The Tier II National Collegiate Development Conference of the USPHL is making a rule change for the 2024-2025 season.
Moving forward, the NCDC will allow unlimited twenty year old players in all divisions. This monumental rule change will open the NCDC up to accept more import players from Canada and Europe, as well as allow teams to keep players they would have otherwise had to release due to limits.
When the NCDC was founded, the idea was to develop players in a more similar way to the USHL as opposed to other leagues. That plan created a youth movement out east as the NCDC established itself as a viable Tier II option for players.
Now, much more established, and growing, the NCDC can afford to open the doors to keep its older players and compete for older players who otherwise would not be able to play int he NCDC.
Opening the doors to more Canadian players who are released from Major Junior, and Junior A teams due to twenty year old player limits will create new options outside of Junior B for those players. The increase in players moving south of the Canadin border is expected to make an immediate impact.
More importantly, players cut from USHL teams due to over age limits will now not be forced to go to the BCHL. It makes a lot more sense for these players to stay in the US and play in the NAHL and NCDC in order to be seen more often by NCAA scouts.
This shift will increase the talent level, while allowing the player pool to remain deep for continued expansion.
TJHN wil update this story and have more NCDC news in the coming weeks.
