The National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Division I Council recently voted in favour of permitting Canadian Hockey League (CHL) players to compete for NCAA teams–a change that is expected to impact Canada’s university sports landscape. CBC reports that Canadian university and college hockey teams have recruited former CHL players who want to pursue postsecondary education. Cégep Beauce-Appalaches Condors Head Coach Jonathan Ferland, Queen’s University Men’s Hockey Coach Brett Gibson, and University of Regina Cougars Men’s Hockey Coach Todd Johnson each commented that this rule change will change athlete recruitment in Canada, as American universities will be able to draw away more student athletes. However, Gibson and Johnson both commented that Canadian PSE will continue to be preferable to players that want to pursue a post-hockey career in Canada.
