NAHL announces 2024 Top Prospects schedule and format

The North American Hockey League (NAHL) has announced that the 2024 NAHL Top Prospects Tournament will return to the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania, and be held from February 5-6, 2024. The UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex is the practice home to the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins and has been the location of the NAHL Top Prospects Tournament for the past two years. 

The NAHL Top Prospects Tournament is one of the most highly scouted events of its kind, featuring almost every NHL team and NCAA Division I school. it continues to provide the hundreds of NHL and NCAA scouts in attendance with a look at the best uncommitted players the NAHL has to offer, as well as some potential NHL Draft picks. It is an important part of the NAHL event model, which includes the NAHL Showcase in September and the NAHL Robertson Cup National Championship in May. 

The number of players each NAHL team is sending to the tournament, which includes four divisional teams from the Central, East, Midwest and South Divisions, along with an NAHL Selects Team and an NAHL At-Large team, was based on each team’s winning percentage within their division as of January 8, 2024. Each team will play two games during the event. 

Only those NAHL players without an NCAA commitment are eligible to participate in the 2024 NAHL Top Prospects Tournament, except for those who have been identified by NHL Central Scouting as prospects for the 2024 NHL Draft. Each team is comprised of 20 players (12 forwards, 6 defensemen, 2 goalies) for a total of 120 players. 

2024 NAHL Top Prospects Schedule (all times eastern) 

Monday, February 5: Midwest vs. East, 2:00pm | At Large vs. Selects, 4:45pm | Central vs. South, 7:30pm 

Tuesday, February 6: Midwest vs. At Large, 10:00am | South vs. Selects, 12:45pm | East vs. Central, 3:30pm 

“We are thrilled to be returning to the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex for the 2024 NAHL Top Prospects Tournament. We had a great experience and scout turnout the past two years, and we look forward to showcasing some of the best uncommitted players and NHL prospects that the NAHL has to offer,” said NAHL Commissioner and President Mark Frankenfeld. “The NAHL Top Prospects Tournament is the most unique event we host because its sole purpose is to provide those players that are still uncommitted a great opportunity to play in front of hundreds of NCAA and NHL scouts for a chance to make a great impression and earn an NCAA commitment or get drafted into the NHL. Scouts now have an established roadmap to track a player’s development, which includes assessments throughout the season and then making a determination based on his progression.” 

The UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex is the primary practice and training facility for the Pittsburgh Penguins as well as a comprehensive outpatient facility for UPMC Sports Medicine. This multi-use facility is a destination for athletes of all ages and skill levels seeking sports medicine, performance, and rehabilitation expertise as well as hockey-specific skills and performance training. UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex has hosted prominent events such as the past two NAHL Top Prospects Tournaments, NHL’s Kraft Hockeyville Game, USHL’s Fall Classic, as well as USA Hockey National Championships and tournaments.