Regina Pats forward Braxton Whitehead made a direct challenge to NCAA hockey’s longstanding eligibility rules, announcing on Friday that he had made a verbal commitment to play Division 1 hockey for Arizona State University despite playing in the WHL.
NCAA rules currently treat CHL players as professional athletes, ruling them ineligible to play college hockey and effectively forcing prospects to choose between the two organizations. After a proposed lawsuit was filed last month challenging the exclusion, Whitehead became the first CHL player to commit to a collegiate team.
I am honored to announce my verbal commitment to play D1 hockey at Arizona State University.
The WHL has given me an incredible opportunity to develop as a player, and I couldn’t be more excited for the ‘24-‘25 season with the Regina Pats.Thank you to my coaching staff in… pic.twitter.com/nMcY7n6XGV
— Braxton Whitehead (@braxwhitehead) September 13, 2024
Looser NCAA eligibility rules could create a seismic shift in the North American development pipeline. Prospects hoping to later play in college would have the opportunity to join a CHL team at age 16, developing for several years at the major junior level rather than playing in leagues like the USHL. A rule change could also see CHL players leave the league earlier, joining the NCAA after graduating high school rather than stayin.
The recent lawsuit, led by former player Rylan Masterson, argues that the NCAA’s current policy violates antitrust laws, preventing competition between the NCAA and CHL by forcing top prospects to choose at a young age.
Whitehead, now 20, is set to play his final season for the Pats in 2024-25 as he ages out of the CHL. He told ESPN this week that news of the lawsuit helped push him in his attempt to join the NCAA.
“[ASU’s] slogan is ‘Be the Tradition’ and I think they love the idea of me being a trailblazer throughout all this and paving the way with NCAA and CHL relations,” he said. “I’m very hopeful that [the rules] will turn over before the 2025-26 season.”
Even before a lawsuit was filed, the NCAA had already begun to consider a rule change. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported in February that coaches could soon vote to allow CHL players, opening the doors to Whitehead and others like him.
“Even if coaches go for it, there’s the question of how quickly will the NCAA allow it to happen,” he said then. “So there’s that, but we are headed toward a future of where CHL players are going to be able to play NCAA hockey. The question is when.”
