Will the NCAA open its doors to CHL players?

[Vinko Bogataj]

Or did it just get better? The dominoes aren't done falling yet.

I would love to hear how. An equal number of spots for a larger pool of players, mostly Canadians. What other dominoes are there still to fall?

 

[4four4]

I would love to hear how. An equal number of spots for a larger pool of players, mostly Canadians. What other dominoes are there still to fall?

Division 3 may be next to fall.

 

[pdt1081]

I would love to hear how. An equal number of spots for a larger pool of players, mostly Canadians. What other dominoes are there still to fall?

There's currently 8 US teams playing in the CHL. I'm willing to bet that number grows. You said the golden era of US junior development is ending. If this ends that, it wasn't very good to begin with.

 

[Sparkee]

Clarkson gets goalie commitment from Jackson Parsons of Kitchener(OHL) what was goalie of the week last week. https://thehockeynews.com/ncaa/latest-news/jackson-parsons-commits-to-clarkson

A 19 year old in his 4th major junior year.

 

[Vinko Bogataj]

There's currently 8 US teams playing in the CHL. I'm willing to bet that number grows. You said the golden era of US junior development is ending. If this ends that, it wasn't very good to begin with.

There may well be CHL expansion. I would submit that that the sweet spot of US players in US junior leagues matriculating to US NCAA teams has helped development and to grow the game. This ruling will likely hurt leagues like the NAHL. The larger point however is that the long term goal or dream, if you will, of playing college hockey just got tougher for US born players. CHL expansion is not NCAA expansion. There are still a finite number of NCAA roster spots, fewer of which will go to US players. While US participation is growing, it is a bit of a mirage as most growth is driven by girls participation increases. Development and growth of the game go hand in hand IMHO. My opinion, which may well be wrong, is that fewer long term opportunities to play high level
NCAA hockey will lead more kids to drop the sport to pursue other activities, thus hurting the long term growth of the game and in turn development.

 

[elbojpb]

... This ruling will likely hurt leagues like the NAHL....

Appears as though you are correct, and that the USHL may take the biggest brunt of these changes. A number of USHL players have already defected to the now-NCAA-friendly CHL. Story HERE