QMJHL Expansion Buzz: Boston, Burlington Or Beyond?

Of the many conversations that have been spawned by the NCAA's new eligibility rules, one in particular that has far-reaching ramifications is CHL expansion.

I had the chance to speak with all three major junior commissioners this week in Toronto, and the takes were different depending on the league.

WHL head Dan Near didn't foresee anything immediate in his circuit since the 'Dub' already has 22 franchises - more than either of the other two. OHL lead Bryan Crawford spoke about due diligence before jumping into anything, but did see the potential and said the league would be "open to anything that made sense."

As for the QMJHL, that's where the most smoke seems to be rising. Ever since the NCAA ruling, there has been talk about expanding back into the United States, where the last 'Q' team was the Lewiston Maineiacs (2003 to 2011).

So, where would the best fit be for American QMJHL expansion?

When I first thought about it, there were several different possibilities. Do they go to a major hockey town such as Boston, where it would be easy to stock a team with local talent bound for Beanpot NCAA programs after a few years in the 'Q,' or is it more important to keep travel close? Burlington, Vt., for example, is only a couple of hours away from Quebec markets, such as Sherbrooke and Victoriaville.

"The ideals would go with great ownership, that's where it would start," QMJHL commissioner Mario Cecchini told me. "Great ownership in Burlington is better than bad ownership in Boston."

And great ownership in Boston would also be intriguing.

Related: NCAA Votes To Allow Major Junior Hockey Players. Now What?

"Keep in mind, in our league we bus," Cecchini said. "The furthest points, Cape Breton to Rouyn-Noranda, that's 26 hours. If you go Baie-Comeau, which is north, down to Boston, it's about 13, 14 hours. So it's all within that four, five-hour perimeter from Montreal. Everything you said is doable. From a physical, geographical point of view, it's easy."

The biggest sell for American kids would be that the QMJHL provides an elite level of hockey currently unavailable in the region. There are no USHL teams in the Northeast; only Tier-2 hockey in the NAHL or USPHL, plus the famed prep schools, such as Avon Old Farms and Kimball Union Academy.

Of course, you'd have to convince those kids who grew up wanting to play prep hockey to jump into a new league (and undoubtedly, those local teams and Tier-2 leagues will fight to keep their talent).

"They need to get to know the 'Q,' Cecchini said. "Once they get to know us, I'm pretty sure they will embrace us."

With 18 franchises, the QMJHL is currently the smallest of the three major junior leagues, so adding a couple of teams - especially if the rosters were made up largely of players who wouldn't have come to the 'Q' otherwise - is quite feasible. Along with Boston and Burlington, a number of cities seem like obvious targets, from Portland and Lewiston in Maine to Manchester in New Hampshire or Lowell in Massachusetts.

The pitch is rather obvious: Play high-level hockey in the QMJHL for a few years, then go NCAA after - just as you always dreamed of doing in the first place.

The fact Quebec kids are coming back to the league already is vindicating for Cecchini: They weren't avoiding the 'Q' before, but they just wanted to keep their NCAA eligibility. We've already seen 2025 NHL draft prospect Zachary Morin leave the USHL for QMJHL Saint John, with the expectation he'll still head to Boston University in the future.

"We see it with the phone calls we're getting now - the kids coming back to our league," Cecchini said. "That for us is a very good sign."

And according to the commissioner, co-operation and collaboration with the NCAA are very much welcomed now that the eligibility rules have up-ended the developmental landscape.

"I will tell you, first of all, that it's good news," he said. "I'm very happy that parents and kids don't have to make such an important decision at the tender age of 15."

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Related: NCAA Hockey Eligibility Change: CHL Leagues, USHL React To Significant Decision