A new era of college athletics has come for ice hockey with the NCAA opening up eligibility to Canadian Hockey League players. The decision will have wide-ranging impacts.

“If the players are allowed to play next season, the players can now start looking at movement. ‘Hey, I can play in the CHL this year,’ and then move to the NCAA next year,” said Canadian Junior Hockey League president Andy Harkness.

Don't expect to see players leave junior hockey in droves following the NCAA's decision to lift the ban on CHL players.

More than 1,000 junior hockey players will become eligible for college hockey, making the player pool deeper than ever. CHL teams will likely begin losing top talent to the NCAA.

Prospects with QMJHL, OHL, WHL previously had been seen as professionals, barred because of college hockey amateurism rules

The NCAA has lifted a longstanding restriction on CHL players, allowing them to compete at U.S. colleges starting next season. The decision, announced last week, is set to impact both individual players and the broader landscape of junior hockey leagues across B.

After months of speculation, news broke last week that CHL players would become eligible to play NCAA Division I hockey next season. While the news has been met with elation for many in the U.S., it’s not necessarily positive for Canadian hockey.