Hartford Connecticuit is the new home for USA Hockey’s Tier III Junior National Tournament. Wanting to make sure that all USA Hockey Tier III Junior Hockey Leagues participated in the National Tournament, a move back to the eastern United States was long rumored to be happening.
Rochester Minnesota had been the host of the USA Hockey Tier III National Tournament the past three years. Prior to that, the event had been in Marlborough, Mass., for three years.
Teams and leagues based on the East Coast had declined to participate in the National Tournament for the last few years. Many had cited travel expenses as a prohibiting factor.
All Tier III leagues have now committed to play in the National Tournament ending the 2013-2014 season.