On July 8th it was announced that the NCDC will be expanding for the 2025-26 season (which begins games in roughly 3 months) to Lewiston, Maine. Here is the press release- Lewiston MAINEiacs To Join NCDC’s North Division In 2025-26 • USPHL – United States Premier Hockey League
This new franchise, due perhaps to the timing of the announcement and securing an ice lease, was not able to participate with either phase of the NCDC’s draft which was held back in May. Here is a link to the NCDC’s draft results- 2025 NCDC Entry Draft To Be Held May 15, Live On Black Bear TV Nor was it able to hold spring Pre- Draft tryout camps.
Many outsider observers would question where they would be able to acquire a quality roster full of players in 3 months to be competitive at the “Tier II” level. On first glance this looks like a New Team competing in a Jr hockey league for the 1st time. The reality is different however. The Lewiston MAINEiacs ownership group fielded a team at the Junior level in 2024-25. Boston Dukes Join EHL – Breakaway Ice Center
The 2024-25 Boston Dukes Jr team was one of the weakest team in recent in EHL history… recording less than 10 wins and committing only 1 player (so far) to an NCAA school, out of the EHL’s 132 (and counting) NCAA commits in 2024-25. The EHL in 2024-25 committed an average of 6.6 players per team to NCAA schools, and 7.6 commits per team in 2023-24, so this is a historically low number for a franchise in the Eastern Hockey League. Even such short term members as the North Carolina Golden Bears committed more players in their respective years in the league. 2024-25 NCAA Commitments
Below is the 2024-25 EHL North Division Standings
North Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | PTS | GF | GA | DIFF | PCT | PIM | STK | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | xy – New Hampshire Avalanche | 46 | 37 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 79 | 216 | 79 | 137 | 0.859 | 408 | 0-1-0-0 |
| 2 | x – New England Wolves | 46 | 34 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 69 | 183 | 122 | 61 | 0.750 | 497 | 7-0-1-0 |
| 3 | x – Vermont Lumberjacks | 45 | 23 | 17 | 2 | 3 | 51 | 126 | 137 | -11 | 0.567 | 442 | 8-0-0-1 |
| 4 | x – Valley Jr. Warriors | 46 | 13 | 26 | 7 | 0 | 33 | 102 | 162 | -60 | 0.359 | 420 | 0-5-0-0 |
| 5 | Boston Dukes | 46 | 9 | 35 | 1 | 1 | 20 | 83 | 211 | -128 | 0.217 | 602 | 0-2-0-0 |
A comparative, according to the USPHL press release, would be taking a last place NA3HL team and placing them into one of the NAHL’s divisions. Does anyone think that would make sense?
Or is the reality that one could take a last place EHL team and be confident that they could field a quality NCDC team with a short summer of recruiting…
Many observers are questioning how an NCDC could operate in a market where an established and quality NAHL team perhaps could not. Furthermore, it looks like the Nordiques (who finished the 2024-25 season with 41 wins and another NAHL playoff berth) are trying to secure an agreement to stay in Lewiston, so the prospects of being competitive in the local player pool, and attracting fans as well as sponsors, for the time being may be a struggle for the NCDC squad if these operators compete neck and neck in the same building.
The acceptance of the Lewiston MAINEiacs into the NCDC, rebranded and relocated from the EHL Boston Dukes, represents a further example of where the NCDC sees themselves and their level of play. This acquisition isnt of the formidable Maine Nordiques into the NCDC. That would be a true elevation of their leagues level of play and show a significant push to improve the quality of the on ice product. Instead, this takes a franchise, which wasnt good enough to operate for more than 1 year in the Eastern Hockey League, and pumps new life into them by placing them into a league which has labelled itself Tier II since the 2017-18 season.
Many observers are asking how can this be funded? Who will buy tickets to watch an NCDC game, when the NAHL team, which routinely drew upwards of 1000 fans a night for home games, participates in a more established league (which has operated as the NAHL since the early 1980s) and has local name recognition, advertisers and sponsors. Literally 12 months ago an NCDC franchise which was located the NEXT TOWN OVER from Lewiston had to relocate. Thunder Hockey Club Relocates NCDC And Premier Franchise To Exeter, New Hampshire • USPHL – United States Premier Hockey League
The press release provided by the NCDC does not spell out if the Lewiston MAINEiacs will be Pay to Play Junior Hockey, but it makes logical sense that it will be. A player/parent funded Jr program would be attractive to the owners of the Colissee (the arena in Lewiston) if the an NAHL (no tuition) is not working, and a nearby NCDC program, the Twin City Thunder had to relocate partly due to expenses occurred because of their geographic location and revenue issues. If Lewiston is Tuition based it adds to the nearly 10 rosters in the NCDC in 2025-26 that will fund their Junior program through these forms of revenue.
This is an ongoing story and one casual Junior fans and prospective players and parents should pay close attention to. The Junior landscape changes nearly weekly so educate yourself parents!
By Andrew Trimble
To Purchase Andrew’s new book, The Hockey Planner, follow this link here-
