NCAA Considers Allowing CHL Players to Join U.S. College Hockey Teams

A proposed rule change could lift the ban on Canadian Hockey League players, aligning hockey with other NCAA sports.

The NCAA Division I Council is reviewing a proposal to change eligibility rules for CHL players, potentially allowing them to compete in U.S. college hockey.
The proposal, if approved in November, would take effect on August 1 and aims to harmonize hockey's pre-enrollment policies with other NCAA sports.
A class-action lawsuit filed in August challenges the NCAA's current ban on CHL players, arguing for equal opportunities in college hockey.
The rule change could intensify competition for NHL draft-eligible players between the CHL and NCAA, possibly affecting American college roster spots.
Currently, CHL players are deemed professional under NCAA rules, receiving stipends, while college athletes can earn through scholarships and NIL deals.