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    NCAA Hockey Eligibility Change: CHL Leagues, USHL React To Significant Decision

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    NCAA Hockey Eligibility Change: CHL Leagues, USHL React To Significant Decision

    A detailed view of the helmet worn by Denver Pioneers goaltender Jack Caruso after the championship game of the 2024 Frozen Four college hockey tournament.

    Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

    The CHL, two of its member leagues and the USHL reacted to an NCAA rule change that affects NCAA Div. 1 eligibility for major junior hockey players.

    Starting next season, CHL players who have not signed professional contracts will be eligible to join the NCAA Div. 1 hockey as of next season, the Div. 1 council voted to approve on Thursday.

    That means players in the WHL, OHL, and QMJHL can still join NCAA teams, which they weren’t allowed to do beforehand.

    Related: NCAA Votes To Allow Major Junior Hockey Players. Now What?

    The CHL released a statement saying it’s aware of the change.

    “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 league wrote in a statement.

    “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 to 20 – to more players worldwide.”

    OHL commissioner Bryan Crawford said there’s collective enthusiasm following the vote, calling it a landmark decision.

    “Through this transition, the league will continue to honor its commitments through the OHL scholarship and development program to players as they play out their years of eligibility, setting 20 and 21-year-old graduates up for success as they embark on new challenges both on the ice and in the classroom through both the NCAA and U Sports,” Crawford said.

    WHL commissioner Dan Near added the decision allows another opportunity for the best up-and-coming players in western Canada and the western United States to choose his league.

    “As always – the player is at the heart of what we do across the WHL through our 22 member clubs,” Near said. “Most of our graduates note their time in ‘The Dub’ were the best years of their lives. 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.

    “The best in the West can now look forward to chasing their dreams alongside one another in the world’s finest development league for junior hockey players – the Western Hockey League,” Near added later in his statement.

    The QMJHL has yet to release a statement at the time of publishing. 

    The USHL, meanwhile, is the Tier 1 junior league in the United States, which was one of the pre-existing paths to the NCAA.

    “Since its inception, the United States Hockey League development model has been holistically and intentionally aligned with the student-athlete experience,” the league said in a statement to social media. “The USHL remains the world’s premier development path. All aspects of the league are focused on preparing athletes for collegiate and professional hockey, inclusive of on-ice, academic and character development.

    “The USHL claims more than half of NCAA Div. 1 men’s ice hockey players, while producing more NHL draft picks than any other league in the world over the past eight seasons.”

    For more analysis about how Thursday’s vote affects players and the ripple effect for the USHL, U Sports and other leagues, check out Ryan Kennedy’s piece.

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