Unlike other sports, a college hockey player is allowed to retain his NCAA eligibility when he is drafted. The team that selects him retains his rights throughout his collegiate career.
NHL teams normally draft college players before or after their first season and allow the school to develop them. Players are automatically eligible for the draft at age 19.
In most drafts, college hockey stars are overshadowed by the Canadian junior leagues and European players. This, however, was a banner year for students as the top two picks overall of the draft were Boston University goaltender Ricky DiPietro (New York Islanders) and University of Wisconsin winger Dany Heatley (Atlanta Thrashers).
DiPietro, however, lost his NCAA eligibility by declaring for the draft. Only 18 years old, he was not automatically placed on the list of available players and had to "opt-in" to the draft. In the process, he had to forgo his remaining three years at B.U. and is now the latest goaltending savior for the Islanders as the first netminder ever selected with the No. 1 pick overall.
A record seven college players were taken in the first round of the 2000 draft and 66 were picked altogether.