Organized hockey has come a long way in the United States. In the past, major junior hockey was the go-to route for North American hockey players. Few teams paid attention to U.S. high schools and second tier junior teams. To this day, drawing from those pools have mixed results.
The NCAA was another option, but few draft-eligible players got the opportunity to play there in their draft seasons. American players needed a route that grouped the best players possible, grooming them in a more competitive environment before college hockey.
That’s where the U.S. National Team Development Program comes in.