The NCAA Division I Council on Thursday approved a rule allowing players with Canadian Hockey League experience to compete at U.S. colleges starting next season, a landmark decision that has the potential of shaking up the NHL’s two largest sources of developmental talent.
The decision, effective Aug. 1, lifts the NCAA’s longstanding ban on CHL players who were previously deemed to be professionals because they received a stipend of up to $600 per month for living expenses.
The approval was expected after the council introduced a proposal to lift the ban last month. Players competing at the major junior ice hockey or on professional teams can retain NCAA eligibility as long as they are not paid more than actual and necessary expenses.
The decision also applies to skiing, bringing both in line with NCAA eligibility rules for other sports
In doing so, the council opened the door for a major change in how players approaching their 16th birthdays decide where to play. Rather than having to choose between one or the other, CHL players can now play NCAA hockey when they become college eligible.
“Everyone expected the rule to change. Now we will have to adapt,” Central Collegiate Hockey Association Commissioner Don Lucia, a former University of Minnesota head coach, wrote in a text to The Associated Press. “There may be a few issues as we transition. But hopefully, in time, it will prove to be a positive change for all involved.”
NHL agent Allan Walsh called the ruling a “game-changer.”
“This revolutionary development is great news for young players and their families, who will no longer be faced with the momentous decision of playing Major Junior or going the NCAA route,” Walsh added in a text message to The Associated Press. “The young players and their families can now make decisions based on what’s best for them, not what’s best for the CHL or NCAA.”
The CHL oversees the Western Hockey, Ontario Hockey and Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey leagues.
Jackson rallies Ravens to 35-34 win over Bengals
Lamar Jackson threw for three fourth-quarter touchdowns, and the Baltimore Ravens stopped Cincinnati on a 2-point conversion with 38 seconds remaining to hold off the Bengals 35-34 on Thursday night in Baltimore.
The Ravens (7-3) rallied from a 21-7 third-quarter deficit, overcoming a huge game from Cincinnati receiver Ja’Marr Chase. He finished with 11 catches for 264 yards and three touchdowns, including a 5-yarder in the final minute to bring the Bengals (4-6) within one. Cincinnati — which lost to Baltimore in overtime last month — decided to go for 2 and the lead, and Joe Burrow’s pass for Tanner Hudson sailed high.
Cincinnati had a chance to take control when it was up 14 with the ball in the third, but a fumble by Chase Brown gave the Ravens a short field, and a nifty scramble along the sideline by Jackson set up Derrick Henry’s 1-yard touchdown run.
In the fourth, Tylan Wallace turned a short pass into an 84-yard touchdown, barely staying inbounds as a couple of Cincinnati defenders failed to stop him. Justin Tucker missed the extra point, but the Ravens were within one.
Cincinnati drove into Baltimore territory, but on both third-and-2 and fourth-and-2, Burrow threw incomplete deep. Jackson gave the Ravens the lead with an 18-yard touchdown pass to Mark Andrews, and then the two-time MVP-winning quarterback ran himself for a 2-point conversion.
Bueckers scores 13 in UConn’s opening rout
Jana El Alfy had 17 points and 11 rebounds and fellow freshman Sarah Strong had 17 points and six steals as No. 2 UConn opened its season with an 86-32 win over Boston University on Thursday night in Hartford, Conn.
Former Hopkins standout Paige Bueckers had 13 points, seven assists and five steals for the Huskies.
UConn had runs of 11-0 and 15-0 before the Terriers made their second basket.
college basketball >> Max Klesmit hit six 3-pointers and scored 26 points to help Wisconsin defeat Montana State 79-67 in Madison, Wis. Klesmit made 6 of 11 shots from outside the arc for Wisconsin (2-0). Graduate transfer John Tonje scored 11 of his 13 in the first half for Wisconsin. John Blackwell added 13 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals.
Golf >> Kevin Streelman, Tom Whitney and Rico Hoey each shot 5-under 67 in windy conditions Thursday to share the first-round lead in the World Wide Technology Championship in Los Cabos, Mexico. Defending champion Erik van Rooyen, a former Gophers standout, was a stroke back at 68 with six others.
GOLF >> Stewart Cink shot a 7-under 64 at Phoenix Country Club to take a three-stroke lead after the first round of the Charles Schwab Cup Championship, the final PGA Tour Champions event of the season.
MLS >> Former U.S. men’s national team coach Bruce Arena has been hired to take over as coach and sporting director of the San Jose Earthquakes for the 2025 MLS season. ... The Philadelphia Union fired manager Jim Curtin after 10 years.
NBA >> Tyrese Maxey is the latest All-Star player for Philadelphia 76er sidelined by injury, and he could miss at least two weeks with a right hamstring injury, a person with knowledge of the situation said Thursday. Maxey was injured a night earlier in a loss to the Clippers.
Tennis >> Barbora Krejcikova grabbed the last semifinal spot at the WTA Finals with a 7-5, 6-4 win over Coco Gauff on Thursday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, a result that eliminated second-ranked Iga Swiatek from the season-ending tournament. Krejcikova completes a last-four lineup that already included top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka, Zheng Qinwen and Gauff.
volleyball >> Emoni Bush had 19 kills for Washington (18-5, 8-5 Big Ten) as the Huskies beat No. 14 Minnesota (16-7, 9-4) 25-21, 25-23, 14-25, 25-22 at Maturi Pavilion. Julia Hanson had 15 kills for the Gophers.
— From news services