The NCAA’s Shift – A Game Changer for Young Hockey Talent?
We got a doozy of a development story from the NCAA this week, and let me tell you, it’s going shake things up for some of our young guns. This is a follow-up to an article that I wrote a few years ago: NCAA Hockey – Another Pathway To The NHL and the new rules that are coming.
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Here is the Big News… The NCAA is finally letting Canadian Hockey League (CHL) players suit up for U.S. colleges. This means Division I schools can start scouting the OHL, WHL, and QMJHL for future stars – starting right now.
This is not some overnight decision, folks. Remember that whole “Amateurism“ thing the NCAA loves to preach. The CHL’s stipends for players used to mean an automatic “Pro“ label in the NCAA’s eyes. With this new rule, if a player’s living expenses are covered, their college eligibility is safe.
Here’s the catch: Free swag like Jerseys and Hats can still land you in hot water. Need to keep things clean, Kids.
CHL Gets a Boost
Now, this opens a whole new can of worms for player development. Here’s what player agent JP Barry (an agent with CAA Hockey in Toronto), the hockey oracle himself, thinks:
This is a potential win for the CHL. Top prospects won’t have to pick between the CHL and college hockey anymore. Makes their recruiting game way stronger, right? More muscle, as J.P. Barry puts it in an interview with TSN.
But here’s the rub: What happens after a few seasons? Barry predicts some top players might ditch the CHL for the NCAA after a taste of college life. This could leave the CHL with fewer marketable stars and a scholarship program in question. (Full rides in the NCAA sound sweet, wouldn’t you say?)
Junior A Feels the Pinch
The real losers here might be Junior A teams. They often act as bridges for players aiming for the NCAA. Now, these players can freely choose the CHL route and still have that college option. Not exactly ideal for Junior A.
The Lawsuit Looms
This rule change comes amidst an ongoing lawsuit claiming the NCAA’s ban on CHL players violates antitrust laws. Looks like the pressure finally got to them.
In Conclusion
It’s too early to say who’s the real winner here. This is a major shift in the hockey landscape, and it’s going to take some time to see how it shakes out. But one thing’s for sure: Young players have more options than ever before. Buckle up, hockey fans – the future might be looking bright or not. Stay tuned, hockey nation.
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