Earlier this month, the NCAA Division One council voted to make major junior players eligible for NCAA Division I hockey.
During his playing career Sam Klassen – Head Coach of the Alberta Junior Hockey League’s Fort McMurray Oil Barons – suited up for Junior ‘A’ games with the SJHL’s Humboldt Broncos as well as major junior hockey with the WHL’s Saskatoon Blades.
The now 35-year-old Klassen was asked if we could go back in time to when he was deciding where to play his junior hockey, would the opportunity to play NCAA hockey for major junior players have impacted his decision. He says “at that time NCAA Division I maybe wasn’t as big as it is now. It was good hockey back them but I feel like now the resources that NCAA Division I some of those top programs have like it’s, we are almost talking NHL-type resources at that level. I think for myself. Going back, I loved my time in the Western Hockey League getting to play for the Saskatoon Blades, which was my hometown team. I watched them growing up. I loved that opportunity and for me it brought that opportunity to sign an NHL contract, right? So I don’t think I would do it differently.”
Overall, Klassen is a fan of the decision to allow major junior players to go the NCAA route. He says “I think now as I look at the opportunity that was presented to major junior players the fact they can go NCAA Division I, I think it is fantastic. Major junior is great, NCAA Division I is a great spot after that, and now NCAA gets to pick the best players from major junior and junior ‘A’.”
Brad Tobin – Head Coach of the Alberta Junior Hockey League’s Olds Grizzlys – notes that decision has kind of changed the whole landscape of junior hockey and the way that we run programs. He says “yeah, a lot of obviously question marks right now with how it’s all going to go but it could be a positive for the league (AJHL). I think it’s more we have to just wait and see and get a little more information on how it goes.”
Canadian Hockey League players from the Western Hockey League, the Ontario Hockey League, and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League are still ineligible for NCAA Division III hockey. Going forward, Tobin adds, NCAA Division III opportunities could be a focus for AJHL players a little bit more than they have been in the past. He says “I think the Tier 2 junior ‘A’ leagues will still scholarships to Division I schools but it will be a tougher road to climb. Yeah, it’s just trying to find programs for these guys to move onto to further their careers.”
Major junior players may start to participate on NCAA Division One hockey teams on August 1st of 2025.
