USA Hockey unveils 2026-27 NTDP schedule with 62 USHL games

USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program packed its 2026-27 schedule with 62 USHL games, a split that puts the U-18 team into 29 league games and the U-17s into 33. The calendar also builds in 16 Kroger College Series matchups, a full international slate and two preseason USHL games.

The USHL portion includes 30 home games, 30 on the road and two neutral-site contests, while the USHL season begins at the 11th annual Fall Classic in Chicago from Sept. 16-20, 2026, and ends with every team in action on Saturday, April 3, 2027. The Chicago Steel’s first game in USG Arena will come during that Fall Classic, as the club moves into a 2,000-seat, stadium-style Championship Arena on Chicago’s west side as part of a four-sheet facility expansion.

The U-18s will play 37 games at USA Hockey Arena in 2026-27, and the rink has already been through renovations that began March 29, 2026. Boston College will make its first-ever trip to Plymouth on Oct. 3, while Michigan is scheduled to return on Jan. 2 for its third appearance. The college slate includes Boston College, Bowling Green State University, Michigan, Trine and Maryville, and all but two of the 16 college-series games will be played at home. Maryville’s matchup is its first against the NTDP as it begins transitioning to Division I hockey.

The U-18s are set to start regular-season play Sept. 16-20 at the Fall Classic, while the U-17s open their home schedule Oct. 9-10 against Tri-City and the U-18s host Dubuque the following week. USA Hockey also has built in the annual Play with Purpose Charity Hockey Game on Sept. 12, along with military appreciation night, carnival weekend, kids’ day, the teddy bear toss and skate-with-the-team events.

The NTDP’s U-17 group plays in the USHL and three international events each year, while the U-18s face NCAA opponents, USHL teams and three international tournaments. Kevin Porter is taking over as U-18 head coach.