Luke Schelter is the next story of a player who played major junior hockey to commit to an NCAA Division I school.

With NCAA rules changing earlier this season, a player with OHL, QMJHL or WHL experience is now eligible to play NCAA D-I hockey. The previous rules stated playing in the CHL voided a player’s opportunity to play at the top level of the college game.

This past week, Schelter committed to St. Thomas, a school playing in the CCHA this season and moving to the powerhouse NCHC for the 2025-26 campaign.

“The CHL and USHL have been huge for my development,” said Schelter, a Centennial native. “Both leagues are really great at pouring into guys and getting them ready for the next level. I think it is great for hockey that CHL players can now go NCAA. It gives top players more of a choice in junior hockey and makes junior hockey leagues have to compete for drawing top talent. It should be good for young hockey players and will make the NCAA an even more competitive league.”

Schelter played for the Portland Winterhawks and Kelowna Rockets in the WHL and this season for the USHL’s Fargo Force.

Making his decision to head to play for the Tommies next season was one that Schelter came together rather quickly.

“At the start of the year, I transferred to the Fargo Force in the USHL,” explained Schelter. “My teammate Hayes Hundley was being recruited by UST at the time. After he committed, he told me about how great of a program they have. I reached out to them and they were also scouting me and had me out for a visit. It was only a few hours’ drive and I loved the program as well, so I committed within a couple weeks.

“I am hoping to step right in and be an impact player on the team. I want to help the team win however I can in my first year. I’m super excited to play in the NCHC. I’ve heard great things about the programs in it. It should be a great opportunity for me to prove myself and get a chance at the next level after NCAA. It also will be super fun to play against DU and CC with my parents watching.”

In the classroom, Schelter said he’s planning to major in engineering, most likely electrical engineering.

Back home, Schelter started his career with the Vail-Eagle Hockey Association where he played defense. He then moved to Denver and played for the Arapahoe Warriors where he learned to play center and winger. After that, it was off to the Colorado Thunderbirds and then the WHL.

Photo/Marissa Shiock

— Matt Mackinder

(February 22, 2025)