By Joshua Boyd / NCDCHockey.com
The 2024-25 season marked a major step forward for the Boston Jr. Rangers, Worcester Railers Junior Hockey Club, and Boston Dogs, as all three organizations made their debut in the National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC). Each came from a league playing at a lower tier of junior hockey, but despite the challenges, the trio has collectively embraced the jump with strong progress both on and off the ice.
Among the three, the Worcester Railers clinched a playoff spot in their inaugural NCDC campaign, while all three organizations took big strides in raising their level of competition and increasing NCAA exposure for their athletes. For each club, the NCDC represented a clear upgrade in competition, professionalism, and opportunity.
Rangers & Railers: A Dual-Organization Leap Forward
Mike Sorabella, co-owner of both the Boston Jr. Rangers and Worcester Railers JHC, reflected on the move with pride and optimism.
“When we signed with the NCDC and USPHL last June, our Rangers and Railers teams had already been largely recruited to play [in our prior league],” said Sorabella. “As we made the league change to the NCDC, we expected the level of play would be a full step up, but it really was two steps up.”
Despite that initial challenge, Sorabella’s teams adapted quickly and made the most of the opportunity. One of the major benefits cited was the longer NCDC schedule—54 regular season games compared to just 46 in their previous league.
“That provided our players with more opportunities to be seen by colleges,” he said. The payoff has already begun, with 15 NCAA commitments between the two teams this season alone, and more expected in the coming months.
Looking ahead to 2025-26, Sorabella is confident the foundation they’ve built will allow them to compete at an even higher level.
“We use our coaches’ networks and keep an eye on player movement, whether it is from Canada, Europe, or other U.S. leagues,” he said. “Our recruiting success stems from the strength of our coaching staff, our facilities and on-site resources, the amount of practice ice we make available, and the exposure this league provides.”
Sorabella also praised the NCDC’s structure, citing the league’s Competition Committees and quarterly Board meetings as critical tools for transparency and collaboration among member organizations.
“It’s clear that the USPHL’s priority is to be the most competitive and best-run junior league. We are very pleased with the transition. We know we made the right long-term decision.”
Boston Dogs: Trial By Fire and a Gritty Comeback
While the Rangers and Railers entered with a full offseason of preparation, the Boston Dogs were thrown into the fire mid-season. Originally slated to join the NCDC in 2025-26, the Dogs made an early move after their previous league suspended the team following their announcement to leave.
“It was not an expected move, so the overall transition for us was difficult,” said Dogs owner Russ deMariano. “I did not know the NCDC too well before making the transition, but upon the immediate jump, I realized they were two completely separate levels.”
Their inaugural road trip—a cross-country journey to face the Pueblo Bulls in Colorado—served as a stark wake-up call.
“The second game of that trip was essentially a tryout to see who really could play in the NCDC,” deMariano recalled. “It helped that our goalie stood on his head in the second game, but we still had to retool roughly half or three-quarters of our roster.”
By leveraging trades and acquisitions from other NCDC organizations, the Dogs rebuilt their team mid-season with players who were previously depth pieces elsewhere, but became impact players in Boston. Their efforts paid off with an impressive 9-13-1-0 stretch after January 1, including a statement win over the defending Dineen Cup Champion South Shore Kings.
“We won 11 out of 31 overall, and many of the players we picked up are eligible to return next season,” deMariano said. “We picked up two ’06 players from the NAHL, and we’ve tendered some high-end players. It’s an overall great experience for these players. It’s a learning curve, but I see us being very competitive next year.”
The Dogs also celebrated five NCAA commitments in their abbreviated season, and deMariano expressed deep appreciation to the NCDC for helping them finish what could have been a lost season.
Bright Futures Ahead
For the Railers, Rangers, and Dogs, the 2024-25 season was more than just a transition—it was a transformation. With a higher level of play, more exposure, and a unified commitment to development, all three teams are setting themselves up for even greater success in Year 2 and beyond.
The first season in the NCDC has proven not just viable—but valuable—as each organization forges a new legacy at the Tier II level.
