NAHL announces 2016 Top Prospects Tournament

October 27, 2015

The North American Hockey League (NAHL) has announced that the 2016 NAHL Top Prospects Tournament, presented by Easton, will be held from February 15-16 at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Michigan.  In cooperation with the NAHL event, the NA3HL will also play their respective 2016 Top Prospect Tournament at the same venue on the same days. In addition, the NAPHL Championship will conclude with its 18U and 16U Championship games at the event as well.

 

100 total players from the NAHL will be spread amongst five teams, who will play in two games each during the event.  The event will feature teams that represent the four divisions in the NAHL: Central, East, Midwest and South, along with an NAHL Selects team comprised of those identified as potential NHL prospects along with some of the top younger players currently playing in the NAHL.

 

“With the addition of the USNTDP, as well as, the NAPHL Championship and NA3HL Top Prospect Tournament, our Top Prospects event keeps getting bigger and better,” said NAHL Commissioner Mark Frankenfeld. “We are excited about the opportunity to take the event to the USA Hockey Arena, which provides our players with a great environment to showcase their skills. The Top Prospects event continues to set itself apart with a unique look at the best uncommitted players our league has to offer, as well as, some of our best, young stars.”

 

The NAHL is also pleased to announce that the US National Team Development Program (NTDP) will also take part in the NAHL event. The NAHL and the NTDP have a rich and productive 12-year history together, as the NTDP was a full-time member of the NAHL from 1997-2009 and has been a part of the NAHL Top Prospects Tournament for the past two seasons.

 

 

1:30pm: East Division vs. South Division

4:30pm: Central Division vs. NAHL Selects

7:30pm: Midwest Division vs. USNTDP

 

11:00am: Central Division vs. South Division

2:00pm: Midwest Division vs. East Division

5:00pm: NAHL Selects vs. USNTDP

 

In a very short period of time, the NAHL Top Prospects Tournament has become one of the most highly-scouted events of its kind.  Last season, over 200 scouts attended the event, which featured almost every NHL team and NCAA Division I school.  Over a third of the players that competed in last year’s event ended up with an NCAA Division I opportunity. Combined in 2016 with the NAPHL Championship games and the NA3HL Top Prospect Tournament, it will make for an exciting week of hockey and provides a great opportunity for every scout and coach to get a close look the talent in the three leagues.

 

Only those NAHL players without an NCAA commitment are eligible to participate in the NAHL Top Prospects Tournament, with the exception of those who will be playing on the NAHL Selects team.  Each of the teams will consist of a 20-man roster (12 forwards, 6 defensemen, 2 goaltenders). Each team will play two games at the event.