NCAA rule change already affecting junior hockey in Canada and U.S.

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This article was published 22/11/2024 (316 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A ground-breaking decision by the NCAA to make major-junior players eligible for college hockey is only weeks old but the impact of the rule change is already having a significant trickle-down effect.

Overage players in the WHL, for instance, are already striking scholarship deals to play Division I hockey for next season.

It’s also opening doors for Junior A players who previously eschewed major junior to preserve their eligibility for the U.S. college ranks.

Goaltender Raiden LeGall of the MJHL’s Niverville Nighthawks is a prime example.

LeGall, an 18-year-old from Morden, recently signed a WHL scholarship and development agreement with the Everett Silvertips despite already having an NCAA scholarship offer from Bemidji (Minn.) State University.

LeGall had advance warning he might be considering a mid-season move.

“In talking to my advisor he sort of mentioned the possibility of, ‘What would you think if the rule does change? Would you be interested in going to the WHL, or would you want to stay back?” said LeGall by phone from Everett, Wash., Friday afternoon. “I said, ‘Yeah, I’d be interested.”

Joining the Canadian Hockey League’s fourth-ranked club is a plum assignment.

Entering Friday’s game against the visiting Spokane Chiefs, Everett was clipping along at a league-best 17-3-1-0 and a 103-55 goal differential in 21 games. Injuries, however, could spoil the Silvertips’ terrific start.

No. 1 goaltender Jesse Sanche (upper body) is sidelined indefinitely and the club is relying on Alex Garrett, recently acquired from the Calgary Hitmen, to fill the void.

With the full extent of Sanche’s injury undetermined, the Silvertips moved quickly to sign LeGall. He flew west on Monday and served as Garrett’s backup in Everett’s 4-0 win over the visiting Lethbridge Hurricanes on Wednesday.

“A month ago we would never have never thought of doing something like this,” said Everett GM Mike Fraser, who placed the undrafted LeGall on the club’s protected list in January of 2023. “So this is certainly one of the positives for us. In saying that, there’s so much unknown (about the NCAA decision)…

“We’re all living through it. I said this to the players when it became official: ‘We’ll do our best to answer questions but there are questions that we don’t know the answers to, yet.’ We’re all going through this together and the extra wrinkle is it’s happening in the middle of the season.”

Fraser had closely monitored and been mindful of LeGall’s progress in recent months. He has a 2.46 goals-against average, .921 save percentage and two shutouts while posting a 7-7-1 record with the Nighthawks.

“I was impressed with his athletic ability and his demeanour and I really liked his compete and how hard he was always fighting for pucks,” said Fraser. “We had him out to training camp in the summer of 2023 and he played really well… We sent him back and it wasn’t too long after that that he got a commitment from Bemidji State.”

The 6-foot, 175-pounder was considered a late bloomer likely to benefit from the additional development time afforded by an NCAA career.

“I had pretty good training camp and they wanted me to stick around for the (WHL) pre-season, but that’s sort of when I decided that the college route was probably what I want to do and take a little more time developing,” said LeGall. “And then, sure enough, the rule changed this year and I can do both.”

LeGall is expected to get a start in one of Everett’s weekend games in B.C.

“What happens here short term is a little dependent on Jesse’s, injury but we certainly see him fitting in, worst-case scenario, next season,” said Fraser. “And who knows, depending on the injury, maybe sooner.”

LeGall is keen to test himself against WHL shooters.

“I’m thinking I’ll be here in Everett for as much of this year as I can be, and then next year as well and then probably go to Bemidji the year after,” said LeGall.

Soon after the NCAA eligibility rule change, college programs began targeting and recruiting elite 20-year-olds from major junior who will graduate following the 2024-25 season.

Overage Silvertips forward Beau Courtney has already agreed to join the University of Alaska-Fairbanks while forwards Tyler MacKenzie and Dominik Rymon are also in talks with NCAA programs.

Could NCAA teams eventually aim for younger WHL stars?

“It’s fair to say we’re worried about it,” said Fraser. “I really don’t have any doubts that they are (interested). But again, how that plays out I really don’t know right now. We’re kind of waiting for the dust to settle.”

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca