The NCDC has never been a FREE league.
Even before the announcement that the NCDC would introduce Tuition- based teams into their league ( Boston Jr. Rangers and Railers Junior Hockey Club To Join USPHL | NCDC (ncdchockey.com) ) for the 2024-25 season, the fee structure involved with the NCDC, made it impossible for anyone to label the league a FREE league (like the USHL) or even a true Tuition- Free league (like the NAHL). With a registration fee that, depending on the year, is 10 to 20 times higher than a USA Hockey registration fee combined with, at minimum, billet or housing costs, a $3,000-$6,000.00 expense per year for the season should not be labeled FREE.
All these fees are acceptable however if the product on the ice matched the opportunity that the athletes were pursuing, and transparency and honesty were at the forefront of the arrangement.
In the USHL and NAHL, following USA Hockey’s strict roster guidelines, teams are capped at the number of players per team and in the USHL’s case the number of players per birth year. This creates a rigid adherence to the rules and protects both the players and parents pursuing this opportunity. Depending on the time of the year protected lists in both of these leagues protect not only the club in helping them retain the players they feel are integral to their rosters, but also the parents and players involved. By having protected lists capped at 30 and then shrunk to much smaller during the season, players are guaranteed an opportunity when on these rosters. They are guaranteed an opportunity to play.
These roster guidelines are not limited to the USHL and NAHL, both the NA3HL has a protected list of 25 and the EHL/ EHLP has a protected list of 30.
The NCDC/ USPHL has a 70 man protected list (NCDC DRAFT RESULTS | USPHL Premier Division ). This is more than DOUBLE any league in North America. This allows them to stockpile players, and hoard their rights, preventing them from playing for another organization in their league. In many cases, these players can be young talented players who need an opportunity to play and develop, or an age- out player who needs to play to be seen by schools.
Analyze some of these rosters from the NCDC’s Mountain Division-
Utah Outliers (60 Players)- Utah Outliers Roster NCDC 2023-2024 | NCDC (ncdchockey.com)
Rock Springs Grizzlies (8 Goalies) – Rock Springs Grizzlies Roster NCDC 2023-2024 | NCDC (ncdchockey.com)
Provo Predators (19 defenseman) – Provo Predators Roster NCDC 2023-2024 | NCDC (ncdchockey.com)
In total these 3 rosters have over 170 players, and only 11 College Commitments. All to Division II or Division III schools. ZERO Division 1 commitments either in current year or Alumni Commitments. Click on link to see – NCDC COMMITMENTS BY YEAR | NCDC (ncdchockey.com)
Players and Parents have to ask themselves… where is my opportunity? Where is the value in pursuing this league?
Do I pay thousands of dollars to play in the NCDC on a roster of 60, for an organization that has no record of consistent college placement, and ZERO record of Division 1 placement? Or do you pay to play in a league, with fees that are close to what you might pay in the NCDC (or in some cases less) and has a consistent record of advancement? Pay to Play leagues such as the CCHL and EHL all have limited roster sizes, and a consistent history of NCAA placement. Click on the below links for year by year advancement info from these leagues:
CCHL- NCAA COMMITMENTS | CCHL- Central Canada Hockey League (thecchl.ca)
EHL- NCAA Commitments (easternhockeyleague.org)
What is the value in pursuing an NCDC roster spot? What is the value in paying thousands of dollars to be rostered with 60 other players when only 21 can be dressed for games? If you’re athlete wants to play NCAA hockey what league provides him/ her the best chances to be seen and to commit?
As the NCDC moves forward with Pay to Play hockey and still retains their roster rules and protected lists, these are questions every parent should ask themselves on behalf of their athlete.
