NAPHL celebrates record player advancement

June 15, 2016

The North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) is pleased to announce that it had a record number of players tendered and drafted in both the North American Hockey League (NAHL) and North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL) this past season.

During the NAHL Draft, which was held on June 7th, a total of 17 NAPHL players were drafted. That is in addition to the 47 NAPHL players who were signed to a tender over the course of the 2015-16 season, bringing the total number of NAPHL players who played in the league in 2015-16 that were either tendered or drafted into the NAHL to 64. The 64 players drafted or tendered into the NAHL set a new record.

Results of the 2016 NAHL Draft

In the NA3HL Draft, which was held on Tuesday, 40 players from the NAPHL were selected. That is in addition to the 29 NAPHL players who were signed to a tender over the course of the 2015-16 season, bringing the total number of NAPHL players who played in the league in 2015-16 that were either tendered or drafted into the NA3HL to 69. The 69 players drafted and tendered into the NA3HL also established a new record.

Results of the 2016 NA3HL Draft

It was yet another landmark moment for the NAPHL, which enters its eighth season in 2016-17 with an all-time record number of 46 teams at the 18U, 16U and 15U USA Hockey Tier I youth levels. The success of teams on the National stage, as well as, the success of NAPHL players at the next levels of hockey, is further proof that the NAPHL is redefining exposure and has elevated itself to one of the premier training grounds for development and opportunity.

“This is incredible news for the NAPHL and its players,” stated NAPHL Director Lucas Trombetta. “We are seeing more and more players advance to junior hockey opportunities in the NAHL and NA3HL. This type of player advancement is at the core mission of the NAPHL, which is to provide our athletes with an environment and event schedule that will provide them with the maximum amount of exposure possible.”

Not only did the NAPHL set a new standard for player advancement to the NAHL and NA3HL with the conclusion of the two recent 2016 drafts, but dozens have received scholarships to NCAA Division I schools and over 40 players were drafted during the past two years in the United States Hockey League (USHL) Drafts.

Several NAPHL alumni have also received recognition this from NHL Central Scouting and are expected to be selected in the 2016 NHL Draft, which will be held from June 24-25 in Buffalo, New York.