Pats’ Braxton Whitehead verbally commits to NCAA program

Braxton Whitehead hopes he can achieve a dream by playing in the NCAA.

The Palmer, Alaska product announced a verbal commitment to play with the Arizona State University Sun Devils men’s hockey team after he wraps up his 20-year-old season with the WHL’s Regina Pats.

“I’m just beyond excited. Right now things are looking like they will go in my favour, so I’m just holding on and hoping for the best,” Whitehead said.

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But in order for him to make the move to the NCAA, a long-standing rule will need to be changed. Currently, players who play in any of the Canadian Hockey Leagues are not eligible for NCAA teams. A class-action lawsuit has been filed to challenge the rule, claiming the current eligibility rules violate antitrust laws.

“It’s up in the air right now, but in my opinion and many others’, I think the rule will change,” Whitehead said. “I felt like I needed to take the first step forward to get that ball rolling.

“Within the NCAA, there have been a lot of rule changes lately – whether that is the transfer portal or the (name, image, likeness) money that some of the athletes are getting – I think those are things that will contribute in my favour.”

Al Millar, the Pats’ general manager, said there’s a number of things happening in the NCAA that has led to the confidence the rules will change.

“A lot of the legal stuff that has gone on certainly supports the facts the rules are going to change,” Millar said.

“Braxton and I had a call that his agent sat in on and we had a call with the coaching staff at Arizona State University and they essentially told us that in their mind and the reason they were willing to further the discussions with Braxton on this opportunity. Their comment to us was they felt it’s a 95 per cent chance that CHL players will have the ability to play in the NCAA in the ’25-26 season.”

Millar has helped Whitehead through the process, and has been a supporter of his decision.

“He’s an incredible young man and is very bright and very committed and very focused,” Millar said. “Full marks for Braxton and his family – give him all the credit in the world for looking at what his options would look like after his 20-year-old year in the WHL.”

The Pats forward has 94 points (38 goals, 56 assists) in 195 WHL games. He was selected by the Pats in round three (66th overall) of the 2019 WHL Draft.

Millar admitted it’s going to alter the landscape of hockey if the change goes ahead.

“I think it’s significant,” Millar said. “You think about the ability of the best players in North America to have the options to play in the CHL without having to worry about NCAA eligibility. What does that mean for the best players at 16 and 17 who want to play at the highest level? What does that mean for players and the opportunities they have to continue to play after they play major junior hockey?”

Millar also said this could lead to younger players jumping to the NCAA earlier, but all those details will need to be worked out.

“I think there are concerns until we know exactly how this is all going to work,” Millar said. “I don’t think it makes sense to rush to judgment on those circumstances. There is lots of dialogue going on right now with the powers that be.”

Whitehead said he believes U Sports programs are a great option, but as an American he wanted to play with the NCAA.

“I always very involved in going to watch the University of Alaska Anchorage Sea Wolves,” Whitehead said.

“It was always a dream of mine to play in the NCAA. I grew up in Alaska, so I was playing in tournaments in Vancouver, so I also had a dream of playing in the WHL. Trying to make both those dreams come true, it’s kind of what I would like to do.”

Millar said if it’s done the right way, this opportunity could be an incredible development model for players in the future.

“I think it could benefit the game. I think it could make players better, and I think the National Hockey League and pro hockey can look at it.”