NCAA allowing CHL players

[cberkas]

Since the prospective recruit's thread has been getting off topic a bit lately, let talk about the NCAA/CHL agreement here.

 

This is interesting.  

[Yote 53]

Having CHL players eligible for NCAA hockey will hurt American born players.  Players, predominantly Canadian, that go the CHL route as a faster track to the NHL will now have the fall back of NCAA hockey taking roster spots from American born players in the USHL/NAHL/NCDC.  The NHL today has grown to 1/3 American born players largely because of the NCAA route.  It's simply a numbers game.  Less opportunities in NCAA for American born players will mean less American born players moving on to the NHL.  Not to mention the impact on youth hockey players in the USA that dream of growing up and playing for UND, the Gophers, Wolverines, Terriers, etc.  Less roster spots available, less opportunities, and this will trickle down from NCAA D1 hockey all the way to D3 and even to the ACHA who also does not allow CHL players.  Yes, this trickles all the way down to club hockey.

Another effect will be on the USHL.  I imagine there will be pressure to now offer stipends to players like the CHL does.  The hook that the USHL had, retain your NCAA eligibility, is now gone.  To compete on a level playing field with the CHL for players they will now have to offer the same package (compensation) that the CHL does.  This will put a strain on the USHL teams budgets as they adjust.  There isn't much, if any money in American junior hockey to begin with.  The USHL has nothing like the CHL media rights contract in Canada to generate additional revenue beyond gate and concession sales.

In conclusion, if you have youth hockey player in the USA who has a dream of maybe one day playing college hockey this sucks, because things just got a whole lot tougher.

 

[yzerman19]

Long term, however it will drive college hockey expansion as barriers to competitiveness will come down.  You can get U Washington playing competitive Big 10 hockey pretty quickly by stacking the roster with guys aging out of the WHL. 
 

I don't disagree that the pipeline to college hockey gets tougher short term, but won't it also raise the competitiveness of college hockey...I mean all else equal you want the best players on the ice wherever they hail from.  
 

For the ultra elite player (chippas) it's amazing...you have more development options without life altering consequences.  Say you are a stud at 16/17 and you go major junior on the fast track to NHL, but you hit road bumps in terms of system or an injury or whatever and you end up getting drafted late or not drafted...now, head to college and extend that runway....or maybe you have a great year and go first round, but you are 5'10 165...go to college, play fewer games put on 20 pounds of beef live the college athlete life while in a prep year to the NHL.

 

while I don't disagree it will be much, much harder for NAHL guys to make it to d1 over the short term, I think the long term expansion of college hockey and mitigated consequences for 16-18 year old kids is huge.  I also believe that the quality of product on the ice will only get better in college hockey as a result.  
 

 

[yzerman19]

On 10/23/2024 at 11:14 AM, Yote 53 said:

Having CHL players eligible for NCAA hockey will hurt American born players.  Players, predominantly Canadian, that go the CHL route as a faster track to the NHL will now have the fall back of NCAA hockey taking roster spots from American born players in the USHL/NAHL/NCDC.  The NHL today has grown to 1/3 American born players largely because of the NCAA route.  It's simply a numbers game.  Less opportunities in NCAA for American born players will mean less American born players moving on to the NHL.  Not to mention the impact on youth hockey players in the USA that dream of growing up and playing for UND, the Gophers, Wolverines, Terriers, etc.  Less roster spots available, less opportunities, and this will trickle down from NCAA D1 hockey all the way to D3 and even to the ACHA who also does not allow CHL players.  Yes, this trickles all the way down to club hockey.

Another effect will be on the USHL.  I imagine there will be pressure to now offer stipends to players like the CHL does.  The hook that the USHL had, retain your NCAA eligibility, is now gone.  To compete on a level playing field with the CHL for players they will now have to offer the same package (compensation) that the CHL does.  This will put a strain on the USHL teams budgets as they adjust.  There isn't much, if any money in American junior hockey to begin with.  The USHL has nothing like the CHL media rights contract in Canada to generate additional revenue beyond gate and concession sales.

In conclusion, if you have youth hockey player in the USA who has a dream of maybe one day playing college hockey this sucks, because things just got a whole lot tougher.

 

These are all valid points and I respect your point of view.  My statement does not take away from yours.  It's a different lens.  I do think your point about funding is an interesting one.  The CHL receives significant $ from the NHL for development.  I believe that the development money that goes to the USHL drives the NTDP budget (I might be wrong, but I heard that one time).  RFA rules and sending Jr eligible guys back to CHL vs AHL is also important and details that will need to be bargained and addressed.  
 

I also don't want to dismiss the appeal of playing closer to home for a 16/17 year old kid.  For a Minnesota kid, Des Moines is much closer to home than Swift Current.  USHL will still attract high end players for that reason.  The stipend $ (with rare exceptions) is pretty immaterial for a business...for most guys it's gas and beer money...

[cberkas]

Always good info

[cberkas]

With some of the current CHL signing announcements, looks like the CHL players are going to be able to play NCAA.

[cberkas]

 

[cberkas]

 

[I Ranger]

Let the $hit show begin. This will be very interesting as there are rumors that some NCAA coaches have already been recruiting the CHL(and even have commits) which certainly seems to have been a good idea. 

[cberkas]

34 minutes ago, I Ranger said:

Let the $hit show begin. This will be very interesting as there are rumors that some NCAA coaches have already been recruiting the CHL(and even have commits) which certainly seems to have been a good idea. 

There were some that went to the CHL while committed, so I'd add those to the list.

[cberkas]

Looking over the statements from the leagues Brad is leaving off the full quote and how it's about the scholarships each CHL league offers. And not about if they will let the players leave when the schools want them.

 

 

[.357]

"Upon graduation"

Graduation from what? I didn't think they were attending school simultaneouly while playing in the CHL.

 

[cberkas]

2 hours ago, .357 said:

"Upon graduation"

Graduation from what? I didn't think they were attending school simultaneouly while playing in the CHL.

 

It has to do with the players 20 year. Basically, they have to play until their eligibility in the CHL is over to get the scholarship that the CHL offers.

[.357]

15 minutes ago, cberkas said:

It has to do with the players 20 year. Basically, they have to play until their eligibility in the CHL is over to get the scholarship that the CHL offers.

Ok. I assume the average CHL players will stick it out until 20 yo so they won't lose their scholarship, whereas the ones with pro aspirations won't really care about forfeiting it & will leave for the NCAA at 18 & 19 yo.

The transfer portal will continue to be valuable, but maybe not as much now with all the availability from the CHL. Guys in the portal will have competition for NCAA spots from the Canadian boys.