The Tier 1 Hockey Federation (THF) has recently made headlines with the announcement that Ethan Miller, a forward and Pennsylvania native, has been tendered by the Mercer Chiefs of the National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC). This move marks a significant step forward in Miller’s promising hockey career and underscores the competitive nature of the Tier 1 hockey landscape.

Ethan Miller has been making waves in the hockey community with his standout performance for the Philadelphia Revolution during the current season. In 18 games, the talented forward has showcased his scoring prowess by notching an impressive 10 goals and contributing 4 assists, accumulating a total of 14 points. Miller’s on-ice skills, coupled with his dedication and work ethic, have evidently caught the attention of the Mercer Chiefs, leading to his tender offer.

The Mercer Chiefs, as a part of the NCDC, are known for their commitment to developing young talent and providing a pathway for players to advance to higher levels of competition. By tendering Ethan Miller, the Chiefs are expressing their confidence in his abilities and potential to contribute to their team’s success.

For Miller, this tender is not just a recognition of his past achievements but also a stepping stone towards realizing his aspirations in the competitive hockey world. The NCDC serves as a critical developmental league, acting as a bridge between junior hockey and college or professional levels..

The Tier 1 Hockey Federation continues to be a breeding ground for young talent, and announcements like Ethan Miller’s tender with the Mercer Chiefs exemplify the league’s commitment to fostering the growth and development of promising players. The THF serves as a crucial platform for athletes to showcase their skills, compete at a high level, and garner attention from higher-tier teams and leagues.

As always, the Tier 1 Hockey Federation is committed to celebrating and supporting the success of talented young athletes. If you have a player whose achievements you would like to see featured in our announcements, please fill out the form here. We are eager to share the stories of these rising stars as they advance in their hockey careers.

Join us for the THF Game of the Week, an exhilarating live-streamed hockey match every weekend on the Federations Hockey YouTube Channel. Throughout the season, family, friends, coaches, and scouts can tune in to catch the action-packed U18 THF matchups via the THF Mobile App or Website.

This week’s featured game showcases Northern Cyclones Academy U18 team as they face off against the PAL Jr Islanders U18 team. Be sure not to miss this exciting showdown, scheduled for Saturday at 8:00 pm ET, and taking place at Northwell Ice Center in East Meadow, NY.

In case you missed the last thrilling matchup on Sunday, January 7th, where Potomac Patriots went head-to-head with the Flyers Elite, you can still catch the highlights and the full game replay right here.

The THF has partnered with Play-by-Play Productions of Princeton, NJ to produce the HD telecasts. Play-by-Play is an industry leader in Live-Streaming elite youth and amateur sporting events, serving dozens of clients from throughout the U.S. and overseas.

Get ready for an action-packed hockey weekend at the Connecticut Showcase powered by Exposure Series, set to take place from January 5th to 7th at various rinks across the state. This showcase is open to players aged 9U to 13U and will feature competitive teams from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania.

The puck drops on Friday, January 5th, with three exciting matchups for 9U,11U, and 13U.

To stay up-to-date with all the thrilling moments of the THF Showcase Weekend, be sure to follow us on all our social media channels, or head to the Game Center to access schedules, scores, and stats in real-time.

The Ohio Prospects, a Tier 1 AAA hockey organization, have officially declared their participation in the 2024-25 season of the Tier 1 Hockey Federation (THF). As they enter their 20th season since establishment in 2004 and mark the fourth year of full-season teams, Ohio Prospects is gearing up for a new chapter.

Established on the principles of a “players first” mentality, Ohio Prospects has consistently set the bar high for player development. The organization is renowned for its commitment to fostering the growth of young hockey players, and this philosophy is reflected in every aspect of their programs. From U18 to squirt teams, Ohio Prospects instills a common approach across all levels, emphasizing a style of play characterized by creativity, intelligence, and hard work.

One of the key pillars of Ohio Prospects’ success lies in its dedicated coaching staff. Committed to the development of their players, the coaches bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the organization. The Ohio Prospects will continue to call Gilmour Academy and Euclid C. E. Orr Arena home for the upcoming season. Ohio Prospects is “Excited to join the THF as this challenge will be another great opportunity for the players.”

About Tier 1 Hockey Federation
The Tier 1 Hockey Federation is a USA Hockey Sanctioned Tier-I Youth Hockey League that offers a highly competitive environment for Tier 1 and elite clubs nationwide, with an unbalanced schedule that ensures top-level play. The THF is managed by a team of dedicated professionals with over 290 AAA teams, ranging from 9U-18U age levels.

One of the key advantages of the THF is its ability to bring together clubs from multiple leagues and states, providing a unique opportunity for young players to compete against the best in the country. But what truly sets the THF apart is the fact that it’s the only organization whose members operate franchises in the top junior hockey leagues in the US for NCAA Division I commitments, including the USHL, NAHL, NCDC, and the top two junior hockey leagues for NCAA Division III commitments, the USPHL Premier Division and the Eastern Hockey League. This unique structure ensures that THF players have access to a wide variety of opportunities to further their hockey careers at the college level and beyond.

In a groundbreaking announcement, the Tier 1 Hockey Federation has revealed that forward Thomas Konkowski of the NY Arrows has been tendered by the PAL Jr. Islanders of the National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC). This move signifies a significant step in Konkowski’s promising hockey career and promises to inject a new level of skill and talent into the Jr. Islanders’ lineup.

Hailing from Holtsville, New York, Konkowski has established himself as a standout player for the NY Arrows, amassing an impressive 16 goals and 5 assists, contributing to a total of 21 points in just 13 games this season. His exceptional performance has not only garnered attention within the Arrows organization but has also captured the interest of the PAL Jr. Islanders, who are eager to add his scoring prowess to their roster.

The PAL Jr. Islanders, proud members of the United States Premier Hockey League’s National Collegiate Development Conference, entered the league in 2017 and have quickly become a force to be reckoned with. The NCDC, known for its commitment to developing elite talent, provides a platform for players like Konkowski to showcase their skills at a high level of competition.

For Konkowski, the transition to the Jr. Islanders represents a new chapter in his hockey journey, offering him the opportunity to further refine his skills and compete in a challenging environment. 

As always, the Tier 1 Hockey Federation is committed to celebrating and supporting the success of talented young athletes. If you have a player whose achievements you would like to see featured in our announcements, please fill out the form here. We are eager to share the stories of these rising stars as they advance in their hockey careers

Pittsburgh, PA – Esmark Stars AAA Hockey U18 goaltender Hleb Subach has been called up to the North American Hockey League’s (NAHL) Johnstown Tomahawks.

He joined the Tomahawks for their New Year’s Eve Weekend Series against the Northeast Generals.

Subach, who hails from Minsk, Belarus, is in his first season with Esmark’s Midget Major 18U AAA squad and second year in the Esmark Stars program.

The 6’2″, 190 lbs goaltender has enjoyed a solid 2023-24 season to date for the Stars, recording a 14-8-0-0 record with a goals against average (GAA) of 2.31 and a save percentage of 92.88 and three shutouts.

Last season, Subach recorded an overall record of 25-12-0-1 and helped lead the U16 Stars to the Championship game of the Mid-American District Playoffs. He finished the season with a GAA of 1.91 and a save percentage of 92.37 and recorded seven shutouts.

Subach’s call-up was necessitated as Tomahawk’s goaltender Zach Ferris was called up to the USHL’s Green Bay Gamblers to fill a spot for goaltender Adam Gajan, who joined Team Slovakia for the on-going World Junior Championships in Sweden.

“It is a great opportunity for Hleb,” said Stars head coach Dave Kosick. “Not only has he earned the call-up with his play, but because he both billets and attends school in Johnstown it will make the opportunity even more memorable.”

As always, the Tier 1 Hockey Federation is committed to celebrating and supporting the success of talented young athletes. If you have a player whose achievements you would like to see featured in our announcements, please fill out the form here. We are eager to share the stories of these rising stars as they advance in their hockey careers.

Join us for the THF Game of the Week, an exhilarating live-streamed hockey match every weekend on the Federations Hockey YouTube Channel. Throughout the season, family, friends, coaches, and scouts can tune in to catch the action-packed U18 THF matchups via the THF Mobile App or Website.

This week’s featured game showcases PAL Jr. Islanders U18 team as they face off against the Mercer Chiefs U18 team. Be sure not to miss this exciting showdown, scheduled for Sunday at 2:00 pm ET, and taking place at Ice Land Arena in Hamilton Township, NJ.

In case you missed the last thrilling matchup on Sunday, December 17th, where South Shore Kings went head-to-head with the NJ 87’s, you can still catch the highlights and the full game replay right here.

The THF has partnered with Play-by-Play Productions of Princeton, NJ to produce the HD telecasts. Play-by-Play is an industry leader in Live-Streaming elite youth and amateur sporting events, serving dozens of clients from throughout the U.S. and overseas.

In a significant move within the Tier 1 Hockey Federation, the New Mexico Ice Wolves of the North American Hockey League (NAHL) have announced the tendering of forward Tim Hewko from the Biggby Coffee Hockey Club. 

The talented player, hailing from Gotebrug, Sweden, has made a remarkable impact in his first season with Biggby, accumulating 18 goals and 20 assists for an impressive 38 points in just 35 games.

Tim Hewko’s dynamic performance caught the attention of hockey enthusiasts and scouts alike, leading to his tender by the New Mexico Ice Wolves. This exciting development marks a pivotal moment in Hewko’s burgeoning career, signaling a new chapter with the NAHL team.

Biggby 18U Head Coach Brian Sherry shared his thoughts on Tim Hewko’s journey and the impact he has had on the Biggby team. Sherry commented, “Tim is a pure power forward with a goal scorer’s touch. High character kid with a knack for leadership on and off the ice. Very excited for him with his new journey with New Mexico!”

Hewko’s style of play as a power forward, coupled with his ability to find the back of the net, has undoubtedly contributed to his success and garnered admiration from his coach. His leadership qualities both on and off the ice further solidify his reputation as a player to watch in the hockey world.

The New Mexico Ice Wolves, a respected team within the NAHL, are gaining a promising asset in Tim Hewko. As Hewko embarks on this new phase of his career, fans eagerly anticipate witnessing his continued growth and impact on the ice.

As always, the Tier 1 Hockey Federation is committed to celebrating and supporting the success of talented young athletes like Connor. If you have a player whose achievements you would like to see featured in our announcements, please fill out the form here. We are eager to share the stories of these rising stars as they advance in their hockey careers.

The “spread” has no place in youth hockey

Black Bear Sports Group recently started the Hockey Power Rankings (“HPR”) as an alternative to MyHockeyRankings (“MHR”). MyHockeyRankings has been the only ranking source in youth hockey for many years and originally was used to help families schedule competitive games. Unfortunately, as its power grew, people and organizations have weaponized the use of MHR. Many teams refuse to play scheduled games for fear it will decrease their ranking. Many teams won’t pull a goalie in a close game for fear of giving up an empty net goal which will harm their rankings. many organizations have figured out that playing a small bubble of teams/games protects their strength of schedule which, given that losses do not matter in MHR, artificially increases their ranking. Ultimately this is particularly important for national bound teams as USA Hockey and their affiliates are now using MHR for qualification for district and national at-large selections.

The primary problem with MHR is that its system creates a “rating” for teams that sadly are not based on wins. The higher the rating, the higher the ranking. To simplify things, the rating is based on strength of schedule and goal differentials. The rating difference between teams represents the projected score differential (the “spread”) between teams when they play. If you beat that spread, regardless of winning or losing, your ranking rises. If you do not beat the spread, your rating falls – hence the problem with pulling the goalie and giving up an empty net goal – it could damage your spread if the spread is one goal. Moreover, MHR will not share how the rating is calculated in any fashion, leaving people to wonder if teams start the season equally or if there is a carryover from the previous season. The lack of transparency from MHR makes their rating/rankings even more powerful and dangerous.

The Hockey Power Rankings is based on KRACH – the same formula used by College Hockey Power Rankings systems, one of the rankings used by NCAA Division 1 College Hockey. HPR uses wins and strength of schedule – goal differential is not relevant. We are not trying to displace MHR; instead, we are trying to give alternatives for USA Hockey, coaches and families to make decisions. We believe that teams should not be forced to turn down games due to fear of the “spread.” We hope the HPR allows teams to play more local games, limit travel, and reduce the overall costs of playing the game.

Finally, Black Bear is the largest customer of GameSheet, the electronic scoring system that, as a result of Black Bear adopting it two years ago, has now become the national standard. Black Bear asked GameSheet to provide HPR electronic access to the games that GameSheet produces, similar to the access that MHR has to ensure accuracy of posted scores. GameSheet has some form of agreement with MHR that precludes anyone else from accessing this data. Black Bear asked that MHR allow HPR access to the GameSheet data and MHR refused. Black Bear responded that if MHR will not give access to its data, then MHR could not have access to Black Bear’s data. It is a shame that MHR is acting this way – everyone is suffering because of their decisions. Black Bear stands willing to share access to its data if MHR changes their mind.

In the meantime, we have always believed that choices are better. If people do not like the HPR, they will not come to the site. If they do, we believe youth hockey will be better off.

Here are your Tier 1 Hockey Federation Players of the Week and Peak Performer ending December 17th, 2023. This weekly feature, running throughout the 2023-24 season, pays tribute to outstanding players across all divisions. Our honorees are selected from player nominations submitted by their respective coaches. You can now commemorate their achievements with customizable Player of the Week merchandise available in the league store.

9U Division: Nominating Coach: Will Bodine

10U Division: Nominating Coach: Justin Patsey

11U Division: Nominating Coach: Mark Pitman

12U Division: Nominating Coach: Jason Neuwinger

13U Division: Nominating Coach: Matthew McCullough

14U Division: Nominating Coach: Ron Raykin

15U Division: Nominating Coach: Dean Whittingham

16U Division: Nominating Coach: Eric Conway

18U Division: Nominating Coach: Russ Demariano

Honorable Mentions
All players nominated by a coach receive an Honorable Mention

Logan ScottWoodbridge Wolfpack9U34Forward
Anthony KapelonisNY Arrows9U94Forward
Spencer FoxNY Arrows9U48Forward
Luke FennNY Arrows9U47Defense
Matthew OberPalmyra Black Knights10U34Forward
Camden HaverstockIndiana Elite11U95Forward
Gabe FurmanRockets11U98Forward
Arnold SjamWoodbridge Wolfpack12UDefense
Quinn LeonardsFlyers Elite13U8Wing
Jack FoyeRockets13U16Forward
Brody MillerBiggby Coffee AAA15U11Forward
Bianca BirrittieriRocky Mountain RoughRiders15U37Goalie
Andrew ParisiNew Jersey Jets15U24Forward
Brayden UngerSkipjacks Hockey Academy16U34Forward
Nicholas SchwertnerAmerican Hockey Academy16U53Forward
Erich BrueckmannRocky Mountain RoughRiders16U17Forward
Matthew KetchamNorthern Cyclones Academy18U32Goalie
Anthony CasperPhiladelphia Revolution18U8Forward
Mykyta YalovyiEsmark Stars18U77Forward
Hleb SubachEsmark Stars18U90Goalie
Hudson SlenkerSkipjacks Hockey Academy18U19Forward
Egor LitvinovRocky Mountain RoughRiders18U77Defense