Updated 9:55 a.m. April 20, 2021

USA Hockey Boys' Tier 1 National Championships at the 14U, 15U, 16U and 18U levels are scheduled to take place April 28 – May 3 in various locations around the United States. Usually held the first week of April, Nationals were pushed back a few weeks as a result of the late start to the 2020-21 season and the many pauses in the season that resulted from the spread of COVID-19. 

The final Nationals automatic berths were decided this past weekend as the New York state champions were determined in tournament play there. Normally at the Tier 1 level, 12 teams earn bids in each age group by winning their district or state championships, while four additional clubs receive at-large berths or qualify by winning league titles. That process has been altered somewhat this year with Massachusetts announcing in January that it would not hold its annual state-championship tournament. 

Congratulations to the New York Teams that claimed their berths over the weekend – the 14U second-ranked Bishop Kearney Selects, 15U 11^th-ranked Buffalo Jr. Sabres, 16U fourth-ranked BK Selects and 18U third-ranked Rochester Coalition – and the other teams that either qualified previously or have been awarded at-large berths.

A quick glance at the MYHockey national rankings at each age group reveals the following:

• Eight of the top-16 18U teams have qualified for Nationals, with four at-large bids still to be determined.
• Each of the top 11 16U teams have earned berths along with Nos. 14, 19, 20, 28 and 35.
• Each of the top 11 15U teams have qualified as well as Nos. 14, 20, 24, 41 and 55.
• Each of the top 13 14U teams have earned bids along with Nos. 25, 26 and 49. 

The boys’ 14U tournament is being held at the Children’s Health Star Center Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, while the 15U teams will play at the Children’s Health Star Center in Euless, Texas. All of the 16U and 18U games will be played at either Ice Zone in Hazelwood, Mo., or the Cantene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights, Mo.

Below is an updated breakdown of the teams that will compete at Nationals in each age group from each district:

 

USA Hockey Nationals Boys Qualifiers as of April 20, 2021 

Atlantic District:

14U – #6 New Jersey Colonials, #13 North Jersey Avalanche

15U – #7 North Jersey Avalanche

16U – #1 North Jersey Avalanche, #7 New Jersey Rockets

18U – #5 North Jersey Avalanche

 

Central District:

14U – #4 NE Wisconsin Jr. Gamblers, #7 Chicago Mission, #9 St. Louis Jr. Blues

15U – #8 Team Wisconsin, #1 Chicago Mission, #9 Chicago Young Americans

16U – #20 NE Wisconsin Jr. Gamblers

18U – #13 CarShield

 

Massachusetts:

14U – #3 Boston Jr. Eagles, #11 Minuteman Flames

15U – #2 Honeybaked, #3 Compuware

16U – #5 Honeybaked, #8 Fox Motors, #14 Oakland Jr. Grizzlies

18U – #16 Meijer

 

Michigan:

14U – #10 Compuware

15U – #2 Honeybaked, #3 Compuware

16U – #5 Honeybaked, #8 Fox Motors, #14 Oakland Jr. Grizzlies

18U – #16 Meijer

 

Mid-Am District:

14U – #12 Pittsburgh Penguins Elite

15U – #14 Pittsburgh Penguins Elite

16U – #2 Pittsburgh Penguins Elite

18U – #22 Ohio Blue Jackets, #11 Esmark Stars

 

Minnesota:

14U – #1 Shattuck-St. Mary’s

15U – #5 Shattuck-St. Mary’s, #21 Minnesota Blue Ox

16U – #3 Shattuck-St. Mary’s

18U – #1 Shattuck-St. Mary’s

 

New England District:

14U – #5 Mount St. Charles (RI Saints)

15U – #4 Mid-Fairfield Jr. Rangers, #10 Mount St. Charles (RI Saints)

16U – #5 Mount St. Charles (RI Saints), #9 Seacoast Performance Academy

18U – #5 Mount St. Charles (RI Saints)

 

New York:

14U – #2 Bishop Kearney Selects

15U – #11 Buffalo Jr. Sabres

16U – #4 Bishop Kearney Selects

18U – #3 Rochester Coalition

 

Northern Plains District:

14U – #49 Team North Dakota

15U - #55 Sioux Falls Power

16U – #35 Sioux Falls Power

18U – #37 Sioux Falls Power

 

Pacific District:

14U – #8 LA Jr. Kings

15U – #41 Team Alaska

16U – #19 Anaheim Jr. Ducks

18U – #23 Anaheim Jr. Ducks

 

Rocky Mountain District:

14U – #25 Colorado Thunderbirds

15U – #24 Dallas Stars Elite

16U – #10 Colorado Thunderbirds, #11 Dallas Stars Elite

18U – #12 Rocky Mountain RoughRiders

 

Southeast District:

14U – #26 Team Maryland

15U – #6 Florida Alliance

16U – #28 Nashville Jr. Predators

18U – #9 Nashville Jr. Predators

 

If your team or club has received an at-large bid to Nationals and it is not posted here, please let us know via an email to scott@myhockeyrankings.com.