Last week, news broke that the OHL was fining the Windsor Spitfires $400,000 and taking away three first-round picks and two second-round picks for violating the league’s benefit and recruitment rules (aka, they were paying players).

Rumors have been going on for quite some time that this was happening, but the CHL appeared content to bury its head in the sand as long as it was getting the world’s top players.

Since the ruling, there has been a lot of reaction.

Both the London newspaper and SportsNet have columns pondering whether other high profile OHL teams are next.

This is where it could impact the NCAA vs. CHL battle for top players.

The CHL is undoubtedly getting some — not all — NCAA commits by waving money in front of them. Rumors of this happening go back many years. But if teams face the possibility of getting hammered with a huge fine and their high draft picks taken away for a span of five years — they may decide it’s no longer worth it (not all CHL teams are doing this, but there are a select few that always come up in the rumor mill).

Sure, there are players who will still opt for the CHL for one reason or another, but it could curb the guys bolting for money.

Of course, the sanctions were levied by the OHL and not the CHL. So, it will remain to be seen if QMJHL teams are nervous by the OHL’s ruling last week. But it’s a start.

Other links:

***A column that says the College Hockey Inc., people are staying mum on the subject.

***Chris Peters has some perspective here.

***Windsor fans say they’re not the only ones doing it.