Local experts weigh in on lawsuit challenging NCAA’s ban of CHL players

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Professional hockey players from Canada could end up playing for some of our local colleges after a lawsuit was filed in Buffalo this week.

The lawsuit alleges that the NCAA is violating antitrust laws by preventing athletes who skated in Canadian Hockey League games from competing for NCAA teams.

Canisius University, Niagara University, Rochester Institute of Technology along with other NCAA schools are defendants in this suit that if successful would end college hockey’s ban of players said to be professional.

The suit was filed on Aug. 12th. The plaintiff, Rylan Masterson played only two games in the CHL as a 16-year-old, making him ineligible to skate for an NCAA team.

“You’ve got a child with elite talent at 16 years old,” said Professor of Practice in Sports Law at UB Nellie Drew. “They must make a choice as to whether or not, I’m going to the college D1 route or I’m going to go professional route and throw my lot in the CHL.”

“The best Ontario Hockey League players or CHL players don’t want to play in the CHL,” added former Sabres and CHL general manager Gerry Meehan. “But because they’ve played half a season or one season, if they decide that they want to pursue their education, they’re prevented from doing that.”

The suit argues that the NCAA bylaw against CHL players coming into the league limits compensation and makes leagues less competitive. The allegations have not been proven in court.

Meehan says looking back on his long and storied career, the lawsuit could potentially help young players.

“With an older age group generally populating D1 teams, it makes more sense now for them to compete at the CHL level or North American or U.S. HL level as preparation for college careers,” continued Meehan.

This comes on the heels of a $2.8 billion settlement for the NCAA to now pay its athletes directly.

“Part of the defense of the NCAA whose traditionally had these types of eligibility, quote unquote, ‘rules’ is that we have to defend amateurism,” claimed Drew. “Well amateurism was imploded by Justice Kavanaugh’s dissent or concurrence, I should say, in the Alston case. So, following that, they really didn’t have much of a leg to stand on.”

WIVB News 4 reached out to the NCAA but have not heard back.

Canisius University has responded, saying they are reviewing the complaint, but since it is an active litigation, they won’t comment.

“To play some time there and yet still pursue it, academic opportunities in the United States and play hockey doing it. I think it’s good for the game,” concluded Meehan.

A ruling will take some time, but both Drew and Meehan say it will have a huge impact on the game of hockey.

Dillon Morello is a reporter from Pittsburgh who has been part of the News 4 team since September of 2023. See more of his work here and follow him on Twitter.