CHL players now eligible for D1

[elbojpb]

I'm fairly certain that this development will push a bunch of marginal D1 athletes to D3! 2025 should be a hoot!

https://www.espn.com/college-sports/...eligible-div-i

[Lord_Zubin]

Very interesting to see that CHL guys aren't elgible for d3 if things dont pan out at a d1 school. That legit might make it harder for d3 teams to get d1 transfers if a lot of them arent elgible now. Either way a major shuffle is gonna happen in junior hockey. The CHL is gonna get even better and Junior A is gonna get worse. D1 teams can now scout full u sports teams as well instead of playing the fun game of who/who isnt elgible which can push even more guys down. Weirdly enough I kind of hope the USHL gets knocked down a peg and starts to blend in with the rest of the junior a leagues. Myabe more western programs can pop up if the league has more d3 talent than d1???

[Sk8save!]

I can't help but think that the NCAA has left itself open for more litigation by not including D3 institutions in this decision. Tough to argue that student athletes shouldn't be allowed to explore all options beyond D1. Seems like it discriminates against D3 institutions and opportunities.

[spwood]

Is there a flood of CHL kids that would rather play in the NCAA? I wonder if this is going to be a whole lot of nothing...

[Lord_Zubin]

well if ur a 1st-2nd round pick probably not but for the 3rd-7th rounds that take 4-5 if not more years to develop anyway it makes sense to go play against people ur own age and get a degree that can be partially or even fully payed for by the school. Most of these guys will not spend significant time in the NHL so a degree that allows them to earn more than the 60K a year an ahl player makes after they retire is a pretty smart move

[elbojpb]

I can't help but think that the NCAA has left itself open for more litigation by not including D3 institutions in this decision.

My read on this decision is that the NCAA was going to lose the Masterson v. NCAA case anyways primarily because of the NIL money opportunities in D1, which rendered the old axiom of barring professionals null and void.

There are no comparative NIL options at the D3 level; however, I can see a D3 council move to allow CHL players simply for the possible tuition revenue it could create.

[JSicedog]

Is there a flood of CHL kids that would rather play in the NCAA? I wonder if this is going to be a whole lot of nothing...

Yes. A large majority of 19/20 year old CHL players go to USports, try and hack it in the ECHL or AHL if they are good enough, or retire. The NCAA as another option will attract a lot of kids. USports fails greatly in comparison to NCAA on all facets on and off the ice. As Zubin pointed out earlier this will probably put a big damper on Jr A hockey.

[Russell Jaslow]

I can't help but think that the NCAA has left itself open for more litigation by not including D3 institutions in this decision. Tough to argue that student athletes shouldn't be allowed to explore all options beyond D1. Seems like it discriminates against D3 institutions and opportunities.

Yeah, I don’t get this limitation ruling.

D3 schools can offer NIL. And NIL was the sole reason this CHL lawsuit existed in the first place.

[MELIN27]

Since the CHL contributes to education costs for Canadian institutions, players who age out will not opt for DIII over USports. Even if the CHL extends this to U.S. schools, Canadian universities, on average, are less expensive than American ones so unless DIII schools can up their "academic" scholarships I don’t think there will be much CHL to DIII movement even if it were allowed. It will mostly be those players who are borderline DI who will look at DIII.

[JSicedog]

Since the CHL contributes to education costs for Canadian institutions, players who age out will not opt for DIII over USports. Even if the CHL extends this to U.S. schools, Canadian universities, on average, are less expensive than American ones so unless DIII schools can up their "academic" scholarships I don’t think there will be much CHL to DIII movement even if it were allowed. It will mostly be those players who are borderline DI who will look at DIII.

The addition of CHL players at the D1 level will push the lower end of D1 players to the D3 level. Which will increase the quality of D3, at the end of the day. CHL players won’t be coming to play D3 hockey.

[joecct]

The addition of CHL players at the D1 level will push the lower end of D1 players to the D3 level. Which will increase the quality of D3, at the end of the day. CHL players won’t be coming to play D3 hockey.

They can't, per College Hockey Inc. CHL -> NCAA only applies to D1.

[JSicedog]

They can't, per College Hockey Inc. CHL -> NCAA only applies to D1.

You are missing my point. CHL players would never play D3 even if it was allowed. The CHL to NCAA D1 will push the latter half of D1 down to D3, therefore increasing it’s quality

[MELIN27]

You are missing my point. CHL players would never play D3 even if it was allowed. The CHL to NCAA D1 will push the latter half of D1 down to D3, therefore increasing it’s quality

That's exactly what I said. Even if CHL to DIII were allowed, very few CHL players would consider it. In the long run, DIII hockey will certainly benefit. Higher quality of play is coming unless there is expansion at the DI level.

[elbojpb]

... In the long run, DIII hockey will certainly benefit. Higher quality of play is coming unless there is expansion at the DI level.

I read a column in which the writer posits that the D1 scholarship limit will leave ~150 D1 players without scholarships next season. If that indeed comes true, in addition to the CHL kids bumping another cadre from the D1 ranks, the quality of D3 hockey is poised to increase dramatically.

[Lord_Zubin]

I think that dramatic bump will be very short term only the next 2-3 years. The cream usually rises to the top and with junior a getting worse while the chl gets better means d3 schools most likely won't be able to replace that incoming talent surge