The new NCAA rule allowing Canadian Hockey League (CHL) players to be eligible to play men's college hockey rocked the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) hard, as a few players departed from their teams for Canadian major junior hockey leagues.

This affected the West Kelowna Warriors, as forwards Jack Pridham and Callum Hughes both left for the OHL, to the Kitchener Rangers and Erie Otters respectively.

Prior to Nov. 7, a player suiting up in any of the three CHL leagues would not be able to play at the NCAA level due to those leagues being considered semi-professional. Because of this, players went to play in leagues like the BCHL so they could go to the NCAA when their time came.

The NCAA Division I council approval opened the floodgates for players to play in the CHL and almost immediately many have jumped ship. 

So on Dec. 11, nearly 40 players left the BCHL for other opportunities because of the rule change.

Pridman, who was drafted in the third round (92nd overall) of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, left the Warriors after recording 58 points (28 goals, 30 assists) in 66 career games with the club. He is committed to Boston University (BU) for 2025-26. Meanwhile, Hughes had 56 points (32 goals, 24 assists) with West Kelowna over his 74-game BCHL career. He is also committed to BU.

- with files from Ben Lypka