The USPHL’s National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC) will crown its champion this weekend at the Dineen Cup Finals, hosted at the Ice Vault in Wayne, New Jersey — and eleven Tier 1 Hockey Federation (THF) alumni will take the ice, representing three of the top four teams battling for the title.
Among the contenders, the #4 seeded South Shore Kings feature one THF alumnus: Payton Kender, who competed with the Kings’ THF program during the 2022-23 season.
The #2 seeded Northern Cyclones boast the most THF representation with six alumni:
- Riley Casey and Taylor Casey – formerly with the NY Dynamo
- Jackson Furman and Aidan Petroff – former member of the Pittsburgh Stars
- Noah Tano and Ian Tuffin – both came through the Cyclones’ own THF 18U program
The #3 seed Mercer Chiefs roster includes four THF alumni:
- Dom Gatto, Jack Gricus, and John Terhaar – all moved up through the Chiefs’ THF program
- Jack Ammons – previously with the Pittsburgh Stars during the 2023-24 season
Founded in 2017, the NCDC is the tuition-free Tier II conference of the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL) and has become one of the premier development leagues in the country. The league has produced more than 260 NCAA Division I players and over 1,000 NCAA players overall, with 250+ alumni active in professional hockey worldwide during the 2023-24 season.
The THF proudly celebrates the continued success of its alumni at the junior and collegiate levels. To be featured on the THF website, coaches and alumni are encouraged to share updates about their players’ achievements by filling out the form at the following link here
We look forward to highlighting the journeys of THF players as they advance in their hockey careers!