CHL president sees NCAA ruling on eligibility for CHL players as positive

By Abdulhamid Ibrahim, The Canadian Press on November 7, 2024.

President Dan MacKenzie believes the Canadian Hockey League and its players benefit from the NCAA’s latest ruling that could create a big shift in hockey’s development system.

The NCAA Division I Council on Thursday approved a rule allowing players with CHL experience to compete at U.S. colleges starting next season.

The decision, effective Aug. 1, lifts the NCAA’s long-standing ban on CHL players.

They were previously ineligible because they received a stipend of up to $600 per month for living expenses, making them professionals according to the NCAA.

MacKenzie said the decision means 15-year-old hockey players won’t have to make an immediate choice between playing in the CHL or maintaining NCAA eligibility.

He added the CHL has been preparing for this decision for the past 10 months.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 7, 2024.