NAPHL T1ER Levels Up in 2024-25

The North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) is proud to celebrate another significant milestone in player advancement, further reinforcing its integral role within the North American Hockey League (NAHL) family of leagues and its ongoing commitment to developing the next generation of hockey talent. 

The 2024-25 season has showcased the continued success of the NAPHL’s T1ER League, which remains a premier pathway to junior and collegiate hockey. This year introduced a landmark event, the inaugural NAHL Futures Draft, where each NAHL team selected two 2009-born players, underscoring the league’s forward-thinking approach to identifying and cultivating young talent. Following the 2025 NAHL Entry Draft on June 11th, the T1ER League once again demonstrated its value, with 75 players signing tenders for the upcoming season, seven selected in the Futures Draft, and more than 25 current players and alumni were chosen in the NAHL Draft.

“As we enter our 17th season, the benefits of the NAHL’s exclusive ladder of development through the T1ER League have never been more evident,” said Dennis Vickers, NAHL Director of Player Personnel. “NAHL teams are scouting these players consistently throughout the season, beginning with a first look at the NAHL Showcase in Blaine, MN—where all 34 NAHL teams, along with over 300 scouts from NCAA Division I and III, USHL, and NHL organizations are in attendance. We’ve also introduced the NAHL Experience Series by hosting T1ER events at NAHL venues to further enhance visibility. Beyond that, players gain valuable exposure through T1ER Top Prospects, NAHL Combines, the NAHL Prospects Challenge, and team pre-draft camps, all of which contribute to player advancement.”

No other youth league in USA Hockey offers a development and promotion model as comprehensive as the T1ER. Operated by the full-time staff of the NAHL, the league provides unmatched on- and off-ice exposure through a multi-platform approach. Players benefit from professional broadcasts of every game on NAHLtv, real-time stats, game highlights, event awards, and powerful scouting tools like NAScout and TPE Breakdown. With millions of annual impressions across digital channels and a growing reputation for producing next-level talent, the NAPHL T1ER continues to set the standard for elite youth hockey development in North America.