Braxton Whitehead becomes 1st CHL player to verbally commit to playing NCAA hockey

Braxton Whitehead said Friday he has verbally committed to Arizona State, making him the first member of a Canadian Hockey League team to attempt to play the sport at the Division I U.S. college level since a lawsuit was filed challenging the NCAA's longstanding ban on players it deems to be professionals.

Whitehead posted on social media he plans to play for the Sun Devils beginning in the 2025-26 season.

An Arizona State spokesperson said the school could not comment on verbal commitments, citing NCAA rules. A message left with the CHL was not immediately returned.

I am honored to announce my verbal commitment to play D1 hockey at Arizona State University.<br> <br>The WHL has given me an incredible opportunity to develop as a player, and I couldn’t be more excited for the ‘24-‘25 season with the Regina Pats.<br><br>Thank you to my coaching staff in… <a href="https://t.co/nMcY7n6XGV">pic.twitter.com/nMcY7n6XGV</a>

A class-action lawsuit filed Aug. 13 in U.S. District Court in Buffalo, N.Y., could change the landscape for players from the CHL's Western Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League and Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League. NCAA bylaws consider them professional leagues and bar players from there from the college ranks.

Online court records show the NCAA has not made any response to the lawsuit since it was filed.

"We're pleased that Arizona State has made this decision, and we're hopeful that our case will result in many other Division I programs following suit and the NCAA eliminating its ban on CHL players," Stephen Lagos, one of the lawyers who launched the lawsuit, told The Associated Press in an email.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Riley Masterson, of Fort Erie, Ontario, who lost his college eligibility