FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Boston, MA – November 11, 2024
The Boston Dogs, owned by Russ DeMariano, will officially join the tuition free Tier II National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC) for the 2025-26 season.
Leading the team as Head Coach and General Manager will be Cody Gonyeau, who currently serves as the Assistant GM of the Chippewa Falls team in the tuition free Tier II North American Hockey League (NAHL) and previously was with the Northeast Generals in the NAHL. Gonyeau will relinquish those duties along with other coaching duties of a pay-to-play Tier III Eastern Hockey League team as he joins the Dogs full time for next season.
“The NCDC is the top league in New England with a history of sending numerous players to Division I college hockey,” said Russ DeMariano, owner of the Dogs. “We look forward to advancing our youth and academy players to the Dogs and contending for a Dineen Cup.”
“The NCDC is excited to welcome the Boston Dogs to the league,” said Tony Zasowski, Commissioner of the NCDC. “They bring with them a strong tradition of developing players and promoting them to NCAA Division I hockey. With almost 100 NCAA Division I college hockey commitments in 2023-24, the NCDC represents the top pathway for our players, and the addition of the Dogs makes our tuition free Tier II NCDC stronger.”
The Boston Dogs will join an impressive roster of NCDC teams committed to providing players with a premier pathway to collegiate hockey and beyond. As the Dogs integrate into the league, they are expected to bring not only talent but also a legacy of success that will contribute to the tuition free NCDC’s mission of fostering high-level competition and development.
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 tuition free Tier II National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC) and our pay-to-play Tier III Premier and Elite conferences, 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. The USPHL has also had 18 players who played in the NCDC drafted by NHL teams.
