USA Hockey Winter Gathering Aims to Promote the Sport
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The four-day USA Hockey Winter Meeting, which brought together over 350 hockey leaders from across the nation, wrapped up last Sunday (Jan. 18) in Nashville and included extensive discussions on various aspects of the game aimed at enhancing the sport.
“It’s invigorating to emerge from our meetings,” stated Pat Kelleher, executive director of USA Hockey. “I am consistently impressed by the enthusiasm and exchange of diverse viewpoints that contribute to advancing our sport. While the overall sentiment was that our game is in a favorable position, we recognize the necessity of remaining actively involved in adapting as our circumstances evolve.”
Development League Approved
In a notable advancement for player development, the USA Hockey Congress sanctioned the creation of the USA Hockey Development League (DL).
The Development League will not function as a conventional league but will instead be a network of Tier I youth programs nationwide working together to enhance player development. The DL aims to promote high performance development for both the 15U and 17U youth age divisions. It is expected to encompass 32 programs across the country that will feature DL teams dedicated to adhering to American Development Model (ADM) guidelines for each age group.
The selection of these programs will be based on various criteria, including, but not limited to, previous performance, dedication to player development, and a track record of player advancement. Once these programs are identified, each will establish DL teams within the specified age categories.
A FAQ can be found HERE, and further information will be provided as the initial DL program guidebook is finalized by early May.
“The DL represents the next step in enhancing our high performance initiatives to benefit the hockey community,” remarked Mike Trimboli, president of USA Hockey. “I appreciate the comprehensive process that was undertaken to gather insights and feedback from our affiliates, current Tier I operators, our partners in junior hockey, and numerous other interested parties. While we are enthusiastic about the future, there remains considerable work to prepare for the DL’s launch in time for the 2027-28 season.
Participation Remains Strong
During the meeting, participation statistics were presented, indicating year-over-year growth in the number of players, coaches, and officials. It is projected that the number of female players will exceed 100,000 for the first time this season. Donna Kaufman, vice president of USA Hockey and chair of the Membership Council, along with Ted Devine, assistant executive director of membership for USA Hockey, led a Town Hall presentation on Saturday (Jan. 17) that focused on analytics and introduced attendees to new methods, including the use of AI, through which USA Hockey will support affiliates and programs in comprehending their overall impact, including trends and opportunities to engage new families in the sport.
Olympics/Paralympics
The general managers of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic hockey teams, including Bill Guerin(men), Katie Million (women), and Dan Brennan (sled), were present and addressed attendees during Friday’s (Jan. 16) Town Hall. The U.S. approaches the Olympics and Paralympics as the top-ranked team globally in men’s hockey, women’s hockey, and sled hockey.
Membership Fees Set
The USA Hockey Congress approved membership fees for the 2026-27 season. USA Hockey uses the consumer price index as a reference for fee adjustments. An overview can be found HERE.
President’s Awards
USA Hockey President Mike Trimboli awarded President’s Awards to volunteers Chris Washburn (Old Town, Maine) and Jeremy Reed (New Ulm, Minnesota), as well as staff member Ben Tronnes (Mitchell, S.D.).
