The VICTORIOUS HOCKEY COMPANY’s Biweekly Newsletter:  THE FUTURE

Hello Players and Families,

 

In the movie Back to the Future, Doc Brown warned that once you’re traveling through time, you had better be ready for what’s ahead. Hockey finds itself in that same kind of moment. The future isn’t some distant point down the road. It is here now, and it is changing the game in ways none of us can ignore. The NCAA’s decision to allow CHL players to keep their eligibility, combined with the rise of NIL opportunities, has set off one of the biggest shifts we have ever seen in player development.

For a long time, the choice was clear. If you wanted the fastest route to the NHL, you went to the CHL. If you wanted an education and a different path, you chose college. That line is now blurring. More top players are picking the NCAA, not because it is easier, but because it gives them time to mature, a chance to earn, and an environment that prepares them for life beyond hockey. NHL teams are responding by letting players stay in school longer, trusting that they will come out stronger and more ready for the next level.

You do not have to look far to see this change in action. Gavin McKenna, one of Canada’s brightest young forwards, surprised many when he committed to Penn State instead of staying on the CHL-to-NHL track. At the 2025 NHL Draft, most of the top picks were CHL players, yet several of them are now choosing college over turning pro right away. These aren’t small stories. They are signals of where the game is headed.

Of course, not every program will be able to keep pace. Smaller NCAA schools that once provided steady opportunities are now under enormous pressure. How can a modest Division I program compete with a powerhouse offering world-class facilities, full scholarships, and NIL packages that stretch into six figures or more? Consider this: Ohio State’s athletic budget for 2025–26 is roughly $300 million. How can a school like Bemidji State or Quinnipiac possibly measure up against that kind of financial muscle? Some will find ways to adapt, but many will not, and the recruiting landscape could look very different within just a few years.

The ripple effect is being felt everywhere. Junior camps are overcrowded, cuts are delayed, and even veteran players who expected to return to the same roster are losing their stalls. The overflow of talent is pushing deeper into leagues like the USHL and NAHL, creating unprecedented competition for ice time. And the impact doesn’t stop with juniors. At the college level, NCAA Division III programs are attracting more attention than ever. Not because expectations have lowered, but because the system is saturated with capable players who in past years would have landed in higher tiers.

For families, this means the assumptions of the past no longer hold. The challenge isn’t just earning a roster spot. It is keeping it when so much talent is fighting for the same space. For players, this calls for resilience, patience, and constant improvement. For parents, it means asking tough questions and making decisions with both the short term and the long term in mind. And for the NCAA itself, it means deciding what kind of balance it wants to strike between education and a hockey system that looks more professional every year.

This isn’t change that is coming someday. It is here right now, shaping the choices players and families are making every single week. As Doc Brown said, “Your future hasn’t been written yet. No one’s has. Your future is whatever you make it. So, make it a good one.”

Where we’re going, we need preparation more than roads.

-Mike 

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A landmark NCAA rule change now allows CHL players to compete in college hockey, reshaping the North American development path to the NHL. Top prospects, including Gavin McKenna and Porter Martone, are opting for NCAA programs citing improved facilities, older competition, and pro-style training. With more than 1,500 CHL players now eligible, the shift could challenge the CHL’s dominance. NCAA programs are intensifying recruiting efforts, fueling competition and potentially redefining how future NHL stars are developed.

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Gavin McKenna's commitment to Penn State over the CHL marks a transformative moment for NCAA hockey, fueled by new eligibility rules and lucrative NIL deals. His $700,000 NIL package underscores the growing appeal of college programs for top NHL prospects. By choosing to develop in the NCAA's high-performance, older-player environment, McKenna may set a precedent for future elite draftees. His decision highlights a shifting development pipeline and adds momentum to college hockey's emerging role in producing NHL-ready talent.

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The NCAA’s 2025 eligibility rule change now allows CHL players to transition to Division I hockey, reshaping NHL development. Top prospects like Gavin McKenna are opting for college, drawn by older, stronger competition, enhanced training, and educational opportunities. NCAA players now average fewer AHL games before reaching the NHL, signaling increased readiness. This shift may create a new standard path: CHL from ages 16-18, followed by NCAA, then AHL or NHL. It also pressures CHL programs to evolve or risk losing elite talent.

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The NCAA will allow Canadian Hockey League players to compete in Division I hockey beginning August 2025, ending decades of ineligibility due to past "professional" classifications. Players can now maintain eligibility if not paid beyond essential expenses. This ruling expands opportunities for CHL athletes, aligns NCAA policy with other sports, and deepens the college hockey talent pool. It may also shift prospect decisions, reshape development paths, and alter competitive dynamics between the CHL, NCAA, and NHL feeder systems.

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A major NCAA rule change will allow Canadian Hockey League players from the QMJHL, OHL, and WHL to join Division I programs beginning August 2025. Previously barred due to amateurism rules, CHL athletes can now retain eligibility if not paid beyond actual expenses. This opens new development options for NHL prospects, letting them combine high-level hockey with academic advancement. The change could reshape recruitment strategies and balance power between CHL and NCAA pathways.

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Players and families, we want to hear from you. If there are any questions, concerns, or if you just want to have a conversation, please feel free to contact us directly. We want to hear from you. Good Luck and Great Hockey!

 

Thank you,

Team VHC