NAHL announces 18U Top Prospects Tournament during Robertson Cup

April 29, 2019

The North American Hockey League (NAHL) is pleased to announce that for the second straight season it will host an 18U Top Prospects Tournament, bringing together some of the top hockey talent from seven different hockey organizations, which will be held in cooperation with the 2019 NAHL Robertson Cup Championship.

 

The NAHL 18U Top Prospects Tournament consists of ten different teams made up of 18U players, including two from the North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL), one from the North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL), two from the Tier 1 Elite League (T1EHL), one from Michigan Tier I AAA, one from Minnesota High School Hockey, one from the Atlantic Youth Hockey League (AYHL), and one European stars team. 

 

The event will take place from May 10-12, 2019, at Fogerty Arena in Blaine, Minnesota. Each team will consist of a 20-man roster (12 forwards, 6 defensemen and 2 goalies). 200 total players will be spread amongst the ten teams, who will play in four games each during the event, which will include three round-robin games, followed by consolation and championship games.

 

 

“This is another great opportunity for players that have aspirations of playing in the North American Hockey League and beyond as we continue to add to our event structure. We are excited to partner with a variety of leagues for the second straight season to provide some incredible exposure for some of the best prospects 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 NAHL 18U Top Prospects Tournament adds 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 three seasons, the NAHL has hosted the Robertson Cup National Championship in the state of Minnesota (2016-Edina, 2017-Duluth, 2018-Blaine). 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. Over 100 NHL, NCAA, and NAHL scouts now annually attend the Robertson Cup, with dozens NAHL players making an NCAA commitments following the event each season.

 

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 five-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 2003-06 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 nahl.com

 

The Roseville Vistors Association is a proud partner of the 2019 NAHL Robertson Cup Championship. “The Roseville Visitors Association is honored to partner with the North American Hockey League to host teams and spectators in our community. Hockey is a big tradition in Minnesota and we’re delighted to be part of the Robertson Cup” says Shannon Thomasser, Director of Sales of the Roseville Visitors Association.