The USPHL
The United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL) is the largest amateur hockey league in the country, with more than 150 teams competing across multiple divisions — from youth programs all the way through elite junior hockey. Founded in 2012, the league was built around a single purpose: creating a clear, structured pathway for players who want to compete at the next level, whether that's college hockey, higher junior leagues, or professional play.
For the Columbus Mavericks, the USPHL isn't just a league affiliation — it's the foundation of what we do. Over seven seasons of competition, more than 50 Mavericks alumni have advanced to higher levels of play, including Tier 2 junior leagues, NCAA Division I and Division III programs, ACHA Division I and II programs, and minor professional leagues. That track record exists because the USPHL provides the competition, exposure, and infrastructure that serious players need — and because the Mavericks are intentional about how we develop players within it.
With the addition of our NCDC program for the 2026–27 season, the Mavericks now compete at both Tier 2 and Tier 3 within the USPHL, giving prospective players two distinct pathways within one organization.
NCDC
The National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC) is the USPHL's Tier 2 junior division and one of the most respected college prep leagues in North America. As a tuition-free junior league, the NCDC is designed specifically for players whose goal is NCAA hockey — providing the level of competition, national scheduling, and scout exposure that college programs expect to see.
NCDC teams compete on a national stage against other Tier 2 programs, with a schedule and showcase calendar built to maximize visibility with college coaches at every level. The league's track record of NCAA placements speaks for itself, and for players who are ready for that environment, it represents one of the most direct routes from junior hockey to a college roster.
The 2026–27 season marks the Columbus Mavericks' debut at the NCDC level. For players in the Columbus area and beyond who have the skill and drive to compete at Tier 2, this is an opportunity to pursue college hockey within a program that has spent eight seasons building the development culture, coaching staff, and alumni network to support that goal.
If you're a player with serious college hockey aspirations and you're ready to compete at the Tier 2 level, the Mavericks' NCDC program is worth a close look.
Premier
The USPHL Premier division is the largest junior hockey division in North America, and it has been the Columbus Mavericks' home for seven seasons. Premier is a competitive, development-focused environment where players continue to grow their game, earn exposure to college and junior scouts, and determine their next step in hockey.
For some players, Premier is the right level right now — and the right level is always the best level. Not every path to college hockey runs through Tier 2, and we don't believe in placing players in environments where they won't get the opportunity to develop and compete meaningfully. Within the USPHL Premier division, Mavericks players have earned advancement to Tier 2 leagues, NCAA programs, and beyond. The division works when the fit is right.
For others, Premier is a deliberate stepping stone — a place to sharpen skills, build consistency, and position themselves for a move to the NCDC or another Tier 2 program down the road. With both a Premier and an NCDC team now under the Mavericks umbrella, that internal pathway exists for players who earn it.
Either way, the conversation starts with an honest assessment of where you are and where you want to go. That's how we've done it for eight seasons, and it's not changing.
Elite
The USPHL Elite is the USPHL's entry-level junior division, designed specifically for younger junior-eligible players who are beginning their junior careers. It functions as a developmental on-ramp — a competitive environment where players can gain junior hockey experience with a clear eye toward advancement to the Premier and NCDC levels.
Elite teams are intentionally structured within multi-team organizations, ensuring that players who earn it have a direct internal pathway upward. The division's geographic footprint is concentrated along the Eastern Seaboard and Midwest, with divisional alignments designed to minimize travel and keep the emphasis on development over logistics.
The Columbus Mavericks do not currently field a USPHL Elite team. Players interested in the Elite level can explore options at usphl.com.