Junior hockey player Rylan Masterson sues the NCAA over anti-trust laws
Rylan Masterson is a Canadian junior hockey player who has filed a proposed class-action lawsuit against 10 universities and the entire NCAA organization.
The reason for this lawsuit is due to players being banned from moving from the CHL to the NCAA. This case states that federal antitrust laws are being violated because players who have appeared in a single game or more whether it be exhibition, regular season or playoffs in the CHL, are forever banned from ever joining the NCAA, which has really frustrated junior player Rylan Masterson.
The 19-year-old Rylan Masterson alleges the NCAA and universities that fall under their organization are doing this because they do not want the top players in the world to choose the CHL, as they would rather players start their junior careers from the very beginning in the NCAA. They are hoping this ban acts as a deterrent from having players ever go to the CHL.
Tony Ferrari of The Hockey News provided a more detailed explanation as to why this is all happening.
"The NCAA deemed CHL players ineligible because the three leagues that make up the CHL - OHL, WHL and QMJHL - have players in them who have signed professional contracts with NHL teams.» As a result, the NCAA views the CHL as a professional league.
Rylan Masterson unfortunately played only two exhibition games for the OHL's Windsor Spitfires when he was 16 and has lost his eligibility to ever play in the NCAA.
«As a result of the illegal conspiracy in violation of the U.S. antitrust laws alleged herein, (Masterson) lost his eligibility to play Division I hockey for any institution that is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association,» the suit alleges.
This NCAA ban seems to be working, as more and more top prospects seem to be choosing the NCAA over the CHL to go forward with their junior careers. We've seen top Canadian prospects go to the US to play, such as 2025 first-overall pick Macklin Celebrini by the San Jose Sharks, and 2023 third-overall pick Adam Fantilli also did it.
Source:
Rick Westhead on X
Rick Westhead on X
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