During the 2021-22 season, the NAHL had over 300 NCAA commitments for the sixth straight season, with over 76% of those being NCAA Division I commitments. Additionally, 32% of all NCAA Division I freshmen played hockey in the NAHL. Over the course of the last six seasons, 1,500+ NAHL players have made NCAA commitments and 32 have been drafted into the NHL.

All NAHL hockey teams are privately owned and operate as a business similar in structure and business operations as those involving professional hockey teams. Such operations include ticket sales, corporate sales, broadcasting, and community-based initiatives and outreach programs. NAHL athletes are provided the opportunity to develop, learn, train, grow and succeed, while playing for free.

The NAHL’s dedication to player development is demonstrated by the league’s high-profile annual exposure events like the NAHL Showcase in September, the NAHL Top Prospects Tournament, and the NAHL Robertson Cup Championship, which have all evolved into hockey’s most prominent and popular of its kind and are a must-see for NCAA programs and NHL teams alike.

The NAHL is unique in the fact that a vast majority of players begin their NAHL careers without an NCAA opportunity, but earn one through the course of their development in the league.