For the second weekend in a row, one of the top youth hockey leagues in the North America is holding a showcase that features some of the elite Boys Tier 1 programs the United States. While last weekend’s Prep Hockey Conference event in Boston was limited to 18U Boys teams, from Nov. 21-24 the Northeast Pack welcomes a litany of top 20 teams in the Boys 14U, 15O, 16U and 18U categories to its showcase weekend in Pittsburgh.

The NE Pack weekend includes USA No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchups at the 15O and 16U age levels, a 15U tilt featuring No. 2 vs. No. 3 and an 18U showdown between No. 5 and No. 7.

Made up of six youth hockey organizations from the northeast, the Northeast Pack was founded in 2019. It is comprised of six prominent nationally recognized youth hockey organizations that share a vision for player-focused development. Each member of the Northeast Pack Hockey League has had tremendous success sending players on to higher levels, including the United States Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League, North American Hockey League, the National Collegiate Athletic Association and professional hockey. The NE Pack also has produced eight USA Hockey National Champions since its inception.  

Each year, the Northeast Pack holds six showcase events in the Northeast, concluding with the league playoffs in February at the Utica University Nexus Center in Utica, NY. The league also invites guest organizations to participate in its events, welcoming 14U, 15O and 16U teams from Shattuck-St. Mary’s along with 16U and 18U teams from Northstar Christian Academy to the Pittsburgh Showcase. Shattuck currently has the nation’s top-ranked 15O and 16U Boys teams, while its 14U team is No. 2. Northstar’s 18U team is ranked sixth in the 18U Overall rankings and second in the USA Independent Prep rankings.

In addition to the Northeast Pack Pittsburgh Showcase, more of the USA’s top 15O and 16U Tier 1 Boys teams will be participating in the Tier 1 Elite Hockey League’s Dallas Showcase Nov. 22-24. This event includes three top 12 USA Boys 16U teams among its 20-team field across the two age groups. All told, the 16U Division includes six teams ranked among the nation’s top 41 in the MHR Week 9 rankings. Meanwhile, the 15O Division features four top 30 teams and eight of the nation’s top 53.

The Tier 1 Elite Hockey League is one of the United States’ premier youth AAA hockey showcase-style leagues, featuring more than 20 organizations from both coasts and many states In between. The T1EHL has a strong record of advancing players to the highest levels of North American junior hockey and to NCAA college programs. League showcase weekends regularly are attended by scouts from the USHL, NAHL, OHL and NCAA institutions.

 

 

Northeast Pack Pittsburgh Showcase

The first games of the NE Pack Weekend were held Thursday, Nov. 21, with play continuing through Sunday, Nov. 24. Thursday’s matchups were good ones, featuring 18U No. 24 Pittsburgh Penguins Elite vs. the No. 7 New Jersey Rockets and the same matchup at the 16U level between fifth-ranked Pens Elite and the second-ranked Rockets. Also, at the 18U level, the third-ranked Long Island Gulls took on No. 6 USA Overall and No. 2 USA Independent Prep Northstar Christian Academy

The majority of the weekend’s games are being played at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Center in Cranberry Township, Pa. Other venues include Baierl Ice Complex in Warrendale as well as McKnight Arena and Hunt Armory in Pittsburgh. Most games should be available for viewing on LiveBarn.

 

NE Pack 14U Participating Teams

The 14U Division of the Northeast Pack Pittsburgh Showcase includes three top 10 teams, with all seven teams currently ranked among the top 27, according to MHR’s Week 9 USA Boys Tier 1 rankings.

 

#2 Shattuck-St. Mary’s

#3 Mount St. Charles

#7 Bishop Kearney Selects

#16 Long Island Gulls

#22 Pens Elite

#24 NJ Rockets

#27 Mid-Fairfield Rangers

 

14U Top Matchup of the Weekend

Saturday, Nov. 22, 8 p.m. EST at UPMC #2

#2 Shattuck-St. Mary’s vs. #3 Mount St. Charles

 

NE Pack 15O Participating Teams

The 15O Division of the Northeast Pack Pittsburgh Showcase includes four top 10 teams, with all seven teams currently ranked among the top 29, according to MHR’s Week 9 USA Boys Tier 1 rankings.

 

#1 Shattuck-St. Mary’s

#2 Mount St. Charles

#6 Pens Elite

#8 Mid-Fairfield Rangers

#13 Long Island Gulls

#16 Bishop Kearney Selects

#20 NJ Rockets

 

15O Top Matchup of the Weekend

Sunday, Nov. 23, 10:15 a.m. EST at UPMC #2

#1 Shattuck-St. Mary’s vs. #2 Mount St. Charles

 

 

NE Pack 16U Participating Teams

The 16U Division of the Northeast Pack Pittsburgh Showcase includes six top 10 teams, with all seven teams currently ranked among the top 37 in the 16U USA Overall category, according to MHR’s Week 9 USA Boys Tier 1 rankings.

 

#1 Shattuck-St. Mary’s

#2 NJ Rockets

#5 Pens Elite

#7 Long Island Gulls

#9 Mount St. Charles

#10 Bishop Kearney Selects

#37 (Overall) Northstar Christian Academy

 

Top 16U Matchup of the Weekend

Saturday, Nov. 22, 12 p.m. EST at UPMC #2

#1 Shattuck-St. Mary’s vs. #2 NJ Rockets

 

 

NE Pack 18U Participating Teams

The 18U Division of the Northeast Pack Pittsburgh Showcase includes four top 10 teams, with all six teams currently ranked among the top 30 in the 18U Tier 1 Overall category, according to MHR’s Week 9 USA Boys Tier 1 rankings.

 

#3 Long Island Gulls

#5 Bishop Kearney Selects

#6 (Overall) Northstar Christian Academy

#8 NJ Rockets

#18 Mount St. Charles

#24 Pens Elite

 

18U Top Matchup of the Weekend

Saturday, Nov. 22, 8 a.m. EST at UPMC #2

#5 BK Selects vs. #8 NJ Rockets

 

CLICK HERE for the Northeast Pack Pittsburgh Showcase complete schedule

 

Tier 1 Elite Hockey League 15O/16U Dallas Showcase

Ten member teams from each age group are in Dallas for the T1EHL Showcase, with 16U play running from Nov. 22-24 and 15O games being held Saturday, Nov. 23 through Monday, Nov. 25. The 15O Division boasts seven teams ranked among the USA’s top 46 in the MHR Week 9 15O Boys Tier 1 rankings. Nine of the 10 teams are among the top 65, with four placing in the top 30. There are three top 12 teams competing in the 16U Division and six teams are ranked among the top 41.

T1EHL Dallas Showcase games are being played at Children's Health StarsCenter Valley Ranch  and Children's Health StarsCenter Farmers Branch. Games at both facilities should be available for viewing via LiveBarn.

 

T1EHL 15O Participating Teams

pre-showcase league records as of Nov. 22 in parentheses

 

#14 Anaheim Jr. Ducks (3-1-0)

#19 North Jersey Avalanche (0-0-0)

#26 Florida Alliance (3-1-0)

#30 Dallas Stars Elite (1-3-0)

#38 Sioux Falls Power (0-0-0)

#42 Nashville Jr. Predators (2-2-0)

#46 Phoenix Jr. Coyotes (3-1-0)

#53 Washington Little Caps (2-2-0)

#65 Los Angeles Jr. Kings (2-2-0)

#96 Colorado Thunderbirds (1-3-0)

 

Top 15O Matchup of the Weekend

Saturday, Nov. 23, 11:00 a.m. EST at Children’s Health StarsCenter Valley Ranch

#14 Anahiem Jr. Ducks vs. #19 North Jersey Avalanche

 

T1EHL 16U Participating Teams

pre-showcase league records as of Nov. 22 in parentheses

 

#6 Dallas Stars Elite (5-0-0)

#8 North Jersey Avalanche (0-1-0)

#12 Sioux Falls Power (1-0-0)

#25 Nashville Jr. Predators (1-4-0)

#40 Anaheim Jr. Ducks (3-2-0)

#41 Phoenix Jr. Coyotes (3-2-0)

#66 Colorado Thunderbirds (3-2-0)

#74 Florida Alliance (2-3-0)

#80 Los Angeles Jr. Kings (1-4-0)

#92 Washington Little Caps (0-5-0)

 

Top 16U Matchup of the Weekend

Saturday, Nov. 23, 5:30 p.m. EST at Children’s Health StarsCenter Valley Ranch

#5 Dallas Stars Elite vs. #12 Sioux Falls Power

 

CLICK HERE for the complete T1EHL 15O/16U Dallas Showcase schedule

CLICK HERE for T1EHL scores, standings & stats