The NCAA has voted to make junior players in the CHL eligible to play college hockey beginning next season.
The landmark announcement creates new development paths for OHL, WHL, and QMJHL players previously barred from NCAA participation. The NCAA DI Council passed the proposal in their November meeting on Thursday.
DI Council adopts rules change in men’s ice hockey & skiing, allowing involvement with pro teams prior to college enrollment (in line w/other sports), effective Aug. 1, 2025.
Decision is not final until meeting concludes this afternoon.
Learn more here ⤵️ https://t.co/p8c1ZuJfz2
— NCAA News (@NCAA_PR) November 7, 2024
The proposal passing means that players in the three CHL leagues can play in those leagues but still maintain their college eligibility as long as they are not “paid more than actual and necessary expenses as part of that participation.” Previously, the NCAA deemed all players in the leagues ineligible due to the presence of some who had already signed professional contracts with NHL teams.
The NCAA defines “actual and necessary expenses” as “any expenses necessary or required for your participation in practice or competition, including but not limited to meals, lodging, transportation, apparel, equipment, supplies, coaching, ice time, medical treatment (health insurance), and entry fees.”
Peculiarly, team-branded apparel, like hats or jerseys, given to a prospect for being drafted by a team, are not included in those expenses. Unless a player directly pays for the items, they must mail the items back to the team or donate them to charity.
The CHL relayed their support for the rule change in a statement.
“While we will take time to fully review this rule change, we believe this is a positive development that will provide our players with more opportunities to continue their hockey and academic careers following their time in the CHL,” the statement reads. “It will also give young players and their families more options in choosing their development path, which includes opening up the CHL — the best development hockey league in the world for players aged 16-20 — to more players worldwide.”
CHL Statement on the NCAA Rule Change: https://t.co/xkFa0Tz0Qr pic.twitter.com/NTeL339Cv6
— Canadian Hockey League (@CHLHockey) November 7, 2024
Players under NHL contract will still be unable to take advantage of this new ruling unless they terminate their pro deals and any agreements with an agent before enrollment. For example, a player like Andrew Cristall, who signed his entry-level contract with the Washington Capitals in July of 2023, would not be allowed to jump right into the NCAA.
The policy change comes after OHL player Rylan Masterson filed a class action lawsuit against the NCAA in August. The lawsuit claims the previous regulations were a “group boycott” of Canadian players. The NCAA subsequently reviewed its policies and determined that the lawsuit had grounds.
Additionally, NCAA players can now attend NHL training camps even after enrollment, provided they adhere to the same “actual and necessary expenses” regulations and do not play in any external scrimmages or exhibition games. However, the players cannot miss class to participate in the camps, and NHL training camps typically begin well into the first month of the academic calendar.
Not missing class would become an issue for a prospect like Washington’s Cole Hutson, who attends school in Boston. Pre-approval sought from NCAA compliance will ensure class is not missed before a player can attend any camp.
