It’s been a year since the NCAA opened its doors to Canadian Hockey League players and already there is abundant evidence that Canada’s hockey pipeline is adapting to the change.
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It’s been a year since the NCAA opened its doors to Canadian Hockey League players and already there is abundant evidence that Canada’s hockey pipeline is adapting to the change.
It’s been a year since the NCAA opened its doors to Canadian Hockey League players and already there is abundant evidence that Canada’s hockey pipeline is adapting to the change.
Taking a look at the Brandon Wheat Kings’ training camp, the first thing that jumps out is the number of players vying for spots on the team. More than 80 players, divided into four teams, have come to show what they can do in the hopes of being selected to fill one of the available spots on Brandon’s roster.
The changes to NCAA eligibility created an environment in which players are less limited by their choices. As a result, there is wider interest from players and CHL teams alike to bring players to camp who likely would not have attended in the past.
Cole Hunter skates through the neutral zone with the puck on his stick at Wheat Kings camp on Thursday. (Rowan McCarthy/Brandon Sun)
“It’s opened up so many things,” said American defenceman Paxton Packulak. “There’s just endless possibilities you can have now. You can do so many route to get where you want to be.”
Born in Minot, N.D., Packulak is one of multiple Americans in attendance at Brandon’s camp. At 17, Packulak is hoping to make the jump to the CHL, something he wouldn’t have done without the changes to NCAA eligibility.
“I was thinking more USHL before they opened up the ability to play college hockey (to CHL players) because I think college is really important,” said Packulak. “But when they opened it up, I liked CHL and how the league plays out and everything so that’s why I wanted to come here and come to camp.”
