The New Trend of Pros in Collegiate Hockey

To many fans and athletes alike, it has always appeared to be a given that once a hockey player has games played at the professional level, the opportunity to play college hockey in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is now behind them.

However, as of late that has proven to not necessarily be true. A new precedent is being set by some players like Jack Beck and Graham Sward: they, along with many other athletes, have been utilizing their NCAA eligibility to compete at the college level, even after they have played in the pro leagues like the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL).

Forward Jack Beck playing for the Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL. (Credit: ECHL)

Jack Beck, who played on the Wheeling Nailers is heading to Arizona State University following his first professional season. The 6'0 forward averaged a point-per-game in the ECHL and also appeared in four American League Hockey (AHL) games for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, tallying three points. He also played three seasons in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) from 2021-2023, finishing his time there with the Soo Greyhounds and racking up 85 points in his final season.

In addition, Quinnipiac University announced on Thursday, September 18 that they signed Norfolk Admirals defenseman Graham Sward for the 2025-26 season as a first year. Sward, 22, recorded 13 points in 47 games in the ECHL last season, also appearing in two AHL games with the Manitoba Moose. He also had a lengthy career in the Western Hockey League (WHL), where he bounced between a couple teams and eventually had an 81 point season in his final year in the league with the Wenatchee Wild. Both them of them had a brief stint in the AHL and the ECHL, so why did they, in many people's eyes, go backwards to college hockey - and how is it fair to the other NCAA athletes?

Defenseman Graham Sward playing for the Wenatchee Wild of the WHL. (Credit: Brian Liesse/Seattle Thunderbirds)

The short answer to this is the rules behind transferring leagues, schools, or anything of the nature. Players who are drafted to or who sign with a National League Hockey (NHL) team can join the AHL on an Amateur Tryout (ATO) contract, and still maintain their NCAA eligibility. This is because with an ATO, players are not receiving compensation aside from necessary coverage for things such as food and travel. This type of contract is typically reserved for athletes who are at the end of their college career or who are seeking to "turn pro"; however it has recently been a more frequent topic of conversation due to the higher volume of athletes using it to return to the NCAA after they have played in pro leagues like the AHL or ECHL.

There is certainly an argument to be made that the ATO "loophole" may be unfair, however. Some argue that by playing the sport professionally, athletes forfeit their right to compete in the NCAA, and they cannot return after their professional career fails to take off or does not go how they expect. However, it appears that this strategy is becoming more common and isn't going anywhere anytime soon. College hockey itself is only continuing to grow, with many of the NHL's draft picks coming straight from NCAA schools as opposed to the more unbalanced ratio of NCAA athletes to Canadian Hockey League (CHL) athletes that's been seen in years previous.

This year, for example, projected first overall pick for the 2026 NHL draft Gavin McKenna committed to Penn State University after the NCAA's decision to allow CHL players to join their rosters. Many saw this is as a betrayal to Canadian hockey as McKenna had played 3 seasons with the Medicine Hat Tigers of the WHL; however, McKenna's, and other's decisions that are sure to follow, prove that the NCAA is becoming a desirable place for junior athletes. When asked why he decided to leave the CHL, McKenna mentioned that he wanted to play against "older, heavier [and] stronger guys". Despite differing opinions, the NCAA is becoming a more popular league with every passing day. Professional players don't necessarily get a re-do when they transition back to the NCAA, but they certainly do get to play more hockey at a very competitive level, which, at the end of the day, is what every athlete wants.

Edited by Caitlyn Wagner