NCAA rule change sparks CHL player movement, expansion talk

We’re already seeing significant impacts in the aftermath of the NCAA’s decision on Thursday to allow CHL players to play U.S. college hockey as of Aug. 1.

One player, in fact, didn’t even wait for the ink to dry on the rule change before making his move.

Forward Hayden Reid, 18, announced earlier this week he was leaving the USHL’s Sioux Falls Stampede and joining the OHL’s Flint Firebirds. The native of Clarington, Ont., has a verbal commitment to play at the University of Minnesota.

The Firebirds acquired Reid’s OHL rights in a trade with the Niagara IceDogs in August.

Meanwhile, Todd Milewski of Badger Extra reported that University of Wisconsin verbal commit Blake Montgomery, 19, was waiting on the NCAA rule to change before officially joining the OHL’s London Knights. The Ottawa Senators prospect, who grew up in Maryland, has 10 points in 10 games for the Lincoln Stars of the USHL this season.

Mere hours after the rule change was confirmed, Kitchener Rangers goaltender Jackson Parsons, 19, announced he had committed to play for NCAA Clarkson next season.

The Ottawa-born Parsons is 9-2-1 with a 2.73 goals-against average and .905 save percentage this season.

All this is happening while the CHL’s three leagues consider their next steps.

This week, both OHL commissioner Bryan Crawford and QMJHL counterpart Mario Cecchini talked openly about expansion in media interviews.

Crawford told Josh Brown of the Waterloo Region Record that the OHL would like to have a team back in Toronto.

“It absolutely has to be part of our strategy,” he said. “There are too many hockey fans in that community and they’re not all Maple Leafs first and only Maple Leafs fans. They’re hockey fans to their core. Think of the number of great players that come out of the Greater Toronto Area into our league every year and the alumni.

“It continues to be an opportunity that we need to crack and be dedicated to.”

Cecchini, in a visit to Rimouski, Que., told reporters the QMJHL was eyeing American expansion.

The QMJHL currently is the only CHL league without any American teams.

The Lewiston Maineiacs were the most recent American team in the QMJHL, with the Maine-based franchise playing from 2003-11.

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman also reported on 32 Thoughts: The Podcast that the CHL, as a whole, is looking into more American expansion.

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