NAHL Announces 2026-27 League Events

The North American Hockey League (NAHL) has announced the schedule of league events for the 2026-27 season. Each event aims at the development, exposure, and advancement of players.

The NAHL’s 52nd season will be highlighted by the following league events:

• The 2026 NAHL Showcase will feature each NAHL team participating in three games, with the United States National Team Development Program (USNTDP) playing in two games.
• The 2027 Top Prospects Tournament returns to the USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Michigan in February of 2027. The event will feature players selected from all five divisions, including many selected with the help of NHL Central Scouting. 
• The 2027 Robertson Cup National Championship heads back to Fogerty Arena in May of 2027. This championship will feature the final teams in the hunt for the coveted Robertson Cup trophy. One team will be crowned as the National Champions.

The Greatest Show on Ice returns, and the 23rd annual NAHL Showcase will be held from September 23-26, 2026, at the NSC Super Rink in Blaine, Minnesota. All 36 NAHL teams will play three regular season games, and this year’s showcase will once again feature two NAHL teams facing off against the United States National Team Development Program (USNTDP) team during the event. The NAHL Showcase attracts over 9,000 people in overall attendance, including more than 330 professional, college, and junior scouts. For scouting purposes, the NAHL Showcase is the premier event of its kind and is a yearly gathering for every NCAA program and NHL team as they get their first look at some of the best and brightest hockey talent North America has to offer.

The official schedule for the NAHL Showcase will be announced in the coming weeks.

Alongside the NAHL teams, over 100 Tier I programs will call Blaine, Minnesota home that weekend. The NAHL Showcase marks the opening weekend of the T1ER season for the 14U, 15U, 16U, and 18U divisions, and will feature elite T1ER talent from across the country, along with high-level guest teams from various top Tier I leagues, including programs from Minnesota’s High Performance (HP) program, all flocking to the state for this premier event. Additionally, the weekend will serve as the second league weekend for the FALL League.

The NAHL Top Prospects Tournament returns to the USA Hockey Arena on February 22-23, 2027. This yearly event provides NCAA and NHL scouts with a look at the best uncommitted players the NAHL has to offer, as well as some potential NHL Draft picks. The USA Hockey Arena is the home of the United States National Team Development Program (USNTDP).  Just like previous years, the USNTDP will compete at the Top Prospects Tournament. This tournament brings the league’s athletes straight to the coaches and scouts as NCAA programs work to finalize their roster for the following season. 

The NAHL’s Robertson Cup Championship is the culmination of the season for one final event from May 21-25, 2027, at the Fogerty Arena in Blaine, Minnesota. Divisional Champions will meet for one last battle for the chance at the title of Robertson Cup Champions.

“Everyone looks forward to the NAHL Showcase, Top Prospects Tournament, and the Robertson Cup,” stated by the NAHL Commissioner and President Mark Frankenfeld. “The NAHL vertical event structure is second to none when it comes to providing our players the opportunity to be seen in front of literally 100s of scouts. The NAHL has a proven track record of developing athletes, providing exposure to them through our league events, and ultimately advancing these athletes onto their next stage of hockey.”

In addition to the NAHL’s annual exposure events, players will receive the advantage of being seen through NAScout and NATV. NAScout offers real-time video, advanced analytics, and recruiting tools. NATV is the league’s exclusive streaming service. Both materials are provided complimentary to all NCAA Division I, Division III, and NHL coaches and scouts. This expanded, no-cost access reinforces the NAHL's mission to create the best opportunities for its players, delivering visibility unmatched by any other junior league of its kind.

With over 352 NCAA commitments so far in the 2025-26 season, the league has now set a standard of 300+ NCAA commitments in the last 10 years. The NAHL has become a stepping stone for athletes looking to play NCAA hockey. Out of the college commitments the league has seen this past season, 54% of those commitments are NCAA Division I. Leading up to the 2026 NHL Draft, nine athletes with NAHL ties are featured on the NHL Central Scouting Final Rankings.

All 36 NAHL teams in all five divisions (Central, East, Midwest, Mountain, and South) will play in 59 regular season games. The regular season will commence on September 11, 2026, and end on April 17, 2027.

Check out the complete 2026-27 NAHL Schedule

The North American Hockey League (NAHL) is one of only two USA Hockey-sanctioned, tuition-free junior leagues in the United States, alongside the United States Hockey League (USHL). The NAHL develops young men through elite hockey competition, comprehensive training, and unmatched exposure. The NAHL provides a proven pathway to college hockey and beyond, preparing athletes for success both on and off the ice.