About Junior Hockey and the NAHL
Celebrating its 52nd season in 2026-27, the North American Hockey League (NAHL) is the oldest and one of the largest USA Hockey-sanctioned junior circuits with 36 teams representing some of the nation’s emerging hockey markets, as well as, traditional hot beds in 21 states. It is one of the only two leagues in the United States that implements the tuition-free model.
What once offered a fleeting chance at a collegiate scholarship and a trip to the “Red Barn” – Olympia Stadium, where the NHL Detroit Red Wings played their home games – the NAHL has evolved into a proven pathway for young adults between the ages of 16-20 to develop into outstanding collegiate and professional players while playing in some the nation’s state-of-the-art facilities.
The NAHL’s dedication to player development is demonstrated by the league’s high-profile annual exposure events like the NAHL Showcase in September, the NAHL Top Prospects Tournament in February and the NAHL Robertson Cup Championship in May, which have all evolved into hockey’s most prominent and popular of its kind and are a must-see for NCAA programs and NHL teams alike.
During the 2016-17 season, the NAHL set a new single-season record with 305 NCAA commitments, with 70% of those being NCAA Division I commitments. In addition, seven NAHL players were listed in the final NHL Central Scouting rankings for the 2017 NHL Draft and three NAHL players that played in the league this past season were selected in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. Over the course of the last five seasons, 1,200 NAHL players have made NCAA commitments and 17 have been drafted into the NHL.
In the last 15 years, the league has continued its growth, while also maintaining a focus on sustainability. The league has grown its upper Midwest footprint by adding more teams in hockey-rich states of North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.
The NAHL has also strengthened its presence in the Eastern portion of the United States. The Johnstown Tomahawks revitalized a historic hockey community in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and kicked off the NAHL movement eastward. Additional expansion and growth in the East emerged with nine new teams in the past decade and now becoming the largest division with ten teams. This continued growth had the league head South and expand the game with more teams in Texas, Louisiana, New Mexico, and Oklahoma.
The league continues to set the trend in fulfilling its mission to develop players for collegiate and professional hockey success, presenting the NAHL Showcase, the Top Prospects Tournament and the Robertson Cup Championship.
The hockey extravaganzas enable one-stop shopping for hordes of college and pro scouts to see some of the continent’s most promising talent. Players receive further exposure through live Webcasts of NAHL games presented by NAHLTV.
Also, through comprehensive statistics and timely game reports, NAHL.com promotes the teams’ and players’ on-ice achievements. Off the ice, the league’s emphasis on scholarship and personal growth is seen through academic support and warm experiences gained by billet programs in which players stay with host families. The team’s rigorous 59-game regular season schedule is patterned around weekend games to minimize conflicts with schooling.