Pics to Begin Play in Tuition-Free NCDC in 2025-26
West Springfield, Mass., Dec. 2, 2024 – The United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL) announced today that the Springfield Pics will join the tuition-free National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC) beginning in the 2025-26 season under General Manager/Head Coach Rob Bonneau. The Pics will be the 10th team joining the New England Division, a pivotal addition to the NCDC’s ongoing evolution. A founding member of the USPHL, the Pics play at Olympia Ice Center in West Springfield, Massachusetts. In addition to the NCDC team, the Pics will field a USPHL Elite team in 2025-26.
“We have been a proud member of the USPHL since its inception and are proud to announce our elevation to the NCDC division,” said Springfield Pics franchise owner Patrick Tabb. “This gives us the opportunity to once again compete for the Dineen Cup, named in honor of our founder, Gary Dineen. We are thrilled for this next chapter in our program and provisioning for more college hockey opportunities for players for many years to come.”
“The Springfield Pics have been a cornerstone of the USPHL since its inception,” said USPHL Deputy Commissioner Tony Zasowski. “As the NCDC continues to solidify its position as the key pathway to college hockey, we are thrilled to elevate the Pics to this next level.”
About Pics Hockey
The Springfield Pics were founded in 1972 as part of the New England Junior Hockey League. Under Head Coach Gary Dineen, the team won several Eastern Junior Hockey League Championships, and a number of Pics players went on to play in the NHL. The Pics were a founding member of the USPHL, going on to win the USPHL Elite Championship in 2014 and the 16U American Championship in 2020 and 2021. The Pics operate out of Olympia Ice Center, a three-rink facility in West Springfield, Massachusetts. For more information visit springfieldjrpics.com.
About The United States Premier Hockey League
Founded in 2012, the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL) is comprised of over 150 teams, fielding more than 20,000 players aged 8-21 in more than 100 organizations across the North, South, Midwest, West, and Canada. Our Junior Divisions consist of the National
Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC), a tuition-free Tier 2 Junior hockey division and our Premier and Elite Divisions, all geared toward college and pro placement.
Our youth and midget divisions (operated through the Tier 1 Hockey Federation) field full season 8U through 18U teams. The USPHL has sent over 8,000 players to all levels of college hockey all-time including over 3,700 into NCAA college hockey, with more than 550 advancing to NCAA Division I hockey in the 2023-24 season. The USPHL has also had 18 players who played in the NCDC drafted by NHL teams. For more information visit usphl.com.
