Regina Pats forward Braxton Whitehad knows what he wants: finish his Western Hockey League career and play NCAA hockey.
Whitehead has announced his verbal commitment to Arizona State University.
"Throughout this entire process, the Western Hockey League, Regina Pats and ASU have been extremely supportive," Whitehead said.
The NCAA currently has rules preventing any player who has played in a Canadian Hockey League game from suiting up in university of college hockey in the United States.
"I'm hopeful the rules are going to change in my favour and this is going to be something that can bring the hockey community together. It is up in the air right now, but in my opinion and many others, I think that the rule will change. it's something that I felt I needed to take the first step forward to get that ball rolling," Whitehead said.
Up until the suit which was filed in August, the NCAA viewed any player who stepped on the ice in the CHL as ineligible because there are athletes who have signed NHL contracts in the WHL, OHL and QMJHL. CHL players are paid a monthly stipend capped at $250.
The 20-year-old Whitehead is set to enter his fifth season with the Pats. He recorded 52 points in 52 games last season, 17 goals and 35 assists, with Regina. The five-foot-10, 163-pound right shot forward has played 195 games with the Pats while totalling 38 goals and 56 assists. Regina selected him in the third round, 66th overall during the 2019 WHL Draft.
"Within the NCAA there's been a lot of rule changes lately, whether that's the transfer portal or the NIL money that some of the athletes are getting, those are things that'll contribute in my favour," Whitehead said.
The Palmer, Alaska native started reaching out to American schools about a month-and-a-half ago. He said from start to finish it was a quick process.
"It was always a dream of mine to play in the NCAA. I also had a dream of playing in the WHL. I'm trying to make both those dreams come true," Whitehead said. "Arizona State was always my No. 1 choice. The weather there's really nice, they got a brand new rink and the coaching staff is amazing."
