All 32 NHL Teams to Be Affected by New Ruling Today: the Laws and Regulations of Junior Hockey Have Changed

The NCAA has finally agreed today to lift the ban that used to prevent CHL players from deciding whether they wanted to pursue their careers in the USA.

Thanks to a new rule change at the NCAA level, players from the CHL will be able to retain college eligibility beginning next season and offer a gateway for CHL players into American college hockey. In previous years, any participation in the CHL, which includes the Ontario Hockey League, Western Hockey League, and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, would render players ineligible for the NCAA. Now, the players from the CHL have a better option and can look into college hockey without losing eligibility and therefore spreading out other options with regard to their development and education.

This move allows CHL players so much more in terms of managing their futures, major junior leagues and college hockey can be weighed against one another for individual development. In a statement to the Toronto Star, TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button said the rule change allows players to make informed decisions in pursuit of a professional aspiration through leagues like the NHL, while potentially earning a degree. This will no doubt also have an effect on how the 32 NHL teams develop their players going forward.

The revised rule also reflects a shifting legal landscape. In August, former OHL player Rylan Masterson filed a suit against the NCAA after he lost eligibility because of limited participation with the Windsor Spitfires. His case drew to light the way strict rules minimize options for athletes, maybe, and this nudged the NCAA to change and rid itself of the CHL ban.

Reactions have been mixed, though the shift has been celebrated as a win for athletes. Former NCAA player and Stanley Cup champion Mike Commodore, while supportive of the change, also brings word of caution with roster complications in college hockey with the addition of CHL players fighting for spots. On the other side, OHL Commissioner Bryan Crawford says he remains confident the league will keep churning out top talent despite new NCAA opportunities.

This, in essence, has created opportunities for junior hockey players since they are now at will to pursue their NCAA opportunities as they see fit. The move of the NCAA supports the flexibility and future of Canadian players by opening an adaptable, athlete-centered environment that allows in pursuit of both competitive hockey and higher education.

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