Tier 1 Hockey Federation is thrilled to announce the Championship dates for the highly anticipated 2024 season. With a strong commitment to fostering competitive balance and providing equal opportunities for teams across all age groups and divisions, the THF is gearing up for an exhilarating playoff season that promises to deliver excitement and memorable moments on the ice.
The THF’s primary objective is to create a level playing field for all teams, ensuring that every participant has a fair chance to compete for a championship. With this vision in mind, the THF will host playoffs for all age groups and divisions, at the conclusion of the regular season.
Mark your calendars, as the following dates have been confirmed for the THF 2024 championships:
February 23-24, 2024: 13U-18U
March 1-3, 2024: 9U-12U
The USHL Draft has taken place, and we are proud to announce that several players from the THF were selected. The THF prides itself on developing young talent and preparing them for higher levels of competition.
Among the players selected are:
USHL Phase 1
| RD | PICK | USHL TEAM | NAME | POSITION | HOMETOWN | TEAM |
| 9 | 131 | Lincoln | Blake Umberger | LW | Hershey, PA | Palmyra Black Knights 15’s |
USHL Phase 2
| RD | PICK | USHL TEAM | NAME | POSITION | HOMETOWN | TEAM |
| 11 | 154 | Madison | Jake Schultz | F | Edina, MN | Philadelphia Flyers Elite 15’s |
| 14 | 210 | Youngstown | Riley Fast | F | East Lansing, MI | Biggby 16U |
| 19 | 285 | Youngstown | Coleson Hanrahan | RD | Longmeadow, MA | P.A.L. Jr. Islanders |
These players have shown tremendous talent and dedication to the sport of hockey, and we are proud to have them represent the THF in the USHL. The USHL is a league that provides young players with the opportunity to develop their skills and compete at the highest level, and we are confident that these players will continue to excel and make the THF proud.
Congratulations to all of our THF players who were selected in the USHL Draft, and wish all of these players the best of luck as they continue their hockey journeys.
The Tier 1 Hockey Federation (THF) is pleased to announce that Tomorrow’s Ice Selects will be joining the league for the upcoming 2023-24 season. The 18U team call Ice World in Abingdon, MD their home rink, and will be led by coaches Jason Slusher and Ed Slusher.
Ed Slusher, who grew up in Bel Air, MD, has been involved in player development at Ice World for over a decade and is the current Hockey Director there. He brings a wealth of experience to the team, having played junior hockey in the MJHL for both the Central Penn Panthers and the Summerset Jr. Chill, as well as Junior “A” in both the NAHL and OPJHL. Ed is also the Head Coach for Towson University and an Assistant Coach at Fallston High School.
Jason Slusher, also from Bel Air, MD, has an impressive background in hockey, including serving as an Asst. Teaching Professional for Tomorrow’s Ice and the Mid-Atlantic Selects. Jason played prep school hockey at South Kent in Connecticut before playing All-ECAC at Lebanon Valley College. He was then selected to play professionally for the Rio Grande Valley in the Central Professional Hockey League and more recently for the Trenton Titans of the highly competitive ECHL. Jason is a coach and skills instructor with Navy Youth Hockey and an Assistant Coach for Towson University.
Tomorrow’s Ice have trained and coached players throughout their tenure in youth hockey that have gone on to play at all levels of Jr and College hockey in North America. They are excited for the opportunity to provide the THF experience for their players who aspire to advance to the next level.
The Tomorrow’s Ice Selects have a strong history of developing players who go on to play at higher levels, including Tier 1 Jr hockey in both Canada and the USA, as well as NCAA D1 and D3 college hockey in the US. Key alumni of the program include Caleb Craven, Nolan Zotter, Scotty Swain, and Jace Hartman.
The THF welcomes the Tomorrow’s Ice Selects to the East Conference and wishes them the best of luck in the upcoming season. Follow them on their journey and stay up to date by following them on Instagram.
The USPHL NCDC Draft has taken place, and we are proud to announce that several players from the THF were selected. The THF prides itself on developing young talent and preparing them for higher levels of competition.
Among the players selected are:
| Nikita | Konevych | LD | 6.02 | 190 | New Jersey Rockets 16U-P (NPHL16) | Kalush | Ukraine |
| Egor | Barabanov | F | 5.09 | 160 | New Jersey Rockets 16U-P (NPHL16) | Anaheim | CA |
| Vitalii | Ulianov | F | 5.07 | 140 | Esmark Stars 15 (NAPL15) | Johnstown | PA |
| Kuzma | Voronin | F | 5.09 | 175 | New Jersey Rockets 16U-P (NPHL16) | Moscow | Russia |
| Hudson | Slenker | C | 6.02 | 176 | Skipjacks 16 (Tier 1) | ||
| Emmet | McClaine | F | 5.07 | 140 | Esmark Stars 15 (NAPL15) | Pittsburgh | PA |
| Brenden | Sanchez | RD | Atlantic Coast Academy 16 (Tier 1) | West Springfield | MA | ||
| Carter | Wood | F | 6.01 | 180 | Mercer Chiefs 16 (Tier 1) | Philadelphia | PA |
| Jake | Schultz | F | 5.09 | 155 | Phil. Flyers Elite 15 (Tier1H) | ||
| Anthony | Casper | F | 6 | 168 | Phil Rev 16U (Tier 1) | Philadelphia | PA |
| Bryan | Rice | LD | 5.1 | 165 | Team Maryland 16 (AYHL16) | Bowie | MD |
| Cole | Pastor | RD | 6.05 | 188 | Phil. Flyers Elite 15 (Tier1H) | Philadelphia | PA |
| Miles | Eddie | RD | 5.09 | 145 | Tahoe HA Prep (Tier1H) | St. Albert | AB |
| Aidan | Souligny | LD | 6.02 | 175 | New Jersey Rockets 16U-P (NPHL16) | Ottawa | ON |
| Nathan | Balsley | F | 5.08 | 141 | Atlantic Coast Academy 16 (Tier 1) | Orlando | FL |
| Vladimir | Zackarov | F | Wasatch Renegades 16U (Tier 1) | ||||
| Liam | Jackson | F | 5.09 | 165 | Mercer Chiefs 16 (Tier 1) | Manalapan | NJ |
| Wyatt | Hanna | C | 5.08 | 150 | WC Renegades 16 (NAPL16) | Flagstaff | AZ |
These players have shown tremendous talent and dedication to the sport of hockey, and we are proud to have them represent the THF in the USPHL NCDC. The USPHL is a league that provides young players with the opportunity to develop their skills and compete at the highest level, and we are confident that these players will continue to excel and make the THF proud.
Congratulations to all of our THF players who were selected in the USPHL NCDC Draft, and wish all of these players the best of luck as they continue their hockey journeys.
The Tier 1 Hockey Federation (THF) is pleased to welcome the Rose City Pats to the Central Conference for the upcoming 2023-24 season. The Pats will join the league alongside other competitive teams from the Western United States.
Based out of the Pasadena Ice Skating Center in Pasadena, California, the Rose City Pats have established themselves as a strong contender in the hockey community. Their coaching staff, led by Tier Hockey Director Curtis Fisher and Club Goaltending Coach Spencer McLay, brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the team. Fisher, who has been coaching tier hockey for the Pasadena Maple Leafs and Rose City Pats since 2016, was named NAPHL 14U Coach of the Year for the 2020-21 season. McLay, a former professional hockey player, has been named a USA Hockey Goaltending Development Lead for Southern California and provides goalie instruction for Damien High School and Cal State Fullerton.
The Rose City Pats also boast one of their coaches, who works for Jr. Reign USHPL Premier. This expertise will only further enhance the team’s coaching staff and help to bring the Rose City Pats to the next level.
The Rose City Pats’ entrance into the THF is a significant milestone for the team and the hockey community in Southern California. With their competitive spirit and experienced coaching staff, they are poised to make their mark in the league. Fans can stay up-to-date with the Rose City Pats by following them on Instagram.
Schedules for the 9U-18U Parity event are now up on the website. Updates have been made to the 9U (2014) and 11U (20212) Parity schedules. This event, which is set to take place on April 22-23, 2023, will give teams the opportunity to showcase their abilities prior to the THF seeding every team in the league. With each team playing three 30-minute games, the Parity event provides an excellent opportunity for teams to compete against a range of opponents in a shorter amount of time.
The main goal of the Parity event is to ensure that each team is seeded properly, based on their current level of play. This information will ultimately be used to create a more competitive schedule for each team, minimizing lopsided scores throughout the season.
The schedules for the Parity event can be found on the THF website, specifically on the Parity event page or the Parity tab under Game Center.
The Tri-State Spartans, a regional AAA hockey team based out of Cincinnati, Ohio, are making a major leap in their hockey program. The team has announced that they will be joining the Tier 1 Hockey Federation for the 2023-24 season.
Entering into their 10th season, the Spartans offer a regional AAA option for players at 10U-15U as well as the 18U Black team. The 18U Gold and 16U teams are academy model teams based out of Cincinnati. The program has been able to attract talented players from across Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio. Many players have gone on to play at the Junior and College levels.
The team utilizes several facilities across the region, including Goggin Ice Arena at Miami of Ohio, Parkview Ice House, Perry Park Ice Rink, Sports Plus, South Metro, and Thunder Ice Arena at Trine University. The team’s coaching staff is led by head coach Ryan McGinnis and includes Casey Osting, Ron Leef, Iain Fraser, Andrew Kremer, Taylor McConnell, Derek Crouch, and Brett Annetts.
The Spartans have seen notable alumni such as Gavin Morrissey (Minnesota State), Dashel Oliver (Omaha), and Hunter Ramos (Lake Superior State) make their way to the college ranks. Additionally, Cooper Pierson (Denver), Owen West (Des Moines USHL), Klayton Knapp (Cedar Rapids USHL), Ryan Austin (Shreveport NAHL), Adam Shankula (Maryland NAHL), Trayce Johnson (Maryland NAHL), Andrew Stacey (Springfield NAHL), Gage Parillo (Corpus Christi NAHL), and Evan West (Philadelphia) have all gone on to play junior hockey.
Starting in the 2023-24 season, the Spartans will join the Tier 1 Hockey Federation, a highly competitive league that includes some of the best AAA teams in the United States. This move will provide the Spartans with increased exposure and will give their players the opportunity to compete against some of the top talent in the country.
The Tri-State Spartans have come a long way in their 10 years of existence, and joining the Tier 1 Hockey Federation is a significant step forward for this organization. With talented players and a dedicated coaching staff, the Spartans are poised to make some noise in the coming years. Make sure to follow them on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
The Tier 1 Hockey Federation is proud to announce the newest member of their league – the Soo Indians. Hailing from Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, the Indians bring with them a Tier 1 18U AAA team for the 2023-2024 season. This news comes as a great achievement for the Soo Indians, who have been working hard to establish themselves as a prominent 18AAA team in Michigan.
The Soo Indians are led by a team of experienced and dedicated coaches, including Jerry Lortie Jr, John Ferroni, and Rick Corbiere, all highly respected figures in the Michigan hockey community. Jerry, a Sault Ste Marie native, has extensive connections in the area and has worked in recruiting, development, and scouting in the Northern Ontario and USA Midwest region. John, born in Ste. Marie, Michigan, played for the Soo Indians as a kid and is now the head coach for the 2022-2023 AAA Soo Indians. Ferroni, who was also the Sault High School Hockey coach from 2011-2018, brings a wealth of experience to the team. Rick, head of player personnel for the Soo Indians, is an assistant coach for the 22-23 AAA Soo Indians. Corbiere worked as an assistant from 1995-2022 before coaching the Northern Michigan Black Bears in the NOJHL. He came back to being an assistant in 2021 for the 18U AAA team.
The Soo Indians have produced two standout alumni – Ryan Miller and Scott Parse – who have significantly impacted the program and left a great legacy behind. Ryan Miller, now with the Buffalo Sabres organization, played at Michigan State. Scott Parse, now with the LA Kings organization, played at Nebraska-Omaha.
As the only Midget AAA team left in the Upper Peninsula, the Soo Indians are proud to be one of the longest-running programs in Michigan. The Indians play out of Taffy Abel Arena on the Campus Lake Superior State and work closely with the Soo Eagles of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League.
Tier 1 Hockey Federation (“THF”) is a USA Hockey Sanctioned Elite Tier-1 Youth Hockey League, managed by full-time professional staff. With over 200 elite or AAA teams from 9U-18U, the THF provides elite-level competition through an unbalanced schedule among Tier 1 and elite clubs across the U.S. Bringing together clubs from multiple leagues and states, the THF is the only organization whose members operate franchises in the top junior hockey leagues in the US for NCAA Division I commitments: USHL, NAHL, NCDC, and the top junior hockey leagues for NCAA Division III commitments, the USPHL Premier Division and the Eastern Hockey League.
The Soo Indians’ acceptance into the THF is a significant achievement, and the team is looking forward to the opportunities that membership in the league will bring. The THF is a highly competitive league, and the Soo Indians will have the chance to compete at the highest level against some of the best teams in the country.
Don’t forget to follow the Soo Indians on Facebook and witness their journey to even greater success in the Tier 1 Hockey Federation.
Be on the lookout as All Season Teams will be announced weekly by divisions. Posting schedule is below
Congratulation to Rockets Hockey Club as their 15U and 16U teams head to the 2023 USA Hockey Nationals the last weekend of March!
The Rockets organization is committed to providing leadership, focus, and the drive to push each player beyond their perceived limitations in order to maximize their abilities and potential as complete hockey players. The organization also places a strong emphasis on skill development, sportsmanship, teamwork, and a thorough understanding of, and appreciation for the sport of hockey.
