Center Jeremy Roenick said Monday he has changed his mind and has decided to forgo a Boston College hockey scholarship this year so he can immediately pursue a National Hockey League career with the Blackhawks.

Roenick, the Hawks` No. 1 pick in June`s draft and the eighth player chosen overall, will arrive at the Stadium Tuesday to take his physical and join coach Mike Keenan`s team in on-ice workouts Wednesday.

The Hawks had announced Friday that Roenick wouldn`t be participating in this year`s training camp because of his decision to enroll at Boston College.

He has agreed to sign a three-year contract with an option year. General Manager Bob Pulford refused to confirm the deal, but he will officially announce it Tuesday.

''I don`t want to comment now,'' he said.

But there`s no question Pulford is happy about getting Roenick into the fold. He hasn`t been able to make a trade yet to acquire another center, and Roenick may make the need for such a deal less acute.

Rated by many as the best skater available in this year`s draft, Roenick has a chance to win a job with the Hawks at the age of 18, just months after he was graduated from Thayer Academy in Braintree, Mass.

The major question, it appears, is whether he`s ready to take a pounding at such a young age. He is only 5 feet 11 inches, 170 pounds, and he needs to bulk up.

Roenick insisted that money wasn`t the primary reason he opted to try and make the Hawks` roster now after he started classes at BC a little more than a week ago.

Negotiating a pro contract is a ticklish situation for someone who is still pondering a college career, because NCAA rules prohibit an athlete from hiring an agent to work out a possible deal.

''I was on the borderline with my decision,'' Roenick said by phone from his home in Massachusetts, ''and decided to go to college and see what it was like. It was great except for the homework. There was lots more than in high school and the classes were tough. I didn`t appreciate that.

''My decision had nothing to do with the money. I just came to the realization I had always wanted to play in the National Hockey League, and now was the best chance I had to try and get there.''

Because Roenick is a U.S.-born player, the Hawks, if he doesn`t make the club, don`t have to ship him back to his major junior team as they would if he were Canadian.

Instead, Roenick would probably be shipped to the minor-league club in Saginaw, Mich., to work under coach Darryl Sutter.

''I really can`t say what my chances are,'' Roenick said. ''I`ve got to get on the ice and see what the competition is. I`m sure it`s going to be tough.''

Despite having already missed three days of scrimmaging, Roenick is hoping he won`t be hurt by a belated arrival.

At 18, you don`t worry about being late. Your future is all in front of you, and to a promising athlete such as Roenick, it feels as if there`s nothing he can`t do.

''I can`t wait to get there and test myself,'' he said.

And the Hawks also can`t wait to get him in the center-fold. They drafted him because of what they think is a need at that position and they`d like to get immediate help from him if it`s possible.