CHL players now eligible for D1

[Julius]

I believe the CHL scholarship can only be used at a Canadian school.

Not to mention using that scholarship to play at a D3 school would be against D3 rules. Now that I think about it, perhaps that is why the NCAA said CHL players still can’t play D3.

I didn't look at all three leagues... but the WHL does not seem to have a Canadian school restriction:

https://chl.ca/whl/whlscholarship/

"A player is able to attend any post-secondary or career-enhancing institution of his choice, including universities, colleges, technical institutes, trade schools, or any other institution which will help the player achieve his academic and career goals."

"Each year, more than 375 WHL graduate players attend post-secondary institutions on full WHL Scholarships at over 80 different institutions across North America."

If it was only Canada, I suspect that statement would say across Canada, not North America. Also, I am pretty sure that the NCAA institution schools cannot offer the scholarships, but I don't think that there are really any restrictions on who can offer a scholarship to pay a student's tuition.. especially when that scholarship is not contingent on that student playing hockey at that institution... essentially what you're saying is that no D3 athlete is eligible for any scholarship by a 3rd party organization, which I am pretty sure is not true... no doubt that there are probably rules for trying to manipulate scholarships, but this does not seem to be the case as these scholarships are not offered to attend certain schools..

 

[Russell Jaslow]

If it was only Canada, I suspect that statement would say across Canada, not North America. Also, I am pretty sure that the NCAA institution schools cannot offer the scholarships, but I don't think that there are really any restrictions on who can offer a scholarship to pay a student's tuition.. especially when that scholarship is not contingent on that student playing hockey at that institution... essentially what you're saying is that no D3 athlete is eligible for any scholarship by a 3rd party organization, which I am pretty sure is not true... no doubt that there are probably rules for trying to manipulate scholarships, but this does not seem to be the case as these scholarships are not offered to attend certain schools..

No. What I’m saying is D3 rules are very specific in making sure athletes aren’t getting a certain scholarship out of proportion to the general student population. If an entire D3 team is made up of CHL scholarship students and not a single other student in the school is attending with a CHL scholarship, that’s a definite violation.

We went through this before in a similar situation (Canadian students getting special scholarships but only hockey players were receiving them) and schools such as Geneseo, Potsdam, and Buffalo State were put on probation and banned from the playoffs one year. I wrote a lot about it at the time.

 

[Julius]

No. What I’m saying is D3 rules are very specific in making sure athletes aren’t getting a certain scholarship out of proportion to the general student population. If an entire D3 team is made up of CHL scholarship students and not a single other student in the school is attending with a CHL scholarship, that’s a definite violation.

We went through this before in a similar situation (Canadian students getting special scholarships but only hockey players were receiving them) and schools such as Geneseo, Potsdam, and Buffalo State were put on probation and banned from the playoffs one year. I wrote a lot about it at the time.

Weren't those examples that you're talking about scholarships given by the schools or on behalf of the schools. It seems like the schools were giving scholarships that were directed towards hockey players in an effort to circumvent D3 scholarship rules. These scholarships are earned by playing in these junior leagues and have nothing to do with scholarships given by the schools or the general student population of a particular school. To me, that's a big difference.

 

[Russell Jaslow]

Weren't those examples that you're talking about scholarships given by the schools or on behalf of the schools. It seems like the schools were giving scholarships that were directed towards hockey players in an effort to circumvent D3 scholarship rules. These scholarships are earned by playing in these junior leagues and have nothing to do with scholarships given by the schools or the general student population of a particular school. To me, that's a big difference.

But think of the abuse that will ensue. Schools will specifically recruit former CHL players and create an entire D1-like program of all scholarship players. Who offers the scholarships at that point is just semantics.

I know what you are saying, but I'm not buying the argument. D3 athletic philosophy is setup for a specific purpose. And this loophole is not consistent with that purpose.

And like I stated earlier (and you seemed to have found evidence that CHL scholarships can be use used in the States), this could be the reason why the NCAA is not allowing CHL players in D3. Because of what I'm saying -- it defeats the purpose of D3 athletics.

 

[Julius]

But think of the abuse that will ensue. Schools will specifically recruit former CHL players and create an entire D1-like program of all scholarship players. Who offers the scholarships at that point is just semantics.

I know what you are saying, but I'm not buying the argument. D3 athletic philosophy is setup for a specific purpose. And this loophole is not consistent with that purpose.

And like I stated earlier (and you seemed to have found evidence that CHL scholarships can be use used in the States), this could be the reason why the NCAA is not allowing CHL players in D3. Because of what I'm saying -- it defeats the purpose of D3 athletics.

My read of the NCAA DIII financial aid regulations seems to be focused on financial aid for athletics by the school or people affiliated with the school

I could be wrong, but it seems like the following NCAA DIII Bylaw would make these scholarships legal under NCAA DIII regulations:

15.1.2 Financial Aid from Outside Sources.

15.1.2.2 Athletics Leadership, Ability, Participation or Performance. A student-athlete may receive financial aid through an established and continuing program for the recognition of high school graduates, which may consider athletics leadership, ability, participation or performance, provided the following conditions are met: (Revised: 1/10/05, 8/22/06, 4/15/14, 1/21/17 effective 8/1/17, 7/20/22)
(a) The award shall be made on only one occasion but may be disbursed over multiple years; (Revised: 8/22/06 4/30/09. 4/15/14)
(b) The donor of the aid shall not limit the recipient's choice of institutions to a specific institution; and (Revised: 1/21/17 effective 8/1/17)
(c) There shall be no direct connection between the donor and the student-athlete's institution. (Revised: 4/15/14)​

Seems like another example of the NCAA trying to put unnecessary restrictions on student athletes. Clearly there has been a change in the legal atmosphere related to college athletics and this seems like another decision made unilaterally by the NCAA that won't pass the muster of a legal review. There's really no need to debate further as I see this as still being in progress. I have not heard that the original lawsuit has finished, and there is nothing to say another lawsuit couldn't be filed to address this issue. Based on the NCAA's track record with lawsuit, it won't take too much to overturn the DIII restriction for CHL players.

The same arguments that you are making for this topic could essentially be made for NIL deals for DIII players... and there are no limitations specific for DIII for NIL, are there?

 

[Russell Jaslow]

The same arguments that you are making for this topic could essentially be made for NIL deals for DIII players... and there are no limitations specific for DIII for NIL, are there?

That is definitely a contradiction. Which is why I agree (and I did post this when the CHL agreement was first announced) that I don't see the CHL D3 restriction holding up in a court.

 

[elbojpb]

Since the announcement, one-quarter of the DI NCAA commitments on Neutral Zone Commitment Page, have been from the CHL. In the long run, I can see this hurting the lower-tier US Jr leagues; however, that likely means better quality hockey across all NCAA divisions.

 

[MELIN27]

That is definitely a contradiction. Which is why I agree (and I did post this when the CHL agreement was first announced) that I don't see the CHL D3 restriction holding up in a court.

I definitely can’t see it holding up in a court challenge. It could be argued that a CHL player turning up at a DIII school with CHL scholarship money is no different than players who use a 529 Plan or a Canadian RESP to pay their tuition. The money is brought by the student, not offered by the school.

 

[elbojpb]

According to the NZ commitments page, 84 CHL kids have committed to D1 schools through today. Add in the AIC kids, and the lower roster numbers .... There could be upwards of 150 D1 players looking for icetime next season.

Not only should the quality of D3 hockey increase, but some mid-pack D1 programs (e.g Bowling Green) could create some waves in the D1 realm. I haven't been this excited about college hockey since 1988

 

[Leopard_Balcony_Booster]

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...

Perhaps they still play CHL and if not drafted, can continue their career as a 20 yr old with an average of 3-4 years Major Juniors under their belt at a top ranked D1 US School. This may provide another opportunity for them to get another looksie by the pros with 3-4 more years development in a now higher powered NCAA hockey pool? Dunno but interesting to see what it will look like.

 

[Leopard_Balcony_Booster]

Wasn't part of the deal in CHL that the team (or league) would pay for one year of a Canadian college for every year a player stayed in the CHL? Would that be extended to a U.S. D1 school too? (Always thought that was a sweet deal if your weren't going pro after the CHL).

 

[Russell Jaslow]

Wasn't part of the deal in CHL that the team (or league) would pay for one year of a Canadian college for every year a player stayed in the CHL? Would that be extended to a U.S. D1 school too? (Always thought that was a sweet deal if your weren't going pro after the CHL).

No. CHL did that in order to sway kids to play in the CHL and not go to an NCAA college. The CHL doesn't need any incentive anymore to lure kids to the CHL over NCAA. The kids can now do both, and get a scholarship from the NCAA college directly. So, why should the CHL pay for that?

 

[Jensen35]

So what if a kid goes to CHL camp and plays an exhibition game or 2 and is cut. Would that eliminate them from being eligible for DIII?

 

[Lord_Zubin]

Not exactly an A+ source but according to the bowling green student paper "Players are allowed to participate in exhibitions or training camps for a CHL club but are not allowed to receive any additional compensation beyond necessary expense". Lets hope they still teach journalistic integrity and research https://bgfalconmedia.com/162712/sports/ncaa-rules-chl-players-can-retain-d1-eligibility/ Dont forget the original lawsuit was made because Riley Masterson lost his NCAA elgibility because he played 2 exhibition games for the Windsor Spitfires so it sounds like yes as long as they don't recieve unnecessary expenses whatever necessary expenses are will probably be fought in the courts.