The National Collegiate Development Conference is the name of a Tier II Junior A (Tuition free) league announced on October 6, 2016. The United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL )announced they had submitted a formal application with USA Hockey to be certified as a Tier II league and that the matter was rejected by USA Hockey at a special meeting held on the topic in early December 2016. The bid was rejected on two technicalities: the proposal was for 11 teams as opposed to 12 teams and a 50 game regular season as opposed to the required 60 minimum.
The league was announced as a tuition free league that will be based in the northeastern section of the United States. Eleven organizations that are already affiliated with the USPHL were announced as having been accepted in the proposed league.
The creation of the Tier-II league was apparently originally on the agenda for USA Hockey's January 2016 meetings. There was a proposed rule change involving rink standards which was put forward by the USPHL. Based on logistics this process would probably stop or diminish the North American Hockey League presence in the northeastern United States. Not all members of the Premier Division (only 7 of the 11 members for the 2016-17 season) were to be involved in the jump to Tier-II as there were other factors other than rink standards that came into play with the elevation in level.
The stated intent of the league was stated as:
- "For many years East Coast hockey players have desired a tuition-free option of junior hockey," said USPHL Commissioner Jeff Nygaard. "We have always been told it would never happen. The USPHL owners and operators are now making that happen through their continued commitment to both junior hockey an NCAA Division I development opportunities"
- Players who desire to stay closer to home in the East will now have not only a tuition-free option but be able to compete in what the USPHL feels will become a pipeline for training, development and NCAA Division I advancement. With 56 percent of NCAA Division I schools in the Northeast -- which matches up with the USPHL’s tuition-free footprint -- the scouting and development opportunities will increase significantly. Last year the USPHL had over 300 college commitments and the league plans on that number steadily growing as the tuition-free league solidifies itself in the marketplace"
2017-18 Season[]
On December 22, 2016 the USPHL announced that the Boston Bandits, Connecticut Nighthawks, Hartford Jr. Wolfpack, New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs, New Jersey Rockets, and Northern Cyclones organizations are leaving the Eastern Hockey League and joining the United States Premier Hockey League for the 2017-18 season. This moved would bring six premier level and five elite junior teams. The 16U, 18U and youth programs of these organizations would also be involved in this move. The Boston Bandits, New Jersey Rockets, and Northern Cyclones would be also be part of the National Collegiate Development Conference when it commences play for the 2017-18 season.[1]
The Connecticut Nighthawks would later drop from the NCDC but join the USPHL's Premier division for 2017-18.
On November 2, 2017 the league announced that the New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs would be added to the league for the 2018-19 season.
2018-19 Season[]
On March 16, 2018 the Syracuse Stars announced that they were moving their NCDC, Premier and U-18 Tier 1 teams to the Adirondack Bank Center at Utica Memorial Auditorium in Utica, New York for the 2018-19 season. The Stars will retain a Tier 1 U-16 team in Syracuse. The relocated teams will retain the Syracuse Stars moniker.
2019-20 Season[]
According to a January 28, 2019 posting on the oursportscentral.com website the Lewiston, Maine-based Twin City Thunder organization will be adding a team to the NCDC for the 2019-20 season.[2] The organization presently has a team in the premier division of the USPHL. The league posted this change along with the return of the Rochester Monarchs as well as the renaming of the Syracuse Stars to the Utica Jr. Comets for the 2019-20 season.[3]
2020-21 Sesaon[]
- On November 14, 2019 the league announced that the Philadelphia Hockey Club had purchased the NCDC franchise rights for the Boston Bandits and wold be added to the league for the 2020-21 season.[4]
- On June 3, 2020 the USPHL announced the addition of the Boston Advantage to the NCDC along with Premier Division, 18U, 16U, and 15U teams. The organization had previously only had youth level teams and would be based out of the Pilgrim Skating Arena in Hingham, Massachusetts.[5]
- The Rochester Monarchs were notified sometime in January or February of 2020 they were to be removed from the NCDC after the 2019-20 season due to on ice performance. The organization would also later withdraw from the USPHL's Premier Division in order to focus on youth hockey.[6]
2021-22 season[]
The league membership remains constants for the 2021-22 season.
2022-23 season[]
- The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights are added to the league.[7]
2023-24 season[]
- On June 30, 2022 the league announced the expansion of 6 teams to form a western division to begin play with the 2023-24 season. The Utah Outliers, Ogden Mustangs, Pueblo Bulls, Northern Colorado Eagles, Idaho Falls Spuds, and the Provo Predators were announced as the teams.[8]
Teams[]
Seasons[]
| Season | Regular Season Champion | Playoff Champion |
| 2017-18 | Islanders Hockey Club | Islanders Hockey Club |
| 2018-19 | Jersey Hitmen | Boston Jr. Bruins |
| 2019-20 | Jersey Hitmen | Playoffs Cancelled |
| 2020-21 | Jersey Hitmen | Jersey Hitmen |
| 2021-22 | Jersey Hitmen | Jersey Hitmen |
| 2022-23 | Jersey Hitmen | P.A.L. Jr. Islanders |
| 2023-34 | P.A.L. Jr. Islanders | South Shore Kings |
Referernces[]
- ↑ USPHL press release announcing proposed league
- ↑ https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/weekly-sports-league-and-franchise-report/n-5442352
- ↑ https://www.usphl.com/page/show/3853868-ncdc
- ↑ https://www.usphl.com/news_article/show/1064939?referral=rss
- ↑ https://www.usphl.com/news_article/show/1107822
- ↑ http://www.rochesterjrmonarchs.com/news/press-release
- ↑ https://www.usphl.com/news_article/show/1207253
- ↑ https://www.usphl.com/news_article/show/1231333?referral=rss