The new NCAA rule allowing Canadian Hockey League (CHL) players to be eligible to play men's college hockey has rocked the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) hard, with a handful of players departing their teams this month for Canadian major junior hockey leagues.
Prior to Nov. 7, a player suiting up in any of the three CHL leagues would not be able to play at the NCAA level due to those leagues being considered semi-professional.
The NCAA Division I council approval opened the floodgates for players to play in the CHL and almost immediately many have jumped ship. The Chilliwack Chiefs have been hit the hardest so far, with six confirmed players already leaving to join CHL teams as of Nov. 20.
DI Council adopts rules change in men’s ice hockey & skiing, allowing involvement with pro teams prior to college enrollment (in line w/other sports), effective Aug. 1, 2025.
— NCAA News (@NCAA_PR) November 7, 2024
Decision is not final until meeting concludes this afternoon.
Learn more here ⤵️ https://t.co/p8c1ZuJfz2
Forwards Enzo Lottin, Savan Virk and Ben Bowen, defenceman Oliver Beaulieu and Hudson Wiles and goalie Owen Bresson have all left the Chiefs in recent weeks. All six players were key pieces in Chilliwack's hot start that has seen them open the season at 14-4-2-0 and in first place in the BCHL's Coastal Conference.
Lottin joined the QMJHL's Victoriaville Tigres, who picked him seventh overall in that league's 2024 draft. He wanted to maintain his NCAA eligibility and can now do so with Victoriaville. Virk signed with the WHL's Tri-City Americans, while Beaulieu and Bresson inked deals with the QMJHL's Shawnigan Cataractes.
Wiles joined the Collingwood Blues of the Ontario Junior Hockey League, which is a Hockey Canada-approved junior league unlike the BCHL. Bowen has not yet announced his next team, but he has left the Chiefs.
2007-born defender Hudson Wiles and 2008-born forward Ben Bowen are no longer on Chilliwack's roster, but there's no word where they've gone.
— Brian Wiebe (he/him) (@Brian_Wiebe) November 15, 2024
Wiles, a Colgate University commit with 0-8-8 in 11 games for the Chiefs, was selected by Owen Sound in the 2023 OHL Priority Selection.
Black Press Media reached out to Chiefs management for comment, but were referred to a BCHL spokesperson who stated that the league is taking a pause on media inquiries on this particular topic.
Other players that have left the BCHL since the decision include: Jack Pridham (West Kelowna Warriors), Callum Hughes (West Kelowna Warriors), Lukas McCloskey and Keaton Dowhaniuk (Vernon Vipers), Robin Benoit (Sherwood Park Crusaders), Linden Burrett (Cowichan Valley Capitals), Thomas Belzil (Powell River Kings) and Casey Brown (Penticton Vees). All of these players, except for Burrett and Dowhaniuk, have committed to NCAA hockey programs in the future.
The most recent update for players who have moved from the BCHL or USHL to the CHL as a result of the NCAA eligibility change. We now have 19 players with a handful of 'expected to be finalized soon' out there.
— BCHL_Alberta (@BCHL_Alberta) November 20, 2024
Beginning to see a few story lines in the list...
Why has USHL… pic.twitter.com/qp4LPoWxSk
A number of teams have been spared for now, but the concerns are there within the league. Surrey Eagles head coach and general manager Scott Gomez said the rule change is something he didn't expect in his first year coaching a BCHL team.
"The path and the pipeline is going to change as to how you get (to the NCAA)," he said to Black Press Media on Wednesday, noting everything is still new and they're learning what it all means. "We'll find out more as we move forward."
Black Press Media has also reached out to the West Kelowna Warriors, Alberni Valley Bulldogs, Langley Rivermen, Cowichan Valley Capitals for comment.
It's been reported that the BCHL hosted an emergency board of governors meeting to discuss these issues in Vancouver on Wednesday (Nov. 20).
The BCHL has lost a lot of players lately due to the NCAA rule change.
— Rick Dhaliwal (@DhaliwalSports) November 20, 2024
Hearing the #BCHL has called an emergency board of governors meeting for tomorrow in Vancouver.
More to come.
