NAPHL announces teams, alignment, and schedule for 2018-19 season
June 21, 2018
The North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) has announced the 17 organizations that have been accepted into the league on a full-time basis for the 2018-19 season, which will be the 10th season of the NAPHL.
For the 2018-19 season, the NAPHL has announced a new conference structure. Teams were selected for the two different conferences based on criteria of clubs consistently qualifying in for the Dixon Cup Playoffs and NAHL tenders. The NAPHL is divided into three age divisions that will compete at the USA Hockey Tier I 18U, 16U, and 15U levels.
“A conference structure is a bold new step for the NAPHL, but we see it as a positive one as it promotes enhanced and balanced competition. As we enter our 10th anniversary season, we continue to try and evolve with the changing landscape of youth hockey and provide our members with the best opportunity to showcase and advance their players,” said NAPHL Director and NAHL Director of Player Personnel Tony Zasowski. “Not only will our teams get to play against one another in conference completion, but our schedule also allows for cross-over competition in addition to playing some high-quality guest teams.”
In addition, the game schedule for the conferences will be built with the majority of the play within the conference along with cross-conference play and guest teams culminating with the Dixon Cup and Silver Cup (Consolation) Championships. All teams will have the opportunity to qualify for the Dixon Cup.
2018-19 High Performance Conference: Alaska Oilers, Esmark Stars, Everett Silvertips Elite, Madison Capitols, Meijer AAA, Rocky Mountain RoughRiders, Sioux Falls Jr. Stampede, St. Louis CarShield AAA, Valley Forge Minutemen.
The High Performance Conference will compete at the following events for the 2018-19 season:
September 20-23, 2018, Blaine, MN – 18U, 16U & 15U (League plus potential guest games)
October 19-22, 2018, Blaine, MN – 18U, 16U & 15U (League plus potential guest games)
November 9-12, 2018, Dallas, TX – 18U, 16U & 15U (League plus potential guest games)
January 18-21, 2019, Detroit, MI – 18U, 16U & 15U (League games plus 15U playoffs)
February 15-18, 2019, Detroit, MI – 18U & 16U (18U & 16U playoffs)
2018-19 Elite Conference: Arizona Bobcats, Colorado Springs Tigers, Florida Alliance, Nashville Jr. Predators, Pursuit of Excellence, Shattuck-St. Mary’s, Thunder Bay Kings, Wenatchee Wolves.
The Elite Conference will compete at the following events for the 2018-19 season:
September 20-23, 2018, Blaine, MN – 18U, 16U & 15U (League plus potential guest games)
October 19-22, 2018, Blaine, MN – 18U, 16U & 15U (League plus potential guest games)
November 9-12, 2018, Dallas, TX – 18U & 16U (League plus potential guest games)
November 30-December 3, 2018, Blaine, MN - 18U, 16U & 15U (League plus potential guest games)
January 18-21, 2019, Detroit, MI – 18U, 16U & 15U (League games plus 15U playoffs)
February 15-18, 2019, Detroit, MI – 18U &16U (18U & 16U playoffs)
Earlier in June, the NAPHL announced a third Conference known as the Showcase Conference. The new NAPHL Showcase Conference is open to any youth hockey independent Tier I or top Tier II 18U and 16U teams within North America. The teams will play a reduced schedule of only three events. Teams looking to join the new Showcase Conference should contact NAPHL Director Tony Zasowski at tzasowski@nahl.com
2018-19 Showcase Conference: Affton, Blues, Bruins, Chesterfield, Cyclones, Falcons, Hawks, Icedogs, Leafs, Littleton, Peoria, Sabres, Vikings.
The Showcase Conference will compete at the following events for the 2018-19 season:
October 19-22, 2018, Schwan Super Rink, Blaine, MN
November 30-December 2, 2018, Schwan Super Rink, Blaine, MN
January 18-21, 2019, Detroit, MI (Showcase Division Playoffs)
The NAPHL has enjoyed a record-breaking amount of advancement in recent seasons, which is highlighted by a large amount of advancement of players to the North American Hockey League (NAHL). No other USA Hockey Midget Tier I league has had more players play in the NAHL over the course of the last two seasons than the NAPHL. 48 players from the NAPHL were tendered to play in the NAHL for the upcoming 2018-19 season. During the past two years, 120 NAPHL players have signed an NAHL tender or been drafted into the NAHL, a remarkable total.
Another one of the big advantages of the NAPHL is the exclusive NAHL Central Scouting system. It is one of the big reasons that the NAPHL is advancing more and more players on to the NAHL than ever before are the direct benefits associated being directly involved with one another. NAHL Central Scouting is dedicated to identifying NAPHL hockey players, evaluating them in a true unbiased manner and then organizing and providing that information to NAHL teams. No other midget league in the United States has a system like it, where its primary mission is the advancement of players.
