‘I knew I was gonna ruffle some feathers. It was kind of a big announcement.’
Now we’re going to see what happens in the hockey world, which is often reluctant to change but may be forced into accepting a new approach for developing players between the ages of 16-23.
“I knew I was gonna ruffle some feathers,” said 20-year-old Whitehead, an American from Alaska. “It was kind of a big announcement. I was excited for that and I think it was about time.”
Hockey pundits and media are rightfully making this into a big story because it signals the possible end of outdated bylaws in the National Collegiate Athletics Association, the governing body for U.S. college sports, which has been taking a legal beating in similar cases where it’s deemed to have too many restrictions on its “amateur” athletes.
A class-action, anti-trust lawsuit has been filed against the NCAA by 19-year-old Rylan Masterson, a Canadian who played two Ontario Hockey League preseason games and subsequently wasn’t allowed to play U.S. college hockey. NCAA coaches have left unchanged a bylaw that prevents “pro” players from playing NCAA hockey; they believe the WHL, OHL and Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (collectively the Canadian Hockey League) pay their players too much in monthly stipends.
“There’s a real opportunity for hockey to get together here, you know, and I think it’s got to involve Hockey Canada, USA Hockey, NCAA, CHL, NHL. I think there’s an opportunity here to have a development model from 16- to 22- to 23-(year-olds) that can make the game better.”
Although the case may take years to wend through the American courts, Whitehead and ASU believe the suit may be quickly settled by allowing CHL players to join NCAA programs. If it doesn’t happen by 2025, Whitehead will still have his education paid for in Canada by the WHL’s scholarship program.
“If it doesn’t work in my favour, obviously I think U Sports are still a great route, getting an education and playing hockey,” said Whitehead. “That’s great. I’m favourable towards the NCAA because I grew up in the States and I’ve been exposed to it watching Alaska-Fairbanks and Alaska-Anchorage.
“Education is important to a lot of players in the WHL. Playing the highest level of hockey is also important to them, too. So the NCAA’s a good mix of that.”
Whitehead hasn’t been promised a scholarship at ASU, which has a 26-player roster and offers an equal number of scholarships. He has heard from coaches and teammates, many praising him and curious about his process, which he focused on the Tempe-based university.
“I contacted a certain amount of schools, but offers from schools? No,” said Whitehead. “I didn’t really get that far with some of the schools. ASU was always my first choice. When they started contacting me, I was all in.
“I’m super excited about Arizona. I grew up in Alaska and played in youth tournaments all the time in southwest USA, so Los Angeles, Phoenix, Las Vegas. I have a lot of exposure in that area, always loved going to Phoenix and I could see myself playing there. My first NHL game was a Coyotes game. And the warm weather is very appealing.”
The NCAA has apparently allowed only two hockey players back into its ranks after playing major junior hockey, the latest being Austen Swankler, who enrolled at Bowling Green after spending 2019-20 in the Ontario Hockey League. Whitehead knows his story. He also wants to meet Masterson, at least to thank him for the possible opportunity.
“I just want to keep playing hockey for as long as I can,” said Whitehead.
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