David Quinn Says NCAA Is Better Hockey Than CHL; Heavily Against CHL Gaining NCAA Eligibility

San Jose Sharks head coach David Quinn spoke about the possibility of CHL players gaining eligibility to play in the NCAA, and he was very against it.

San Jose Sharks head coach David Quinn spoke about the possibility of CHL players gaining eligibility to play in the NCAA, and he was very against it.

"I don't like it at all," Quinn said. "I think college hockey would probably lose more players. I think college hockey is gaining more players as each year goes by as people see the caliber of hockey that's being played at the NCAA level."

Quinn was the head coach at Boston University for five seasons from 2013 to 2018. In those five seasons, Quinn's record was 105-68-21. He achieved: 

College Hockey Insider Mike McMahon has reported that there have been conversations around the hockey world regarding CHL players being able to play in the NCAA after their career in Junior hockey is over. 

With the 71st annual Beanpot hockey tournament wrapping up last night, this discussion has gotten even louder. Northeastern University took down BU 4-3 in overtime.

There is only one way Quinn has said he would be okay with CHL players being able to play in the NCAA.

"If it was a full collaboration between the NHL, CHL, and college hockey, then I'd be all for it," Quinn explained. "But until that day comes, I have no interest in allowing major junior players to play college hockey."

Why can't players who played in the CHL play in the NCAA? Quinn took it upon himself to explain why this was the case. 

"We went through this when I was with the Colorado Avalanche. Ryan O'Reilly was our second-round pick, and he was having an incredible camp, but we thought going back to Erie was going to be detrimental to his growth," Quinn said. "This is a perfect example of guys who should be able to go play college hockey. Don't tell people in Canada. They don't want to hear that college hockey is at a higher level than the CHL. It just is better hockey. It's deeper. It's older. It's just a man's game." 

Quinn was named as the Avalanche's assistant coach in 2009 and was also the head coach of their AHL team. O'Reilly was drafted in 2009 by the Avalanche and was not sent back to the OHL for a third season. Based on Quinn's story, that decision makes sense. 

For someone as involved with college hockey as David Quinn was, he understands what goes on behind the scenes of setting up an NCAA program. With recruitment and new transfer rules, getting a top-tier division one program is extremely hard. 

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