Here’s a clear breakdown of how the USHL Draft works 👇
🏒 Overview
The United States Hockey League (USHL) — the top junior hockey league in the U.S. — holds an annual two-phase draft each spring. The draft is how teams acquire the rights to young players who may join the league in the coming seasons.
The two phases are:
- Phase I: “Futures Draft”
- Phase II: “Main Draft”
🔹 Phase I – Futures Draft
When: Usually held in early May
Who: Players born in the youngest eligible birth year (for example, in 2025, it would be players born in 2009).
Purpose
This draft is for teams to build their future prospect lists — players who are still a year or two away from joining the USHL full-time.
Details
- 10 rounds long.
- Each team can select players who are first-time eligible for the USHL (mostly U16-level players).
- Once drafted, players go on that team’s “affiliate list.”
- These players can be invited to the team’s main camp, play in affiliate games, and are tracked for potential roster spots in future seasons.
🔹 Phase II – Main Draft
When: Typically held the day after Phase I
Who: Any player under 21 years old who is not protected by another USHL team (and not on an affiliate list).
Purpose
This draft fills out next season’s active and training camp rosters.
Details
- Open to a wide age range — players from U16 up to junior-aged players (up to 20 years old).
- Teams draft until they reach 45 total players on their roster (including returners, affiliates, and tenders).
- Players taken here can immediately compete for roster spots in training camp for the upcoming season.
🔹 Other Ways Players Join
✳️ Tenders
Before the draft, teams can sign “tender” agreements with top young players — essentially using a Phase I pick early in exchange for a commitment.
- A tendered player skips the draft and automatically joins that USHL team.
- Each team can usually sign two tenders per year.
✳️ Free Agents
Undrafted players can still make teams by earning invites to main camp and signing as free agents.
🔹 Summary Table
| Draft Phase | Player Age | Purpose | Key Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase I (Futures) | ~15 years old (U16) | Build affiliate list | Develop future players |
| Phase II (Main) | Up to 20 years old | Fill roster for next season | Compete for camp spots |
| Tenders | Pre-draft | Lock in elite prospects | Skip the draft |
Here’s a full breakdown of how the NAHL Draft works:
🧭 Overview
The NAHL (North American Hockey League) Draft is the main way teams add North American players who are not already protected on another team’s roster or tender list. It’s typically held in early June each year — about a month after the Robertson Cup (the NAHL championship).
It’s similar to other junior drafts, but with a few unique twists related to age eligibility, tenders, and roster rules.
🧑💻 Who Is Eligible
Players eligible for the NAHL Draft must meet all of the following:
- Under 21 years old as of December 31 of that year.
- Not currently on an NAHL roster or protected via tender.
- Not drafted by or playing for a team in the CHL (Canadian Hockey League) — though they can be playing midget, prep, high school, or another junior league (like the USPHL, EHL, or NA3HL).
So, eligible players often include:
- 16–20-year-olds from the U.S. or Canada.
- Players from NA3HL, USPHL, EHL, or high school/prep teams.
- Undrafted North Americans who played outside the NAHL the previous season.
🧾 How the Draft Works
- Order of Selection:
- Teams draft in reverse order of the standings from the previous season (worst to best).
- Expansion teams, if any, select first.
- Number of Rounds:
- There is no fixed number of rounds. The draft continues until all teams have filled their protected list, which includes both tendered and drafted players.
- Each team’s protected list limit is 60 players (combined between drafted, tendered, and returning rostered players).
- Selection Format:
- The draft is conducted online.
- Teams may pass when they no longer wish to make selections.
🤝 Tenders vs. Draft Picks
Before the draft, teams can sign players to tender agreements — essentially “contract rights” that take the place of a draft pick.
- Each team gets a set number of tenders per season (usually around 10).
- Once a player signs a tender with a team, they cannot be drafted by another.
- Tenders often go to top prospects teams want to secure early.
🧑🏫 After the Draft
- Drafted players are invited to the team’s main camp in July.
- If they perform well, they can earn a spot on the 25-man protected list heading into the season.
- Being drafted does not guarantee a roster spot — it gives the team exclusive NAHL rights to that player.
🔄 Connection to NA3HL & NAPHL
The NAHL has strong ties to its feeder leagues:
- Players from the NA3HL and NAPHL (youth/prep tier) are often heavily scouted and selected.
- Many drafted or tendered players come from those affiliate programs.
📅 Typical Timeline
| Event | Time of Year |
|---|---|
| End of regular season | April |
| Robertson Cup Finals | May |
| Tender signing period closes | Late May |
| NAHL Draft | Early June |
| Team main camps | July |
| Season begins | September |
Heres how the NCDC Draft works:
🏒 What is the NCDC?
The National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC) is a tuition-free junior hockey league operated by the USPHL (United States Premier Hockey League). It’s a Tier II-level league (not USA Hockey–sanctioned, but structured similarly to the NAHL), focused on developing players for NCAA Division I and III college hockey.
📅 Draft Timing
- The NCDC Entry Draft usually takes place in May or June, after the conclusion of the season.
- The draft precedes the league’s summer tryout camps and main camps.
⚙️ Draft Eligibility
Players eligible for the NCDC Draft:
- Are typically born between 2005 and 2009 (ages 16–20).
- Have not already signed a standard player agreement (SPC) with an NCDC team.
- May come from USPHL Premier/Elite, AAA, Prep School, High School, or International programs.
- There is no citizenship restriction — U.S. and international players can be drafted.
📋 How the Draft Works
- Teams draft in rounds, usually about 8–10 rounds (though it can vary).
- The draft order is determined by the previous season’s standings — weaker teams pick earlier.
- Teams can trade draft picks prior to or during the draft.
- Once a player is drafted, the team owns that player’s NCDC rights for the upcoming season.
- This does not mean the player must play for that team — it means no other NCDC team can sign him without a trade or release.
- Drafted players are then invited to the team’s main camp in the summer to earn a roster spot.
📄 After the Draft
- Teams announce their draft results publicly (often via the USPHL website and social media).
- Drafted players usually receive a camp invitation and can attend that team’s main or futures camp.
- If the player makes the final roster, he’ll sign a Standard Player Agreement (SPC) — making him officially part of that organization for the season.
🔁 Other Ways to Join
Players who are not drafted can still:
- Attend NCDC team tryouts or combines.
- Be signed as free agents if they impress coaches at camps or showcases.
🧭 In Short
| Step | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Teams draft eligible players (ages ~16–20) |
| 2 | Draft order based on previous season |
| 3 | Teams gain NCDC rights to players they pick |
| 4 | Players attend main camps to earn a roster spot |
| 5 | Undrafted players can still make teams through camps or combines |
