I wanted to address pro signings, because I’m seeing a lot of chatter on social media suggesting that a player who signs with an AHL or ECHL team on an amateur tryout agreement could return to school the following season.
That’s not correct — at least not unless the player adheres to very strict guidelines.
Yes, there are former AHL and ECHL players who are playing college hockey this season. However, the rules are different for players pre-enrollment and post-enrollment.
The spirit of the rule pre-enrollment is to ensure that a player doesn’t unknowingly jeopardize his eligibility. The rule also allowed former CHL players — who, based on their age, still had NCAA eligibility — to choose the NCAA route after beginning a pro career, since that option didn’t exist when they exited the CHL.
After a player’s initial full-time enrollment, the rules regarding pro participation are much different.
Before enrollment, a player can participate with a professional team as long as the player is not paid “above necessary expenses.”