The Phoenix Firebirds recent acceptance into the Tier I Elite NAPHL will provide stiff competition for the upcoming year. The Firebirds will be represented by U18AAA, U16AAA and U14AAA teams in the league. The U18AAA and U16AAA division will be represented by 18 teams each while the U14AAA will have 12 teams. The NAPHL is one of the premier Tier Leagues in the country.
“The merger solidifies our hold on Tier 1 hockey this year and the foreseeable future. It has been something we have been working towards for the last couple of years. The NAPHL has been following our program during this time and has recognized the advancements we have been making. We are excited about this upcoming year for or Midget and Bantam teams as well as all future Firebird teams that will have an opportunity to play in the NAPHL” -- Todd Collins, Head Coach U18 Tier 1
About the NAPHL
In its second season, the North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) is made up of 38 Midget Major (18), Midget Minor (14) and Bantam Major (6) teams from 19 programs that compete at the Tier I AAA level.
The NAPHL is comprised of five regular-season events leading up to its Championship Tournament Series in which the top teams at each level compete for a league championship.
The dates and sites of this year's five NAPHL regular-season events are: September 16-19, 2010 (Blaine, Minn.); October 21-24, 2010 (San Jose, Calif.); December 3-6, 2010 (Foxboro, Mass.); January 14-17, 2011 (Troy, Mich.); and January 28-30, 2011 (Darien, Ill.).
The NAPHL Championship Tournament Series will be held from February 18-21, 2011 at the Ice Cube in Ann Arbor, Mich. - home of the USA Hockey National Team Development Program - and Troy Sports Center in Troy, Mich., in conjunction with one of the two SBK Hockey/North American Hockey League (NAHL) Top Prospects Tournaments of the year.
The season culminates with the NAPHL Top Prospects Tournament in conjunction with the 2011 NAHL Robertson Cup Championship Tournament, which this year will be hosted by the Topeka RoadRunners.
In its inaugural season of 2009-10, the NAPHL wasted little time establishing itself as one of the premier grounds for development and exposure. Not only did players receive year-long recognition from the NHL Central Scouting Bureau, some also received scholarships to NCAA Division I schools and many were drafted and tendered by NAHL and United States Hockey League (USHL) teams.
The NAPHL, which is sanctioned by USA Hockey, utilizes the USA Hockey Officiating Development Program and is designed to maximize the exposure of all the Midget and Bantam participants through the NAHL's high-profile recruiting events which attract hundreds of college, junior and professional scouts.
Orchestrated by the NAHL's experienced and professional staff that makes player promotion a priority, the NAPHL provides an organized and competitive experience with an unrivaled scouting presence guaranteed to benefit all of the participating student-athletes and programs.
You can visit the website at www.naphl.com for additional information.