Event To Be Held At The Ice Vault Arena In Wayne, N.J., Beginning April 25
The National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC) is pleased to announce the game schedule for the 2025 Dineen Cup Championship Series that will be held at the Ice Vault Arena in Wayne, N.J., running from April 25-29*, 2025 (* = April 29 game will be played if necessary)
The Format
- Double Elimination Tournament
- Featuring the Mountain, New England, Atlantic Divisional Champions
- One Wild Card Team will also qualify – the team with the most points from among the losing teams in the Atlantic and New England Divisional Finals.
Building A Major Event
“The NCDC is tremendously excited to be holding the Dineen Cup Championship Series in Wayne, N.J., the first time a single site will host the semifinals and finals since 2021,” said Tony Zasowski, Deputy Commissioner of the USPHL. “The new format for 2025 will provide a chance for NCAA and NHL scouts to see the NCDC’s top four title-contending teams hitting the ice in one building, giving our outstanding student-athletes the best opportunity for college and pro advancement.”
Dineen Cup History
The Dineen Cup is named for late coach Gary Dineen, a driving force in raising the profile of U.S. junior hockey, especially in the northeastern U.S. that had traditionally been dominated by prep school hockey. The NCDC Dineen Cup Champions since the league’s 2017-18 founding are the Islanders Hockey Club (2018), Boston Junior Bruins (2019), Jersey Hitmen (2021 and 2022), P.A.L. Jr. Islanders (2023) and South Shore Kings (2024).
Schedule
All Games to Be Played At Ice Vault Arena, Wayne, N.J.
All Times Are EST
Friday, April 25
Game 1: #1 Seed vs. #4 Seed, 3:30 p.m.
Game 2: #2 Seed vs. #3 Seed, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 26
Game 3: Game 1 Losing Team (0-1) vs. Game 2 Losing Team (0-1), 3:30 p.m.
Game 4: Game 1 Winning Team (1-0) vs. Game 2 Winning Team (1-0), 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 27
Game 5: Game 3 Winning Team (1-1) vs. Game 4 Losing Team (1-1), 1:30 p.m.
Monday, April 28:
Championship Game: Game 4 Winning Team (2-0) vs. Game 5 Winning Team (2-1), 1:30 p.m.
Tuesday, April 29 (if necessary)
If the Game 4 Winning Team Loses On April 28 (And Fall To 2-1), They Will Play A Rematch vs. Game 5 Winner (3-1), 1:30 p.m.
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 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 4,200 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.
