NCAA Transfer portal affecting college athletes

 By: Teddy Lagerback

The NCAA transfer portal has changed NCAA college hockey in many ways since the rule change. Players are now easily changing from team to team, and coaches are no longer hesitant to cut their players to pick up new ones in the portal.

In the past, if a hockey player transferred, they were forced to sit out a year due to NCAA rules. For the last 5 years, players have been able to transfer with no penalty.

Players often decide to transfer for more playing time, a better school, or other reasons.

The transfer portal has changed the landscape so much in college hockey. Players are no longer loyal to one team. 

Another thing to note is not everyone in the portal gets picked up. Last spring in 2025, out of 300 players that entered the portal, only 153 players found a new team. That shows how just because you transfer, does not mean you are going to get picked up.

Another rule change that has affected college players is CHL players can now transfer from Canadian junior hockey to NCAA D1. This is a rule new that started this year, and many of the Canadians are now taking spots of American D1 players.

Dylan Gheami, an expert on the transfer portal and a professional hockey agent for IBA Hockey, says the transfer portal has completely changed the landscape in the college hockey world.

“Guys now see college sports as free agency, players use smaller schools such as Stonehill to portray their skill, then try and transfer to big schools,”said Ghemai.

Gheami said he has more of a negative view on how players can transfer with no one year penalty. 

“There is the occasional player who can benefit, but I think it is getting abused nowadays,”said Gheami.

Gheami also talked about the rule change of the Canadian junior players being able to transfer to D1, saying he is a little biased as an American, and it is every young American hockey boys dream to play college hockey, and it should be portrayed to them more than the Canadian junior players taking away these spots.

Brady Hunter, a player from Stonehill College has been in the transfer portal. Even though he used the transfer portal, he said he thinks the portal is terrible for the game.

“Coaches nowadays cut and get rid of players, it is tough on the players who have to transfer,” said Hunter.

Hunter said he does not think it is right and the old college hockey was way better. This could be because he was told to leave his former school his freshmen year if he wanted more opportunity.  

Justin Mexico, a former Stonehill player who is going to the portal this year, said he has mixed feelings about the transfer portal. He said it has gotten out of hand but some players need it.

“I think it is good for people who are not excelling and are looking for a new spot,” said Mexico.

Mexico said the portal is scary and it is a backed in the corner kind of feeling.

Linards Lipskis, a sophomore goalie, also thinks the portal has gotten out of hand. He said it is good for some players but there should be more regulations on it.

When being asked if he would ever consider going into the transfer portal, Lipskis said as of right now no, but you never know what happens. 

The transfer portal for hockey players can be a huge risk, and it has caused a lot more stress for many players. It can be a help, but many would say it has gotten out of hand.