The NCDC/ USPHL has announced a further expansion slated to begin in the 2025-26 season with 4 more teams joining the league. This announcement comes a few months after the league announced the Boston Jr Bruins were re-entering the league along with Universel, CP Dynamo, and the Springfield Pics. Only a few months prior to that announcement the league acquired the Boston Jr Rangers, Seacoast Spartans, Worcester Railers, and Boston Dogs would be joining the league.
This rapid expansion of teams and the NCDC footprint now has the league overlapping member organizations not only on the East Coast, but also in the Midwest and Eastern Canada. It was not detailed in the press release what this means in terms of tuition, fees, and registration requirements, but the most recent entries into the NCDC have all been pay to play teams at the “Tier II” level.
Here is their current footprint (excluding 4 new franchises), showing significant growth from their original 11 team lineup. NCDC Footprint • USPHL – United States Premier Hockey League
Many posters on social media shared many of the same questions as readers..
A previous hurdle for entry into the NCDC used to be funding. Will fans and attendance drive revenue? Will the team have advertising and sponsorship? Will their be revenue sharing?
With the new Pay to Play model available to NCDC organizations, joining the NCDC has never been more cost-effective, but does this make the league stronger? Will the Canadian NCDC teams make the league more attractive to colleges?
Early indications show the Canadian USPHL Premier organizations struggling to place players into NCAA hockey- USPHL Premier 2024-25 Commitments • USPHL – United States Premier Hockey League
NCDC teams are still committing schools at a robust rate, but now are including USports (Canadian College teams) as commitments- College Commitments • NCDC • USPHL – United States Premier Hockey League
A lot has changed and much more is to come in the coming years and months. Will the Pay to Play NCDC ever stop expanding? Stay tuned…
By Andrew Trimble
