from an article in today's USA Today:
 
"NHL Seeking Changes in NCAA Eligibility Rule," by Kevin Allen
synopsis:
 
Brian Burke, NHL directory of hockey operations, is trying to get the
NCAA to reconsider its policy of treating Canadian Major Junior Hockey
League players as pros.  He's asked the American Hockey Coaches
Association for input and wants at least some players to be eligible to
play hockey in college.
 
 
Burke sais, "It would be nice for a 16-year-old to make his decision
about his future without the sword of Damocles hanging over him."
 
Shawn Walsh, the president of AHCA, says they don't yet have a
consensus.  One option is giving junior players until Sept. 1 of the year
they turn 18 to claim college elegibility or lost it forever.  That means
that a player could play as many as 2 years of major junior and then be
eligible to play college hockey immediately.  (Currently, a player who
spend more than 48 hours at a major junior camp is considered a pro.  If
he changed his mind and wanted to play college hockey, he would have to
appeal his status and sit out a year).
 
Burke says that he's optimistic, but the CCHA is opposing this change.
CCHA Commissioner Bill Beagan said, "We didn't fall off the turnip truck
yesterday.  The NHL is offering the Trojan horse.  They want to control
college hockey.  Their motives are self-serving."  He doesn't think the
NCAA will change the rule.
 
They also quoted agent Steve Bartlett as ssaying that he doesn't like the
current rule because it makes a 17-year-old make a life decision that is
almost irreversible.
 
Finally, they again quote Shawn Walsh, who wants the NCAA to change the
rule that prohibits colleges from talking to a recruit before his senior
year in high school.  He said," Major junior teams can wine and dine
these kids when they are 14, 15, and 16."