About the NAHL

Celebrating its 52^nd season in 2026-27, the NAHL is the oldest and one of only two USA Hockey Certified tuition-free junior hockey leagues. Boasting 36 teams teams across the U.S., the NAHL develops young men through hockey while providing those with college hockey aspirations a place to play, develop, and advance. The NAHL continues to be one of the best places in the world at advancing players to the NCAA and eventually professional hockey

The NAHL is part of the USA Hockey National Junior Development Model, which includes the USHL and the US National Team Development Program. The NAHL works closely with NCAA College Hockey, the NHL, the USHL, and USA Hockey's National Development Program in order best serve as an imperative piece in the development system for collegiate and professional hockey.

During the 2025-26 season, the NAHL has had over 390 NCAA committed (as of July 29, 2026) players with 50% of those being NCAA Division I commitments. Additionally, 23% of all NCAA Division I freshmen played hockey in the NAHL. Over the course of the last eight seasons, 2,190+ NAHL players have made NCAA commitments and 36 have been drafted into the NHL.

All NAHL hockey teams are privately owned and operated as a business similar in structure and business operations as those involving professional hockey teams. Such operations include ticket sales, corporate sales, broadcasting, and community-based initiatives and outreach programs. NAHL athletes are provided the opportunity to develop, learn, train, grow and succeed, while playing for free.

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, and the NAHL Robertson Cup Championship, 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.

The NAHL is unique in the fact that a vast majority of players begin their NAHL careers without an NCAA opportunity and earn one through the course of their development in the league.