USA Hockey is a national ice hockey organization in the United States. It is recognized by the International Olympic Committee and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee as the governing body for organized ice hockey in the United States and is a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation. Before June 1991, the organization was known as the Amateur Hockey Association of the United States (AHAUS).
The organization is based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Its mission is to promote the growth of ice hockey in the U.S. USA Hockey programs support and develop players, coaches, officials, and facilities. USA Hockey also has junior ice hockey and senior ice hockey programs, and supports a disabled ice hockey program. USA Hockey provides certification programs for coaches and officials. Members of the organization receive a subscription to USA Hockey Magazine.
History The Amateur Hockey Association of the United States (AHAUS) was founded on October 29, 1937, in New York City by Tommy Lockhart. When he first started operating AHAUS, the paperwork fit into a shoebox in his apartment. The need for a national governing body for hockey came from the desire to efficiently manage the growing game of ice hockey, rather than having several different groups which included the Amateur Athletic Union.
In September 1938, Lockhart reached signed an agreement with W. G. Hardy of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA) which regulated international games in North America, set out provisions for transfer of players between the organizations, and recognized of each other's authority. In 1940, he led AHAUS into a union with the CAHA by establishing the International Ice Hockey Association, and served as its vice-president. AHAUS was admitted as a member of the Ligue Internationale de Hockey sur Glace in 1947, being recognized as the international governing body of hockey in the United States instead of the Amateur Athletic Union which was previously recognized by the IIHF.
Lockhart established the first national ice hockey tournaments for pre-high school boys in 1949. He announced the establishment of the United States Hockey Hall of Fame on May 19, 1968, to be located in the town of Eveleth, Minnesota. Lockhart was succeeded as president by William Thayer Tutt in 1972.
Executive personnel
Presidents Tommy Lockhart (1937–1972) William Thayer Tutt (1972–1986) Walter Bush (1986–2003) Ron DeGregorio (2003–2015) Jim Smith (2015–2021) Mike Trimboli (2021–present)
Executive directors Hal Trumble (1972–1987) Bob Johnson (1987–1990) Baaron Pittenger (1990–1993) Dave Ogrean (1993–1999) Doug Palazzari (1999–2005) Dave Ogrean (2005–2017) Pat Kelleher (2017–present)
Director of hockey operations Jim Johannson (2000–2018) Coaching directors Ken Johannson (1970–1978) Lou Vairo (1978–1984) Dave Peterson (c. 1980s–1997); Chief medical officers George Nagobads (1984 to 1992); Michael Stuart (c. 2000s)
Hall of fame
Structure Playing levels Until 2016, USA Hockey used division names such as Mite, Squirt, and Peewee in their youth levels and to indicate the age level of the players. Starting with the 2016–17 season, USA Hockey started using divisions labeled with the oldest age in the group.
Districts
USA Hockey has divided its control into geographical youth districts as follows:
Atlantic Eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware Central Illinois, Wisconsin, Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska Massachusetts Michigan Mid-American Ohio, Indiana, Western Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Kentucky Minnesota New England Connecticut, Vermont, Rhode Island, Maine, New Hampshire New York Northern Plains Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming Pacific California, Hawaii, Nevada, Alaska, Oregon, Washington Rocky Mountain Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Texas, Oklahoma, Utah, New Mexico Southeastern Florida, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Maryland
National teams Men's national team Men's U20 national team Men's U18 national team Women's national team Women's U18 national team National inline hockey team National sledge hockey team
National Team Development Program
USA Hockey also operates the National Team Development Program (NTDP), based in Plymouth, Michigan. The program's goal is to prepare student-athletes under the age of 18 for participation on U.S. national teams and continued success throughout their future hockey careers. The NTDP consists of two teams; the U.S. National Under-18 Team, and the U.S. National Under-17 Team. The teams compete in the United States Hockey League in addition to playing NCAA colleges and in International competition. Until 2009, the NTDP competed in the North American Hockey League. Numerous NTDP alumni have gone on to play in the NHL. In the 2012–13 season, 60 former NTDP players suited up for NHL teams. In the 2006 NHL entry draft, six first-round selections (including no. 1 pick Erik Johnson) were former members of the NTDP. In 2007, four NTDP members were selected in the first round, with Patrick Kane and James van Riemsdyk going 1st and 2nd overall respectively. Through 2013, some 228 NTDP players had been selected in the NHL Entry Draft. The NTDP plays home games at USA Hockey Arena.
International participation by year 2017 Event Division Host nation Date Result Men Top / May 5–21, 2017 Lost quarterfinals Men U20 Top December 26, 2016 – January 5, 2017Champions Men U18 Top April 13–23, 2017Champions Women Top United States March 31 – April 7, 2017Champions Women U18 Top January 7–14, 2017Champions Inline Top June 24 – July 2, 2017Champions
2018 Event Division Host nation Date Result Men Top May 4–20, 2018Bronze medalists Men U20 Top United States December 26, 2017 – January 5, 2018Bronze medalists Men U18 Top April 19–29, 2018Runners-up Women U18 Top January 6–13, 2018ChampionsWinter Olympics and ParalympicsMen February 14–25, 2018 Lost quarterfinalsWomen February 10–22, 2018Gold medalistsSled hockey March 10–18, 2018Gold medalists
2019 Event Division Host nation Date Result Men Top May 10–26, 2019 Lost quarterfinals Men U20 Top December 26, 2018 – January 5, 2019Runners-up Men U18 Top April 18–28, 2019Bronze medalists Women Top April 4–14, 2019Champions Women U18 Top January 6–13, 2019Runners-up
2020 Event Division Host nation Date Result Men Top May 8–24, 2020Cancelled – Men U20 Top December 26, 2019 – January 5, 2020 Lost quarterfinals Men U18 Top United States April 16–26, 2020Cancelled – Women Top March 31 – April 10, 2020Cancelled – Women U18 Top December 26, 2019 – January 2, 2020Champions
2021 Event Division Host nation Date Result Men Top May 21 – June 6, 2021Bronze medalists Men U20 Top December 25, 2020 – January 5, 2021Champions Men U18 Top United States April 26 – May 6, 2021 Lost quarterfinals Women Top August 20–31, 2021Runners-up Women U18 Top January 5–12, 2021Cancelled –
2022 Event Division Host nation Date Result Men Top May 13–29, 2022 Lost bronze medal game Men U20 Top August 9–20, 2022 Lost quarterfinals Men U18 Top April 23 – May 1, 2022Runners-up Women Top August 25 – September 4, 2022Runners-up Women U18 Top United States June 6–13, 2022Runner-upWinter Olympics and ParalympicsMen February 9–20, 2022 Lost quarterfinalsWomen February 3–17, 2022Silver medalistsSled hockey March 5–13, 2022Gold medalists
2023 Event Division Host nation Date Result Men Top / May 12–28, 2023 Lost bronze medal game Men U20 Top December 26, 2022 – January 5, 2023Bronze medalists Men U18 Top April 20–30, 2023Champions Women Top April 5–16, 2023Champions Women U18 Top January 8–15, 2023Bronze medalists
2024 Event Division Host nation Date Result Men Top May 10–26, 2024 Lost quarterfinals Men U20 Top December 26, 2023 – January 5, 2024Champions Men U18 Top April 25 – May 5, 2024Runner-up Women Top April 3–14, 2024Runner-up Women U18 Top January 6–14, 2024Champions
2025 Event Division Host nation Date Result Men Top / May 9–25, 2025Champions Men U20 Top December 26, 2024 – January 5, 2025Champions Men U18 Top April 23 – May 3, 2025Bronze medalists Women Top April 9–20, 2025Champions Women U18 Top January 4–12, 2025Runner-up
Chipotle-USA Hockey Nationals USA Hockey has conducted the country’s ice hockey national championship tournaments since 1938, with teams from all across the United States crowned champions across various classifications. The 2022 Chipotle-USA Hockey National Championships crowned champions at 25 different classifications, across nine different host sites across the country. Champions represented 17 different states.
References
External links
U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame United States Hockey Hall of Fame Museum Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award USA Hockey official publication