January 15, 2008
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NCAA Opens Door For Canadian Schools
CHN Staff Report
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The NCAA has voted to allow Canadian universities to apply for membership, paving the way for the likes of the University of British Columbia. The vote was 97 percent in favor, including two abstentions.
UBC has previously expressed interest in playing in the NCAA, including men's ice hockey.
The decision, however, allows for UBC and the like to play in Division II. While there is a provision to allow one men's and one women's program per school to "play up" to Division I, there is currently a moratorium in place preventing such a move.
Schools must apply for membership by June 1st.
Canadian schools would obviously have to change their recruiting practices. Currently, a large portion of Canadian college hockey players are older, having previously played major junior. Those players would be ineligible in the NCAA.
Even if accepted into the NCAA, and even if able to "play up" to Division I, UBC would still face the hurdle of needing to be accepted into a conference.
Among other Canadian schools that have expressed interest in the NCAA are Simon Fraser University, the University of Alberta and St Claire's College in Ontario.
