Danton not the first NHLer to go back to university league

NHL players have gone back to play university hockey since 1946.

Over 63 years, 13 NHL players have switched to CIS. Photo: H. Wade Minter

Former St. Louis Blues player Mike Danton is the 13th NHL player to come back to play in the Canadian Interuniversity Sport's league.

He will be attending classes at SMU while playing on their hockey team. Danton was arrested in 2004 on conspiracy to commit murder and sentenced to seven and a half years in prison. He was granted full parole on Sept. 11, 2009. 

In 2007-2008, former NHLer Jared Aulin played for the University of Calgary. Eric Calder, a former Washington Capitals player, played for Wilfrid Laurier University from 1985 to 1988.

Darren Lowe, coach of the University of Toronto's hockey team, also made the switch from the NHL to Canadian Interuniversity Sport in the 1980s. He says that "there's a big difference between the NHL and CIS, but people would be surprised. It's not the easiest transition. CIS is a different league."

Canadian Interuniversity Sport's eligibility policy for professional hockey players states that "an athlete who has participated in any league classified by CIS as professional prior to Dec. 31 of the year that athlete turns 21, and who has not participated in CIS hockey in the same academic year as his professional participation, shall not be charged with having consumed CIS eligibility, and be eligible to participate upon entry." Moreover, "any professional athlete may participate in CIS competition one year from the date that the athlete last participated in a professional game or event in that sport".

According to the policy, Danton has either two or three years of eligibility left to play varsity hockey with SMU.

The season Danton played in the NHL before turning 21 does not count but the association is not sure about the 2001-2002 season, during which he was suspended by the New Jersey Devils for refusing to report to their AHL club.

To remain eligible at SMU, Danton will have to register for a minimum of three courses during every term he will be playing for the Huskies. He has already completed a continuing education course at Queen's University in Kingston, Ont.

Gardiner MacDougall, coach of UNB's hockey team, says there's "quite a buzz in the hockey world. I just found out about last night and I haven't had a chance to talk with the players or the other coaches."

Darren Burns, coach of Acadia's hockey team, fully supports SMU hockey coach Trevor Stienburg. "Trevor thinks through every decision he takes and this was not a hasty decision. It's important to give somebody a second chance. Trevor will work hard to make this a positive experience for everybody. It's great for Danton to be given a chance to attend university."

SMU's athletic department declined to comment.

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