The Tier 1 Hockey Federation (THF) is proud to highlight Rockets Hockey Club defenseman Isaac Suh, who has officially announced his NCAA Division I commitment to the United States Air Force Academy for a future season beyond 2025–26.

Suh, a 2007-born native of Chatham, N.J., split the 2023–24 season between the Rockets’ NCDC team, where he appeared in 23 games, and their THF 18U team, where he played 22 games and tallied 16 points. He also skated for Chatham High School and represented the Rockets at USA Hockey Nationals, where his conversations with the Air Force coaching staff began.

“We began speaking after Nationals, where they saw me play,” Suh said. “They like my speed, puck retrievals, play-making abilities, and my instincts around the ice.”

Air Force, led by longtime Head Coach Frank Serratore, is one of college hockey’s most respected programs, with seven NCAA tournament appearances since 2007. For Suh, it was the complete package — on and off the ice.

“I really liked the team’s culture and environment, their play style, and I think the coaching staff is a great fit for me to succeed,” said Suh. “The academics are world class, and the military gives me the honor and opportunity to serve my country.”

Suh began the year with the NCDC team, gaining valuable experience and learning the habits required for success at the next level. He credits his second-half transition back to the Rockets’ 18U team under Head Coach Noel Rubin as instrumental in developing his game further.

“Playing in the NCDC helped me create habits that are needed to succeed at the next level,” said Suh. “But making the switch to 18U and playing for Coach Rubin helped my game a lot. I was able to play in a style that allowed for skill and creativity while also getting great exposure.”

Suh expects to join the Falcons after two to three seasons of junior hockey, and his focus in the meantime will be on building strength and sharpening his defensive game.

The Tier 1 Hockey Federation congratulates Isaac Suh on his commitment to the Air Force Academy and is proud to support his journey. The THF is dedicated to promoting the advancement of its players. Coaches, players, and families are encouraged to share college and junior hockey commitments through our official form here:
🔗 Submit a Commitment

The Pittsburgh Stars AAA Hockey Club of the Tier I Hockey Federation (TIHF) are pleased to announce that 18U defenseman Ethan Bombalski has signed a North American Hockey League (NAHL) tender agreement with the Kenai River Brown Bears Junior A club.

The 2024-25 season is Bombalski’s second season with the Star’s program and second with the Star’s U18 Midget Major squad.

The (5’10” / 180 lbs.) 18-year-old from Apollo, PA, registered 18 points (11 goals, 7 assists), including three power play goals, in 26 T1HF regular season and playoff appearances. Overall for the 2024-2025 campaign, Bombalski, a Kiski Area High School senior, tallied 55 points (21 goals, 34 assists), including five power play goals, in 68 games played for the Stars.

During the 2023-24 season, Bombalski, registered 7 points (2 goals, 5 assists), in 24 T1HF regular season and playoff appearances and overall tallied 23 points (5 goals, 18 assists), including one power play goal, in 58 games played for the Stars 18U squad.

“Ethan is a great pick-up for Kenai River,” said Pittsburgh Stars 18U head coach Dave Kosick. “He is without a doubt among the best players, and certainly one of the top defensemen, in the NAPHL T1ER League and will bring a very high-level two-way game to the Alaska and the Brown Bears.”

Bombalski was originally tendered in the NAHL by the Colorado Grit who placed their franchise into an “inactive status” for the upcoming 2025-26 season, thus releasing Bombalski from his original tender.

The Brown Bears, who skate in the NAHL’s nine-team Midwest Division, along with the Anchorage Wolverines (AK), Chippewa Steel (WI), Fairbanks Ice Dogs (AK), Janesville Jets (WI), Minnesota Wilderness, Springfield Jr. Blues (IL), and Wisconsin Windigos, play in the Soldotna Sports Center in Kenai River, AK.

The Tier 1 Girls Hockey Federation (TGHF) is proud to announce that Boston Hockey Academy (BHA) has joined as a founding member for its inaugural 2025-26 season. This addition further strengthens the league’s commitment to providing elite-level competition and development opportunities for female athletes across the Atlantic District and beyond.

Based in Greater Boston, Massachusetts, BHA is a Tier 1 AAA hockey academy renowned for its high-end development programs and a unique blend of academic and athletic excellence. The Girls Program at BHA currently fields teams at the 14U, 16U, and 19U levels, offering a comprehensive environment that combines top-tier coaching, state-of-the-art facilities, and a commitment to advancing players to junior and collegiate levels. 

BHA’s Girls Program is in the midst of significant growth, reflecting a dedication to supporting female athletes. The program provides a private school education combined with a full-length AAA-level season, all while being located in the vibrant hockey hub of Boston. 

The TGHF is thrilled to welcome Boston Hockey Academy to the league and looks forward to the competitive spirit and excellence they will bring to the inaugural season.

The Tier 1 Hockey Federation (THF) is proud to announce the launch of the Tier 1 Girls Hockey Federation (TGHF)—a new girls’ Tier 1 league set to debut in the 2025-26 season. This exciting expansion reflects the THF’s commitment to supporting the growth of high-level girls hockey across the Atlantic District and beyond.

The TGHF will begin play with four founding organizations: the CT Ice Cats, NJ Bandits, Team Long Island, and the Princeton Tiger Lilies. Each team will compete in a 12-game league schedule, followed by playoffs in March 2026.

The founding programs are established girls hockey organizations with strong roots in the Tier 1 landscape. Their affiliation with existing THF boys programs—such as the NJ Bandits with the Jersey Hitmen, and the Princeton Tiger Lilies with the Mercer Chiefs—further strengthens the connection between top-tier development on both the girls and boys sides.

As the THF continues to grow, the formation of the TGHF represents a natural evolution and a major step forward in providing structure, visibility, and elite competition for girls hockey at the highest youth level.

The TGHF is currently welcoming new members for its inaugural season. Organizations interested in joining can contact Nikki Miller at nmiller@blackbearsportsgroup.com for more information.

The THF is thrilled to launch this next chapter and looks forward to helping shape the future of girls Tier 1 hockey.

The Tier 1 Hockey Federation (THF) is excited to recognize the 36 players from THF and THF-affiliated programs who were selected in the 2025 NCDC Draft, marking another strong showing of the league’s player development success.

Across Phase I and Phase II of the draft, THF talent was well represented:
🔹 19 players were selected in Phase I, which featured 2009-born players.
🔹 17 more were selected in Phase II, which included eligible junior players not previously protected.

Players were selected from a wide range of THF organizations, with Connecticut Jr. Rangers, New Jersey Rockets, Team Maryland, Colorado Thunderbirds, Boston Hockey Academy, Seacoast Performance Academy, Pittsburgh Stars, and others contributing to the draft class.

This strong presence across both phases of the draft reflects the continued growth and credibility of the THF as a premier pathway for players aspiring to reach junior and collegiate hockey. The National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC), the tuition-free Tier II division of the USPHL, remains one of the top destinations for players aiming for NCAA and professional careers.

The THF congratulates all 36 players and their organizations on this accomplishment and looks forward to following their continued success at the next level.

📲 For more player advancement news, visit tier1hockeyfederation.com
🔗 Coaches and alumni can submit advancement updates here: Submit Advancement Form

The Tier 1 Hockey Federation (THF) is proud to recognize the 31 players with ties to THF-affiliated programs who were selected in the 2025 USHL Draft across both Phase I and Phase II. This milestone highlights the Federation’s growing impact on elite player development and advancement to the highest levels of amateur hockey in the United States.

A total of 15 players from THF organizations were selected in Phase I of the draft, which targets the 2009 birth year. An additional 16 players were chosen in Phase II, with many of those athletes having previously played for THF or affiliated programs during their youth hockey careers. While not all were drafted directly from THF teams, their foundational development and progression were shaped in part by their time within the Federation’s network.

The United States Hockey League (USHL) is the nation’s top junior league, known for producing NCAA Division I talent and NHL prospects. The presence of 31 players with THF roots in this year’s draft is a clear indicator of the caliber of competition and coaching available across the league.

The THF remains committed to creating a pathway for its athletes to reach the next level, whether that’s junior hockey, college hockey, or beyond. Congratulations to all 31 players on this outstanding accomplishment—your hard work and dedication continue to raise the bar for what’s possible within the Tier 1 Hockey Federation.

The Tier 1 Hockey Federation (THF) is excited to welcome South Kent School to the league for the upcoming 2025-26 season. South Kent becomes the latest prestigious program to join the THF’s growing national platform, which continues to attract top-tier teams focused on development, exposure, and high-level competition.

Based in South Kent, Connecticut, South Kent School has built a strong reputation as one of the country’s premier academic and hockey institutions. With a long track record of success, their hockey program has produced numerous NCAA Division I, junior, and professional players. The program is known for its balance of elite hockey development and rigorous academics, preparing student-athletes for success both on and off the ice.

“South Kent School is proud and excited to become a member of the THF League with all our hockey teams!” said Andrey Uryadov, Director of Hockey. “We are looking forward to great competition, exposure, and growth opportunities for our student-athletes!”

The addition of South Kent School strengthens the THF’s mission to provide a competitive and development-focused environment for players across North America. With over 50 member organizations and nearly 300 teams, the THF continues to offer a premier platform for youth hockey advancement.

The THF looks forward to South Kent School’s debut next season and is proud to support their continued growth and success.

The Tier 1 Hockey Federation (THF) proudly congratulates Rockets Hockey Club forward Vladimir Provorov on being selected in the 2025 Ontario Hockey League (OHL) Priority Selection Draft.

Provorov, a native of Yaroslavl, Russia, was chosen 37th overall by the Sudbury Wolves in the second round of this year’s draft. The dynamic forward has spent the past two seasons developing with the Rockets Hockey Club, earning recognition for his high-end skill and playmaking ability.

Following his selection, Provorov signed an OHL Scholarship and Development Agreement with the Wolves and is set to join the team for the 2025-26 season. He is also committed to play NCAA Division I hockey at Ohio State University, reinforcing his status as one of the top 2008-born players in his class with multiple elite-level development paths ahead of him.

Provorov’s draft and commitments are a testament to the strong development environment of the Rockets and the THF, which continues to support and elevate high-level talent on the pathway to junior and collegiate hockey.

The THF congratulates Vladimir on this incredible accomplishment and looks forward to following his continued success on the ice.

As always, the Tier 1 Hockey Federation is proud to highlight the advancement of its players. Coaches and alumni interested in being featured for junior or college hockey advancement can fill out our recognition form here:
🔗 Submit Your Story

The USPHL’s National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC) will crown its champion this weekend at the Dineen Cup Finals, hosted at the Ice Vault in Wayne, New Jersey — and eleven Tier 1 Hockey Federation (THF) alumni will take the ice, representing three of the top four teams battling for the title.

Among the contenders, the #4 seeded South Shore Kings feature one THF alumnus: Payton Kender, who competed with the Kings’ THF program during the 2022-23 season.

The #2 seeded Northern Cyclones boast the most THF representation with six alumni:

The #3 seed Mercer Chiefs roster includes four THF alumni:

Founded in 2017, the NCDC is the tuition-free Tier II conference of the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL) and has become one of the premier development leagues in the country. The league has produced more than 260 NCAA Division I players and over 1,000 NCAA players overall, with 250+ alumni active in professional hockey worldwide during the 2023-24 season.

The THF proudly celebrates the continued success of its alumni at the junior and collegiate levels. To be featured on the THF website, coaches and alumni are encouraged to share updates about their players’ achievements by filling out the form at the following link here

We look forward to highlighting the journeys of THF players as they advance in their hockey careers!

The Tier 1 Hockey Federation (THF) proudly congratulates Hudson Salvador and Braden Horton, both affiliated with the New Jersey Rockets, on their selection to the U.S. National Team Development Program (NTDP) Under-17 Team for the 2025-26 season.

Salvador, a longtime standout with the Rockets, will be one of 23 elite 2009-born players selected from across the country to represent the United States with the NTDP U17 team. He has been a consistent presence in the Rockets organization.

Joining him is Braden Horton, a Rockets alum who played for the 13U team during the 2022-23 season.

Both players will compete in the United States Hockey League (USHL) and international events next season, as part of the NTDP’s premier development program based in Plymouth, Michigan. The NTDP is recognized as one of the most prestigious platforms for preparing players for NCAA, professional, and international success.

The THF is proud to celebrate the achievements of its athletes and alumni as they move to the next level of their hockey careers. The league remains committed to showcasing these success stories — coaches and alumni are encouraged to submit player advancement updates via the following form:
👉 Submit Player Advancement

Congratulations to Hudson, Braden, and the entire New Jersey Rockets organization!