Regina Pats forward Braxton Whitehead has verbally committed to Arizona State University for the 2025-2026 season, according to ESPN reporter Greg Wyshynski.
The NCAA has rules preventing any player who has played in a Canadian Hockey League game from suiting up in university of college hockey.
Per Wyshynski, it’s the first commit from a CHL player since a class action suit was filed against the NCAA claiming eligibilty rules violate antitrust laws. The lawsuit seeks to allow players to compete in major junior leagues and university or college hockey.
“[ASU’s] slogan is ‘Be the Tradition’ and I think they love the idea of me being a trailblazer throughout all this and paving the way with NCAA and CHL relations,” Whitehead told Wyshynski. “I’m very hopeful that [the rules] will turn over before the 2025-2026 season.”
Up until the suit which was filed in August, the NCAA vieweed any player who stepped on the ice in the CHL as ineligible because there are athletes who have signed NHL contracts in the WHL, OHL and QMJHL. CHL players are paid a monthly stipend capped at $250.
The 20-year-old Whitehead is set to enter his fifth season with the Pats. He recorded 52 points in 52 games last season, 17 goals and 35 assists, with Regina. The five-foot-10, 163-pound right shot forward has played 195 games with the Pats while totalling 38 goals and 56 assists. Regina selected him in the third round, 66th overall during the 2019 WHL Prospect Draft.