International Prospects

International Prospects

NCAA hockey offers student-athletes the chance to play high-level hockey and at the same time pursue higher education – an opportunity that in many ways is only available in the United States.

That’s a big reason that NCAA hockey is more popular among international players than ever before. Approximately 30% of all NCAA Division I men’s players are Canadian, while 165 players – a record number – came from outside North America in 2024-25. Similarly, 32% of NCAA Division I women’s players are Canadian, and the number of Europeans steadily increases annually, doubling since 2010.

NCAA Recruiting | NCAA Eligibility

“Just the opportunity to do both – go to school and play hockey and develop at a high level,” said NHL forward Gustav Nyquist. “In Sweden, you have to turn pro or you have to go to school; you can’t do both at the same time. I think college sports in general is a great opportunity. I loved my years at Maine. Those are some of the best years of my life. I had a blast up there.”

NCAA hockey has no restrictions on the number of import players, though all international players must meet the same eligibility requirements as American players.

Of particular note:

Academics

All Division I NCAA student-athletes must meet minimum academic criteria that take into account high school grades as well as scores on standardized tests (the SAT or ACT).

International students may have specific requirements based on their nationality. For more information:

Amateurism

The NCAA Eligibility Center will certify each prospective student-athlete’s amateur status prior to clearing them for competition at the NCAA Division I level

For more information on amateurism eligibility requirements, visit the links above or check out our FAQ.