USHL ENTERS INTO AFFILIATION AGREEMENT WITH TIER 1 ELITE LEAGUE
Chicago, IL – The United States Hockey League and the Tier 1 Elite League today announced that they will enter into a national agreement that will make the Tier 1 Elite League the official youth hockey affiliate of the USHL. The Tier 1 Elite League, the top elite youth hockey league in the United States, is comprised of top-tier youth hockey organizations throughout the U.S. competing in multiple age groups – from Squirt all the way up to Midget Major levels.
From its base of 19 existing teams, the league recently granted membership to the D.C. Capitals, Milwaukee Junior Admirals, Oakland (Michigan) Junior Grizzlies, and the Thunder program based in Atlanta, Georgia.
The Rocky Mountain RoughRiders AAA program and the Las Vegas Storm are now members of the USHL Member Club ownership, bringing the number of teams preparing for 2011-12 Tier 1 play to 25.
The Rocky Mountain RoughRiders program, based in Westminster, Colorado, is operated by Tony Sdao, owner of the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders commence play in 2011-12 season along with the Las Vegas Storm, operated by Kirk Brooks, owner of the USHL’s Tri-City Storm.
In the initial phase of the agreement, the USHL will bring its marketing, public relations, player development and organizational assets to the Tier 1 Elite League, and will work with the league’s nationwide web of youth programs to develop enhanced standards of coaching, training, academic progress, cost controls, and stability – reflecting the standards observed by USHL Member Clubs. The USHL will have a consistent presence at the Tier 1 Elite League’s schedule of national showcases, and the two organizations will enter into a planning phase for more and enhanced events.
“This represents the culmination of a lot of hard work with some of the most important development partners in youth hockey in the United States,” said USHL Commissioner Skip Prince. “As with any partnership of this potential magnitude, we want to walk before we run, and see where we can be most effective with each other – but as you can see, this represents not only a commitment by the USHL to elite youth hockey at the league level, but the direct participation of our owners in Tier 1 League competition. This is the most effective way we know to implement USA Hockey’s education-based development model at the elite level. We’re excited about what this can mean for the growth of hockey in the U.S.”
The strength of the Tier 1 Elite League programs was reflected in Monday’s USHL Entry Draft, when a total of 56 players were selected from the league’s programs, representing 26% of the 216 players drafted.
“The Tier 1 Elite Hockey League Board of Governors and the entire Tier 1 Elite Hockey League are excited to venture into a working relationship with the USHL,” added T1EHL Commissioner Larry Johnson. “The Tier 1 Elite Hockey players participate in the nation's premier youth hockey environment and a relationship with the USHL will afford T1EHL players the opportunity to develop their potential towards becoming a USHL player.”
Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, the USHL celebrates its ninth season as the nation's only Tier I junior hockey league in 2010-11. With over 250 players from this season already committed to NCAA Division I schools and 18 NHL Entry Draft picks that were on League rosters this season, the USHL is the nation's foremost producer of junior hockey talent. For more information, visit us on the web at www.USHL.com.
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United States Hockey League (USHL)
1327 W. Washington Blvd., Suite 3C, Chicago, IL 60607 312-546-7300 phone; 312-546-7330 fax Director of Communications: Brian Werger, werger@ushl.com
