The organization is based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Its mission is to promote the growth of ice hockey in the U.S.[2] 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.[4] Members of the organization receive a subscription to USA Hockey Magazine.[5]
History
The Amateur Hockey Association of the United States (AHAUS) was founded on October 29, 1937, in New York City by Tommy Lockhart.[2] When he first started operating AHAUS, the paperwork fit into a shoebox in his apartment.[6][7][8] 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.[9]
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.[10] In 1940, he led AHAUS into a union with the CAHA by establishing the International Ice Hockey Association, and served as its vice-president.[11] 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.[12]
Until 2016, USA Hockey used division names such as Mite, Squirt, and Pewee in their youth levels and to indicate the age level of the players.[22] Starting with the 2016–17 season, USA Hockey started using divisions labeled with the oldest age in the group.[citation needed]
Districts
Map of USA Hockey districts
USA Hockey has divided its control into geographical youth districts as follows:[23]
USA Hockey also operates the National Team Development Program, 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.[24] The NTDP consists of two teams; the U.S. National Under-18 Team, and the U.S. National Under-17 Team.[25] 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
This section needs to be updated. The reason given is: Need to add 2021, 2022, and 2023. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (July 2023)
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.[26] 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.[27]
