The North American Hockey League (NAHL) is one of the top junior hockey leagues in the United States and is in its 48th season of operation in 2022–23. It is the only Tier II junior league sanctioned by USA Hockey, and acts as an alternative for those who would not or did not make the roster of a team in the Major Junior Canadian Hockey League (CHL) nor Tier I United States Hockey League (USHL). The NAHL is one of the oldest junior hockey leagues in the United States and is headquartered in Addison, Texas.
The Tri-City Storm is a Tier I junior ice hockey team based in Kearney, Nebraska, that plays in the Western Conference of the United States Hockey League (USHL). Its name refers to the three central Nebraskan cities of Kearney, Hastings, and Grand Island.
Junior ice hockey is amateur-level ice hockey for 15- to 20-year-old players. National Junior teams compete annually for the IIHF World Junior Championship. The United States men's national junior ice hockey team are the defending champions from the 2024 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.
William Raymond Muckalt is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who was most recently the associate head coach at Michigan. He was the head coach and general manager of the Tri-City Storm of the United States Hockey League. Muckalt played in the National Hockey League for the Vancouver Canucks, New York Islanders, Ottawa Senators and Minnesota Wild from 1998 until 2003. In 2016, Muckalt led the Tri-City Storm to its first Clark Cup during his first season as head coach and general manager.
Gary David Kurt is a retired professional ice hockey goaltender.
The Dave Peterson Award is presented annually by USA Hockey to the best American goaltender in junior ice hockey. It is USA Hockey's top award for the position of goaltender. The award is named for Dave Peterson, former director of coaching and player development for USA Hockey and coach of the United States men's national ice hockey team.
Kent Patterson is an American former professional ice hockey goaltender. He was drafted by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft and played in the American Hockey League (AHL) for the Lake Erie Monsters.
Jaycob Megna is an American professional ice hockey defenseman currently playing for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Anaheim Ducks in the 7th round of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.
Anthony Stolarz, is an American professional ice hockey goaltender for the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He previously played for the Philadelphia Flyers, Edmonton Oilers and Anaheim Ducks.
Scott Meyer is an American former ice hockey player and coach who was the head coach and general manager of the Minnesota Magicians of the North American Hockey League. Meyer was also an ownership partner of the Minnesota Junior Hockey Group, which owns and operates the Magicians.
Robert Virgil Nardella III is an American professional ice hockey defenseman for HV71 in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL).
Gage Quinney is an American professional ice hockey forward currently playing under contract with the Vegas Golden Knights of the National Hockey League (NHL). Quinney is notable as the first Nevada-born player in NHL history, making his debut with his hometown team, the Golden Knights.
Brendan Brisson is an American ice hockey center for the Henderson Silver Knights of the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect for the Vegas Golden Knights of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted 29th overall by the Golden Knights in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. Brendan is the son of NHL agent Pat Brisson.
Grant Hutton is an American professional ice hockey defenseman currently playing for the Bridgeport Islanders of the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect for the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League (NHL). Hutton signed an entry-level contract with the Islanders in March 2019 after playing four years in the NCAA with the Miami RedHawks. He played in his first NHL game on November 20, 2021.
Jiří Patera is a Czech professional ice hockey goaltender for the Henderson Silver Knights of the American Hockey League (AHL), while under contract to the Vegas Golden Knights of the National Hockey League (NHL). He previously played junior in the United States Hockey League (USHL) with the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders and in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Brandon Wheat Kings.
Mikael Hakkarainen is a Finnish former professional ice hockey player.
Cole McWard is an American professional ice hockey defenseman for the Abbotsford Canucks in the American Hockey League (AHL) under contract as a prospect to the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL). McWard played collegiate hockey at The Ohio State University.
Ondřej Pavel is a Czech professional ice hockey forward for the Colorado Eagles in the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect to the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League (NHL).
Mason Morelli is an American professional ice hockey center for the Vegas Golden Knights of the National Hockey League (NHL). After playing junior hockey with the Minot Minotauros of the North American Hockey League (NAHL) and Fargo Force of the United States Hockey League (USHL), Morelli went undrafted into the NHL, and subsequently played four years of college hockey at the University of Nebraska Omaha. After his time in Omaha, he spent several seasons in the minor leagues, signing his first professional contract with the Stockton Heat of the American Hockey League (AHL) in 2019, followed by periods in the ECHL with the Kansas City Mavericks and South Carolina Stingrays. After winning the Calder Cup with the Hershey Bears in 2023, Morelli signed his first NHL contract with Vegas in July 2023, and made his NHL debut for the Golden Knights in February 2024. Having scored both his first goal and first assist in his first game, Morelli is the first player in Golden Knights franchise history to record a multi-point game in his debut.
