Future Prospects a success in New Jersey, now onto Anaheim
April 30, 2015
The NAHL Future Prospects Tournament (FPT) kicked off its second year this past weekend at the Middletown Sports Complex in New Jersey, home of the NAPHL’s New Jersey Jr. Titans.
The Future Prospects Tournament is an innovative and unique event designed to provide the younger developing teenage hockey player with an experience that will prepare and expose them to the future paths of the NAHL developmental hockey ladder.
The FPT provided the NAHL experience to 136 selected players of 1999-2002 birth years. The weekend consisted of a round-robin tournament for each age group in front of dozens of Tier I youth, junior and college coaches. In addition, NAHL Director of Player Personnel Craig Barnett made presentations to players and parents on NCAA Compliance and Education, as well as, an introduction to junior hockey.
As part of the introduction of junior hockey presentation, NAHL coaches and scouts participated in a Q&A with the group to help prepare families to make informative decisions down the road with the many options they may receive as elite hockey players.
The 136 players at the New Jersey event represented 3 different countries, and 22 different states. Scouts in attendance represented the NHL, OHL, NAHL, NA3HL, USPHL, NCAA and Tier I youth.
“Having a year under our belts really helped us to improve the event this season and it was our best to date and proved to be another huge success,” said Coordinator of Player Personnel Craig Barnett, who is heading up the two events. “The on-ice talent was very impressive and I think both players and parents found the presentations helpful and were engaged throughout the process. We look forward to putting on another great event in Anaheim to a host of new participants and families.”
Next week, the NAHL FPT moves to the west coast in Anaheim, California on May 8-10 with another full squad of future prospects. The event will take place at The Rinks – Anaheim Ice. The camp fee is $215 and includes the ice time and jersey. Camp information including schedule can be found and filled out online at: www.nahl.com/fpt
The Future Prospects Tournament (FPT) Series in Anaheim open to all players with birth years from 1999-2002 and will be divided into two age groups at each event. Group A will be players with 1999 or 2000 birth years and Group B will be players with 2001 or 2002 birth years. Each team consists of 17 players: ten (10) forwards, five (5) defensemen and two (2) goaltenders. Each team will play in four games, three round-robin games and one playoff game.
The Future Prospects Tournament (FPT) Series is designed to provide exposure and education for hockey players that strive to play junior hockey in a premier league like the NAHL. Entering its 40th anniversary season in 2015-16, the NAHL is one of the top junior leagues under the USA Hockey umbrella. Over 220+ players make NCAA commitments annually which proves that the NAHL is one of the best at developing its players and ultimately providing an opportunity to move onto the next level. This is due in large part to the unique and established league-wide events schedule and ladder of development model, which continues to draw attention and praise from the entire hockey community, most notably college and professional scouts.
At the event, players will be introduced and exposed to junior hockey and in particular, the NAHL, NA3HL as well as the NAPHL (Tier I Midget Hockey). The players will be introduced to and provided with a weekend that involves the ‘NAHL Experience,’ which will consist of competitive hockey, education of the future levels of hockey, academic preparation for NCAA hockey and exposure to professional, college, and junior scouts. This includes seminars that discuss the NAHL junior hockey experience, the ladder of development, as well as, NCAA compliance seminars. Guest speakers will include those from the NAHL and NCAA.
