NCAA and CHL Eligibilty - A game that costs both leagues



There has been an epidemic recently that has hit both the NCAA and the CHL, and it has plagued both leagues and caused plenty of drama for speculators to debate, and it lies in the NCAA eligibility game.

High level prospects love to play it, and list is always growing. The rule for the NCAA is that you cannot sign a 'pro' contract (CHL is considered pro because of weekly stipends) or be at a pro team camp for more than 48 hours or you lose your ability to play in the NCAA. Therefore, at 16 while being wooed by the top colleges to play for them in the future, there are some players that claim they will forego the CHL and keep their NCAA eligibility before their CHL leagues draft. Then, by random chance, end up on a powerhouse team like Portland, London, Quebec or whatever team they felt was the 'best fit'. This has become much more prevalent lately with the following players using the NCAA 'route' to change draft status in the last few CHL drafts, to name a few:

Josh Ho-Sang
Jonathan Drouin
Nathan Mackinnon
Tyler Seguin
Max Domi
Adam Erne
Anthony Deluca
Anthony Duclair

It is seeming to be a case of the best get to choose where they play, and the bark of threatening to play NCAA rarely meets the bite of actually commiting and playing college. Every summer, and even mid-season now you also see players abandoning NCAA commitments and teams to play CHL hockey. It seems the only player in recent memory to genuinely commit to the NCAA despite heavy CHL attention is Michael Matheson. This commitment game is hurting both the NCAA and CHL.

I dream of a situation where all leagues are accessible to all under 20 players in need of development. A player like Ryan Strome or Jonathan Huberdeau who has nothing more to prove in the CHL could play a more pro style game developing strength for Boston University or Wisconsin. Bringing more offensive talent to the NCAA, a player like Tyler Pitlick or Zemgus Girgensons may not have to abandon ship to develop offensive skills in the CHL. The weekly stipend could be ignored by the NCAA as a 'food related cost' and suddenly both leagues can split the elite talent, which would mostly follow a 3 years of strong CHL play followed by a year or two of NCAA development. It would benefit the NHL because prospect would have better options and competition and give NHL development personnel the ability to further customize a players development path. All in all, an NCAA-CHL 'agreement' (which would have to take place if current restrictions were lifted) would enhance the talent in both leagues, helping all but the egos of the league heads who want 16 year olds to make a life changing choice.

In short, rather then these heavily restricted leagues where its one or the other, free the markets and allow players 'capitalize' on their newfound options and opportunities.