CHL star commits to NCAA team despite ongoing class-action lawsuit

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Axel Williams
September 13, 2024 (4:26 PM)

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Braxton Whitehead of the Regina Pats will be packing his bags and going to Arizona State University for the 2025-26 season as he will get to play NCAA hockey.

Overall, this is pretty cool and any good hockey fan would be proud of the kid. However, this does raise some questions. As we reported just a few weeks ago, a CHL player recently filed a class-action lawsuit against the NCAA. The player claimed that the NCAA was breaking anti-trust laws by disallowing CHL players from playing the college game. Typically, CHL stars are ineligible from ever playing in the NCAA. Despite this, Whitehead is going to Arizona State, anyway.

Arizona State cannot comment on the situation, however, Whitehead has reportedly confirmed the news to his teammates and the media. Perhaps the NCAA teams are feeling the pressure of the lawsuit, and are taking matters into their own hands.

Whatever the case may be, this is a very cool opportunity for Whitehead. The 20-year-old is headed into his fifth and final season with the Pats. From there, he can focus on his studies and a new opportunity in the NCAA. Only time will tell whether more and more players decide to go down a similar path.

Do you believe that this is a good move for CHL players will make the move to the NCAA? Let us know in the poll down below and stay tuned to Hockey Unplugged for the latest news and updates from around the hockey world.

Source: ESPN
WHL's Braxton Whitehead commits to Arizona State, challenging NCAA rules