NAHL announces 18U Top Prospects Invitational during Robertson Cup

The North American Hockey League (NAHL) has announced a new and exciting event for the future players of the NAHL, which will be held in cooperation with the 2018 NAHL Robertson Cup Championship.

It is called the NAHL 18U Top Prospects Invitational Tournament, which will bring together eight different teams made up of 18U players from the North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL), Tier 1 Elite League, Minnesota High School Hockey, Atlantic Youth Hockey League (AYHL), and European stars. The event will take place from May 11-13, 2018, at Fogerty Arena in Blaine, Minnesota.

160 total players will be spread amongst eight teams, who will play in four games each during the event, which will include three round-robin games, followed by consolation and championship games. The event will take place during the 2018 NAHL Robertson Cup National Championship.

The event will feature two teams with players from the NAPHL, two teams that are players from the Tier 1 Elite League, two teams that are players from Minnesota High School hockey programs, one team from the Atlantic Youth Hockey League, and one team made up of players who are playing in Europe. Each team will consist of a 20-man roster (12 forwards, 6 defensemen and 2 goalies).

“This is a great opportunity to expand our horizons and partner with a variety of leagues to provide some incredible exposure for the future players of the North American Hockey League to play front of a large number of scouts and coaches who will be attending this event. Combined with the NAHL’s Robertson Cup Championship, as well as, our NAHL Combine, the addition of this new NAHL 18U Top Prospects Invitational Tournament will add to an already exciting event,” said NAHL Director of Player Personnel and NAPHL Director Tony Zasowski. “This collaborative effort is one that is for the good of the players, and will add to an already exciting weekend.”

Over the past two seasons, the NAHL has hosted the Robertson Cup National Championship in the state of Minnesota (2016-Edina, 2017-Duluth). Doing so has not only brought everyone to a central location to compete for the oldest junior hockey trophy in the United States, but it has also drawn the interest of scouts. Close to 200 NHL, NCAA, and NAHL scouts have attended the event the past two seasons, with over two dozen NAHL players making an NCAA Division I commitment following the events.

In addition to both the NAHL Top Prospects Invitational Tournament and the NAHL Robertson Cup Championship, there will also be a NAHL Combine during the four-day event. The NAHL Combine is an innovative and unique event designed to provide exposure and education for hockey prospects that strive to play junior hockey in a premier league like the NAHL. The event will be for players born in 2002-05 that 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. For more information on NAHL Combines, please visit: http://www.nahlfp.com