Since 2018, no athlete who participated in nationals before 1985 has entered the CCAA Hall of Fame. Only three of the 38 athlete inductees made their CCAA debut in the first decade as compared to nine in the second decade, 17 in the third decade and nine in the fourth decade.

Of the eight hockey athletes eligible for the Hall who participated in the first decade, six received multiple tournament awards. CCAA champions Ron Pierce, Cleo Rowein, Serge Roy and Bill Wilkins were named a CCAA Tournament All Star in one tournament and the CCAA Tournament Most Valuable Player in another. In 1983, CCAA All Canadians were first selected for hockey.  Over a decade later, CCAA Academic All Canadian, CCAA Player of the Year and CCAA Exemplary Leadership awards were also presented. Failing to acknowledge the award categories at the time of participation has a bearing on the nomination and the selection process.

In three of the induction classes determined by the host conference of the CCAA's Annual General Meeting, hockey athletes who participated in the first decade were not nominated even though they had greater accomplishments than counterparts in other sports from their conference who are in the Hall. 

Prior to the selection of the 2026 induction class, representatives from the Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec requested flexibility in its make up due to a high number of female athlete nominations. The CCAA Awards Committee directed the conference to seek additional male athlete nominations from its members. In the end, only a full slate of female athletes was inducted.

In 2015 and 2022, the Atlantic Colleges Athletic Association did not nominate a full slate of male and female athletes. None of the four ACAA athletes in the CCAA Hall of Fame won a national championship.

Of the seven conferences represented at nationals in the first decade, one is no longer affiliated with the CCAA and one no longer exists. While no Hall eligible hockey athletes are impacted, athletes in other sports who represented the Prairie Athletic Conference and the Manitoba College Athletic Association are shutout. The CCAA Operating Code states "Each year, up to 10 Hall of Fame inductees will be selected by the Awards Committee based on the location of the AGM & Hall of Fame induction event. The host conference will nominate ..."

Of the 25 post secondary institutions represented at the first ten CCAA National Hockey Championships, eight are no longer members of the CCAA including the former (University) College of Cape Breton. Three Capers who participated at nationals in the first decade are eligible for the Hall including CCAA champion Joe Andrea.

Athletes of former CCAA member institutions are slighted. No athlete has entered the Hall when the institution represented was not a current CCAA member. The CCAA Operating Code states "(An athlete) must have a CCAA institution in good standing support their nomination ..."

Ironically, the CCAA Awards Committee has the authority to nominate builders to the CCAA Hall of Fame who are not currently represented by a member institution and/or member conference. Granting the CCAA Awards Committee the authority to nominate athletes to the CCAA Hall of Fame who are not currently represented by a member institution and/or member conference is not the solution.

All but one of the eight candidates from the first decade laced up the skates at nationals for the final time over 40 years ago. The youngest are in their mid 60's.  It is highly unlikely that any of the nominators or selectors witnessed them in action. The failure of the CCAA to allow public nominations by those who saw them in their prime is a travesty.

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