National Collegiate Development Conference

The National Collegiate Development Conference is the name of a Tier II Junior A (Tuition free) league announced on October 6, 2016.  The United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL )announced they had submitted a formal application with USA Hockey to be certified as a Tier II league and that the matter was rejected by USA Hockey at a special meeting held on the topic in early December 2016.  The bid was rejected on two technicalities: the proposal was for 11 teams as opposed to 12 teams and a 50 game regular season as opposed to the required 60 minimum.
The league was announced as a tuition free league that will be based in the northeastern section of the United States.  Eleven organizations that are already affiliated with the USPHL were announced as having been accepted in the proposed league.
The creation of the Tier-II league was apparently originally on the agenda for USA Hockey's January 2016 meetings. There was a proposed rule change involving rink standards which was put forward by the USPHL. Based on logistics this process would probably stop or diminish the North American Hockey League presence in the northeastern United States. Not all members of the Premier Division (only 7 of the 11 members for the 2016-17 season) were to be involved in the jump to Tier-II as there were other factors other than rink standards that came into play with the elevation in level.
The stated intent of the league was stated as:
: "For many years East Coast hockey players have desired a tuition-free option of junior hockey," said USPHL Commissioner Jeff Nygaard.  "We have always been told it would never happen.  The USPHL owners and operators are now making that happen through their continued commitment to both junior hockey an NCAA Division I development opportunities"
: Players who desire to stay closer to home in the East will now have not only a tuition-free option but be able to compete in what the USPHL feels will become a pipeline for training, development and NCAA Division I advancement. With 56 percent of NCAA Division I schools in the Northeast -- which matches up with the USPHL’s tuition-free footprint -- the scouting and development opportunities will increase significantly. Last year the USPHL had over 300 college commitments and the league plans on that number steadily growing as the tuition-free league solidifies itself in the marketplace"
==2017-18 Season==
On December 22, 2016 the USPHL announced that the Boston Bandits, Connecticut Nighthawks, Hartford Jr. Wolfpack, New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs, New Jersey Rockets, and Northern Cyclones organizations are leaving the Eastern Hockey League and joining the United States Premier Hockey League for the 2017-18 season. This moved would bring six premier level and five elite junior teams. The 16U, 18U and youth programs of these organizations would also be involved in this move. The Boston Bandits, New Jersey Rockets, and Northern Cyclones would be also be part of the National Collegiate Development Conference when it commences play for the 2017-18 season.USPHL press release announcing proposed league
The Connecticut Nighthawks would later drop from the NCDC but join the USPHL's Premier division for 2017-18.
On November 2, 2017 the league announced that the New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs would be added to the league for the 2018-19 season.
==2018-19 Season==
On March 16, 2018 the Syracuse Stars announced that they were moving their NCDC, Premier and U-18 Tier 1 teams to the Adirondack Bank Center at Utica Memorial Auditorium in Utica, New York for the 2018-19 season. The Stars will retain a Tier 1 U-16 team in Syracuse. The relocated teams will retain the Syracuse Stars moniker.
==2019-20 Season==
According to a January 28, 2019 posting on the oursportscentral.com website the Lewiston, Maine-based Twin City Thunder organization will be adding a team to the NCDC for the 2019-20 season.https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/weekly-sports-league-and-franchise-report/n-5442352 The organization presently has a team in the premier division of the USPHL. 
The league posted this change along with the return of the Rochester Monarchs as well as the renaming of the Syracuse Stars to the Utica Jr. Comets for the 2019-20 season.https://www.usphl.com/page/show/3853868-ncdc
==2020-21 Sesaon==
*On November 14, 2019 the league announced that the Philadelphia Hockey Club had purchased the NCDC franchise rights for the Boston Bandits and wold be added to the league for the 2020-21 season.https://www.usphl.com/news_article/show/1064939?referral=rss
*On June 3, 2020 the USPHL announced the addition of the Boston Advantage to the NCDC along with Premier Division, 18U, 16U, and 15U teams. The organization had previously only had youth level teams and would be based out of the Pilgrim Skating Arena in Hingham, Massachusetts.https://www.usphl.com/news_article/show/1107822
*The Rochester Monarchs were notified sometime in January or February of 2020 they were to be removed from the NCDC after the 2019-20 season due to on ice performance. The organization would also later withdraw from the USPHL's Premier Division in order to focus on youth hockey.http://www.rochesterjrmonarchs.com/news/press-release
==2021-22 season==
The league membership remains constants for the 2021-22 season.
==2022-23 season==
*The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights are added to the league.https://www.usphl.com/news_article/show/1207253
==2023-24 season==
*On June 30, 2022 the league announced the expansion of 6 teams to form a western division to begin play with the 2023-24 season. The Utah Outliers, Ogden Mustangs, Pueblo Bulls, Northern Colorado Eagles, Idaho Falls Spuds, and the Provo Predators were announced as the teams.https://www.usphl.com/news_article/show/1231333?referral=rss
==Teams==
National Collegiate Development Conference	National Collegiate Development Conference 	National Collegiate Development Conference
Team 	Location 	Arena
Boston Advantage 	Hingham, Massachusetts 	Pilgrim Skating Arena
Boston Jr. Bruins 	Marlborough, Massachusetts 	New England Sports Center
Connecticut Jr Rangers 	Stamford, Connecticut 	Chelsea Piers
Islanders Hockey Club 	Tyngsborough, Massachusetts 	Skate 3
Jersey Hitmen 	Wayne, New Jersey 	Capital One Bank Ice Vault Arena
New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs 	Hooksett, New Hampshire 	Tri-Town Ice Arena
New Jersey Rockets 	Berkeley Heights, New Jersey 	Prudential Center & Bridgewater Sports Arena
Northern Cyclones 	Hudson, New Hampshire 	Cyclones Arena
P.A.L. Jr. Islanders 	Hauppauge, New York & Syosset, New York 	The Rinx-Hidden Pond Park & Islanders Iceworks
Philadelphia Hockey Club 	Sewell, New Jersey 	Hollydell Ice Arena
South Shore Kings 	Foxborough, Massachusetts 	Foxboro Sports Center
Twin City Thunder 	Auburn, Maine 	Androscoggin Bank Colisée
Utica Jr. Comets 	Utica, New York 	Adirondack Bank Center at Utica Memorial Auditorium
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights (2022-23) 	Pittston, Pennsylvania (primary)Binghamton, New York (secondary)	Revolution Ice Centre (primary) Ice House Sports Complex (secondary)
==Seasons==
Season 	Regular Season Champion	Playoff Champion
2017-18	Islanders Hockey Club 	Islanders Hockey Club
2018-19	Jersey Hitmen 	Boston Jr. Bruins
2019-20	Jersey Hitmen 	Playoffs Cancelled
2020-21	Jersey Hitmen 	Jersey Hitmen
2021-22	Jersey Hitmen 	Jersey Hitmen
2022-23	Jersey Hitmen 	P.A.L. Jr. Islanders
2023-34	P.A.L. Jr. Islanders 	South Shore Kings
==Referernces==
Category:Established in 2016
Category:United States Premier Hockey League