Breaking: NCAA D-I council will vote on CHL rule in November
The NCAA Division I council introduced legislation on Tuesday to change the longstanding “CHL rule,” which deemed players from the WHL, OHL, and QMJHL ineligible for NCAA hockey.
The proposal enables prospects who participate in major junior ice hockey or on professional teams to retain NCAA eligibility as long as they are not paid more than actual and necessary expenses as part of that participation.
"As the council continues its review of the full spectrum of NCAA eligibility rules, this proposal, focused on a singular issue, represents a pragmatic step in aligning skiing and men's ice hockey with other sports in terms of allowable preenrollment activities," said Josh Whitman, athletics director at Illinois and chair of the council.
The proposal will be considered during the council's November meeting. If approved, the proposed effective date would be Aug. 1, 2025, meaning the earliest CHL players could arrive in NCAA hockey is the 2025-26 season.
I’ll have more on today’s news in a newsletter posted later tonight.