CHL or NCAA, what is the Preferred Path?

In 2024, Masterson v. NCAA challenged the NCAA on its ban on Canadian Hockey League (CHL) players. This led the NCAA to change its eligibility rules to allow former junior hockey players to compete in college hockey. Now, the door has opened for players from the WHL, OHL, and QMJHL to play college hockey. According to the Associated Press, this rule change was largely viewed as a response to antitrust concerns arising from the amateurism restrictions. We have seen an immediate impact. CHL players are already making their presence felt just one full season after the rule change. 

This rule change has also had an immediate impact on the NCAA Men’s Hockey Tournament, with 20 players playing in the Frozen Four that have a CHL background, according to the Associated Press. This shows how quickly talent has made its way to college hockey. University of Denver Head Coach David Carle is happy about this trend, as he thinks it will make the sport better. According to nhl.com, coaches see this as a net benefit, as the CHL talent is altering the makeup of elite NCAA programs. 

One of the clear results of the change is the age and maturity of college hockey rosters. In 2025, the national champion Western Michigan Broncos had an average age of 22.6 years old. Since those who formerly played CHL typically enter college hockey after multiple years in junior hockey, they are often more physically developed and older. According to The Washington Post, it is not uncommon to see “freshmen” in college hockey that are truly freshmen in name only due to their background, creating a more mature game in the NCAA than what it has seen in the past. 

Why are players choosing NCAA hockey more often now? For some, it is the idea of developing and preparing for a professional career; for some, it is the opportunity to get an education. But the obvious answer for many players is the changing landscape in college athletics and the ability to earn money from their name, image, and likeness. 

NIL has become a major reason former CHL players have started to view NCAA hockey differently. If you are a top prospect in hockey, you can now blend elite competition, education, exposure, and compensation opportunities all in one with college hockey. The recruiting pitch for these institutions is as strong as it has ever been: just take a look at Penn State, which landed Gavin McKenna (the top prospect in this year’s NHL Draft). 

College hockey is not quite at the point for us to declare that it has “taken over” the CHL, but there is clearly a shift ongoing. According to Sportsnet, 174 former CHL players participated in college hockey during the 2025-26 season. The coaches raving about how the game is being elevated are certainly on to something, as the talent pool for college recruitment has essentially doubled. For the CHL, this does not change the fact that Canadian junior hockey is still the most traditional and direct pathway to the NHL, especially for top prospects who are looking to turn pro as quickly as possible. The only difference is the NCAA now provides a very logical developmental pathway for both top prospects and for those who want to elevate their game. 

As for the future, it is important to understand what the two leagues offer beyond just the difference in compensation. What truly matters to those who are looking to play hockey as their career is how they will develop during this period of their lives. The CHL offers longer seasons with more games and a busier schedule, doing a better job preparing players for the grind of an NHL or AHL season. The NCAA has fewer games, but allows for more practice and training time, along with more strength development and recovery time. The big difference in development that favors college hockey is the age and strength levels of the competition. A top prospect like Gavin McKenna, who is 18 years old, will certainly appreciate the opportunity to play against competition that includes 20–25-year-old men throughout this season when he sees the NHL ice for the first time next fall. 

In conclusion, it is clear that the CHL eligibility rule has reshaped what college hockey looks like. The NCAA now has a pool of talent that is deeper, older, more talented, and more competitive than it has ever seen. Moving forward, it will be interesting to see if this is just a temporary boost in talent, or if things like NIL opportunities and stronger competition will create a permanent change in hockey development for the world’s top prospects. If current trends continue, we could see NCAA hockey not only rival the CHL, but turn into a preferred separate option that is almost closer to the AHL in skill level and competition than the CHL.