The United States Premier Hockey League, and its tuition-free National Collegiate Development Conference, are proud to announce their 2020 NCDC Combines, set to take place in Detroit, Mich. (April 10-11) and Chicago, Ill. (May 1-2).

These Combines will feature guaranteed scouting opportunities by coaches from the USPHL’s Tier II tuition-free National Collegiate Development Conference, along with additional scouting opportunities with other USPHL teams.

Players born between Jan. 1, 2000, and Dec. 31, 2004, will be eligible.

Registration costs only $79 for each Combine. The USPHL is dedicated to providing a great value to prospective players to show their skills in front of NCDC coaches and begin new relationships.

Players will be guaranteed a minimum of three scrimmage games, and there will be goaltender-specific training sessions at each event. There will also be an informational seminar about the United States Premier Hockey League and its unparalleled USPHL Development Model.

The NCDC Detroit Combine (April 10-11) will be held at Fraser Hockeyland at 34400 Utica Road, Fraser, Mich., in the northern suburbs of Detroit, Mich. It is just over 30 minutes’ drive from Detroit Wayne County Airport.

Players can stay at the Hampton Inn Detroit/Roseville (33680 Gratiot Ave, Clinton Township, MI 48035) with a special room rate. The Hampton Inn is eight minutes’ drive from Fraser Hockeyland.

Register for the 2020 NCDC Detroit Combine:
https://usphlstats.sportngin.com/register/form/827747933

The NCDC Chicago Combine (May 1-2) will be held at the Fifth Third Arena at 1801 West Jackson Blvd., in Chicago, Ill. Fifth Third Arena is the practice facility for the Chicago Blackhawks. Located in downtown Chicago, it is just over 30 minutes drive from O’Hare International Airport, and under 30 minutes from Chicago Midway International Airport. There are countless lodging options in the Chicagoland area, all within a short drive of Fifth Third Arena.

Register for the 2020 NCDC Chicago Combine:
https://usphlstats.sportngin.com/register/form/784025157

Invitations to NCDC tryout camps for the 2020-21 season will be offered to select players from each Combine. The NCDC Draft will be held on May 15, and NCDC teams will be scouting players for potential selections in that event to be held less than two weeks after the Chicago Combine.

Combine Offerings

The cost for each three-day combine is $79, with a three-game guarantee as well as off-ice activities, and player evaluations.

Also included: jersey, skate sharpening, laundry, accredited on-ice officials, and medical staff on site.

There will also be a Q&A/information seminar during each combine, where players and their parents, if in attendance, can ask questions directly of NCDC coaches and USPHL league officials.

The USPHL and its tuition-free division, the NCDC, are providing an unparalleled, comprehensive on-and off-ice recruiting opportunity for players from throughout the United States. Sign up today, as registration will be limited.

About the NCDC

The NCDC is the only tuition-free junior hockey league that is fully located in the Northeastern United States, limiting travel to New York, New Jersey and the New England states. This allows players to spend more time on development, both on-and off-ice, than traveling on a bus.

With the unmatched USPHL Showcase Series, NCDC players have several opportunities each season to play in front of several scouts at well-attended multi-day, multi-tiered events.

There were more than 400 former players from the USPHL’s top division skating with NCAA hockey teams during the 2019-20 season. This included individual season-ending award-winners from multiple NCAA Division I conferences.

More than 100 players committed to college hockey out of the 2018-19 NCDC season alone, and more than 30 of those players advanced to NCAA Division I institutions from what was then a 12-team league.

USPHL alumni currently skating in the NHL include players such as Jack Eichel, Charlie Coyle, Brian Dumoulin, Jimmy Vesey and Trevor van Riemsdyk.

TOLEDO, Ohio – Both the Metro Jets and MJDP finished off road sweeps Saturday night.

The Jets scored four unanswered goals and defeated the Toledo Cherokee 4-3 at the Team Toledo Ice House, while the MJDP needed just a Parker Wolters power-play goal and 26 saves from Kris Eberly to blank the Midwest Blackbirds 1-0 at the Midwest Ice and Training Center in Dyer, Ind.

In Toledo, the Jets faced a 3-0 deficit after 20 minutes, but mounted a comeback that ended with Matt Bleim’s goal with 2:37 to go in the third period.

“‘Germs’ (Josh German) did a great job keeping the puck in at the blue line,” explained Bleim. “I picked it up off the wall and beat the defender wide. I just tried to stuff it high to make something happen and it ended up going in.

“That’s a huge win for the boys with playoffs on the horizon. Every game is a must-win for us, and this is a great start going into next weekend. We came together going into the third and battled our way back to get the win.”

Nolan Turi, Devon Fields and Trevor Granzow also scored, while Justin Renzi and Anthony Cinato each posted two assists.

Machus Turner made 23 saves in the win, including a key stop late in the game, as the Jets outshot Toledo 40-26.

“We knew Toledo would come out hard after last night’s big loss, and I’ll give them credit for battling and their goalie (Chad Simmerman) for keeping them in the game, but I’m extremely proud of our guys for fighting through all that adversity and pulling out a huge win,” said Jets coach-GM Justin Quenneville. “We had players sick and out with injuries and needed all our guys to commit to the game plan. You can tell our guys wanted it and every single guy played a big role tonight. We got big goals from Devon, ‘Granny,’ Nolan and ‘Bleimer,’ but I have to point out something I’ve never seen before.  

“Machus Turner came back in the second and third to make some huge saves, but none was any bigger than his last one where he put his face on the line with no helmet on. Naturally, it would have been called off if it went in, but to see a player willing to do whatever it takes to keep the puck out of the net is impressive. Between Will (Augustine) and Machus right now, if our guys keep playing with this heart, I can’t wait to see them down the stretch. Proud to be their coach today and look forward to continuing to go to battle with them.”

This Wednesday, the Jets host the Lansing Wolves at Fraser Hockeyland at 6:45 p.m.

Next weekend, the second-place Jets host the first-place Pittsburgh Vengeance for two at Fraser Hockeyland. Game times are 7:30 p.m. Saturday night and 10:30 a.m. Sunday.

Just four points separates the Jets (32-7-1, 65 points) from Pittsburgh (33-5-1-2, 69 points) in the Great Lakes Division, and Pittsburgh has played one more game than the Jets.

“We know that every game is playoff hockey right now,” Bleim said. “The boys know we have to win out to get first place, and that’s what we want. We are taking every game as it comes and giving it our all.”

Meanwhile in Indiana, the MJDP (19-18-2-0, 40 points, third place) completed the sweep with a total team effort.

“That was a playoff-type game,” Jets assistant coach Dan Pszenyczny said. “The boys battled through a lot of adversity in all three periods. It was a roller coaster of emotions on the bench but once we settled down, we started to control the pace of the game and had them running around.

“Wolters had a perfect shot on the power play that got the boys going, and we didn’t let up after that. Eberly then made a huge save late in the game that sealed it for us.”

The MJDP outshot the Blackbirds 70-26.

“This win was huge for the guys,” added Eberly. “We really needed these points for playoffs. The boys battled hard all weekend. I’m proud of these guys.

“I didn’t get much action, but I was able to make big saves to keep the lead for the guys. The defense made my job pretty simple tonight.”

The MJDP is seven points behind the second-place Decatur Blaze and four points up on the fourth-place Fort Wayne Spacemen in the Midwest East Division.

Next weekend, the MJDP hosts Lansing Saturday afternoon at 4:30 p.m. and the Detroit Fighting Irish Sunday afternoon at 1:30 p.m.

“We just have to keep building from this,” Eberly said. “Reset this week at practice and just play Metro hockey again next weekend, keeping the playoff mentality.”

The two games Saturday will be the Jets’ annual Heroes Games, where the organization will honor and recognize military, police officers, firefighters and first responders.

All games will be streamed on www.HockeyTV.com with live updates on the USPHL app.