The National Collegiate Development Conference announced today the addition of four new teams to its growing league. Universel Academy (New England Division) and Grand Junction RiverHawks (Mountain Division) will join as brand new teams in the League, while the NY Dynamo (New England Division) has acquired the Seacoast Spartans and will relocate and rebrand the team. The Junior Bruins (New England Division) also announced their promotion from the Premier Division to the NCDC.
“The NCDC is focused on being a primary step for players on The Pathway To College Hockey,” said United States Premier Hockey League Deputy Commissioner Tony Zasowski. “We have identified the key areas of focus for the league’s growth and relocation. The league is excited to expand the West in Canada, and in New England. We welcome our newest partners, we welcome back NCDC founding member the Junior Bruins and we are expanding the New England Division footprint with the NY Dynamo’s purchase and relocation of the Seacoast Spartans to Clifton Park, New York.”
Universel Academy (New England Division)
The NCDC comes to Canada for the first time in league history with Universel Academy, based in Sherbrooke, Quebec. The team will play its home games in Vermont in the New England Division. Marco Pietroniro is the director of the Universel Academy NCDC team.
“Things are going well with the Premier teams in the Canada Division, so having an NCDC team that will practice in Quebec is a plus as far as being able to present opportunities to players to advance to reach the next level,” said Marco Pietroniro. “We are thrilled to be the first Canadian representative in the NCDC.”
Grand Junction RiverHawks (Mountain Division)
The Grand Junction RiverHawks will play and train at the River City Sportplex in Grand Junction, Colorado, a growing western city with a population of 170,000.
“We look forward to hosting a team the community will find entertaining while developing strong regional relationships,” said RiverHawks Vice President and General Manager Darren Naylor. “The RiverHawks will be a major stepping-stone for players to continue their NCAA aspirations.”
NY Dynamo (New England Division)
The NY Dynamo have acquired the Seacoast Spartans and will relocate the team from Exeter, New Hampshire, to the Capital Ice Arena in Clifton Park, New York. The NY Dynamo NCDC Team will benefit from the franchise’s already robust youth hockey development programs, which compete in the Atlantic Hockey Federation and Tier 1 Hockey Federation.
“The NY Dynamo’s overall development model focuses on progressing youth hockey players on a path leading through high-level youth hockey to junior hockey, then to college hockey and beyond,” said Josh Laber, NY Dynamo Owner. “The USPHL provides tremendous opportunities for players to help them carve their path to college hockey.”
Junior Bruins (New England Division)
The Junior Bruins continue to grow their development pathway as their Premier team will be promoted to the NCDC team for 2025-26. The Junior Bruins fielded an NCDC team until last season and were the 2019 Dineen Cup Champions. Playing out of the New England Sports Center in Marlborough, Massachusetts, the team will add to the growing legacy of the franchise’s commitment to junior hockey.
“The Junior Bruins have been a national leader in the junior hockey marketplace for college commitments for over 20 years,” said General Manager Mike Anderson. “We have seen the evolution of junior hockey and the changing landscape of amateur hockey for many years and are uniquely qualified to use our experience and relationships to best guide our players to the highest levels of hockey possible.”
