The NCAA Division I council is preparing to meet on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. Multiple sources are now confirming that potential “emergency legislation” could be taken that would grant Major Junior players the ability to play NCAA hockey in the future.
A committee studying eligbility concepts recommended the change, which would head off legal challenges to NCAA rules that have taken away eligibility for players who have appeared in major junior games.
While the meeting is taking place, and there will likely be a vote taken, it is unclear how quickly a rule change can be made effective. Claims of immediate effect are likely not accurate considering all of the individual university compliance offices will have to update policy, and admissions offices will also need to be prepared.
The NHL has not taken a stance on this proposed rule change yet, and the NHL/CHL development agreement does not expire until the summer of 2026. This could complicate, or delay any NCAA implementation of a rule change until the NHL/CHL development agreement is renewed, with changes reflecting any NCAA changes.
Unclear in this proposed change is how it will effect the USHL, NAHL, NCDC and Junior A or Tier 2 in Canada. Programs that have been specifically designed for players who committed to the NCAA path will now potentially be forced to change operations.
What will not change if the emergency legislation is passed is admissions standards for NCAA athletes. All grades, test scores, and core class requirements will remain intact. Players not meeting those standards will not be playing NCAA hockey at any point, regardless of what league they come from.
While some would like to make the claim that a potential change in legislation would open the flood gates of Major Junior players entering NCAA hockey, there is no foundation to make that claim.
CHL, or Major Junior contracts also control how long a player will play in those member leagues. The likelyhood of a Major Junior club letting a top prospect eighteen year old player break his contract to go play NCAA is pretty far removed from rational thinking. But it could effect seventeen year old players or sixteen year old players before they enter their NHL draft years.
If the change is made, it would likely immediately effect those twenty year old players who were cut this season due to over age limits, and future twenty year old players. Players younger than twenty who are released from Major Junior programs rarely go on to dominate at the Tier 2 junior hockey level, and would largely not be impacted.
One thing this rule change would do, is create a lot more recruiting competition between the USHL and Major Junior leagues. The USHL does not have a contract like the Major Junior Leagues have with players, and younger players who were on the track for Major Junior Leagues could switch to the USHL track and potentially reach NCAA programs before their twenty year old seasons.
Players being drafted into the NHL while playing in the USHL or NCAA also have more time to develop and can leave for the AHL upon turning twenty years old without having to be released from a Major Junior contract.
What is not being talked about enough is the impact of European players who have signed “pro” contracts as seventeen year olds, before being drafted into the NHL. This could prove to be the goup that is impacted the most because NHL teams drafting them could now accelerate their move to North America.
To be sure, there are more questions than answers on this subject. Answers would appear to be on the horizon.
Players and parents interested in discussing how this rule change may impact them, may email directly for a no cost or obligation consultation.
Joseph Kolodziej – Adviser
