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.

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

The CHL, OHL and WHL expressed optimism about the NCAA's change to major junior hockey player eligibility, while the USHL discussed its path for NCAA hopefuls.

The NCAA voted on the rule change for collegiate men's ice hockey and skiing at a council meeting on Thursday.

The NCAA Division I Council has cleared the way for players with Canadian Hockey League experience to compete at U.S. colleges starting next season.

The CHL, BCHL and USHL have made statements regarding today's announcement. Suffice it to say that this is bound to have an enormous impact on the junior hockey world and that the ripples of this cannonball will reverberate for generations to come.

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.