Summer of Opportunity for Young Players
The 2026 USA Hockey National Player Development Camps officially open on June 25 and will run throughout the summer, providing a focused environment for skill refinement and competitive evaluation. Organizers emphasize player development as the core mission while using the camps as a scouting ground for various international squads.
Across multiple age brackets, teams will be assembled for players born between 2007 and 2011. The camps will be staged in three primary venues — Amherst, New York; Oxford, Ohio; and Lake Placid, New York — each offering distinct tournament formats and selection opportunities.
All games from the camps will be streamed live on USAHockeyTV.com, giving fans and families real‑time access to the action. The broadcast platform will feature every matchup, from early‑season exhibition games to the final selection contests.
The Boys National 16 Player Development Camp takes place from June 25 to July 1 in Amherst, N.Y., where coaches will assess participants for the U.S. Under‑17 Men’s Select Team slated to compete in the 2026 Under‑17 Four Nations Tournament in Chomutov, Czechia. Shortly after, the Boys National 17 Festival runs from July 7 to 13 in the same location, serving as a feeder for the Hlinka Gretzky Cup Selection Camp in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
The U.S. Under‑18 Men’s Select Team will travel to Edmonton, Alberta, to contest the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, while the Boys National 15 Player Development Camp occupies Amherst from July 15 to 21, continuing the evaluation pipeline for upcoming international events.
On the girls' side, the National U19 Training Camp will be held in Oxford, Ohio, from July 13 to 16, followed by the Girls National 16/17 Player Development Camp in the same town from July 13 to 18. Standout performers from this camp will earn invitations to the USA Hockey Under‑18 Women’s National Festival, scheduled for August 2‑9 at the Olympic Center in Lake Placid, N.Y.
The Under‑18 Women’s National Festival will culminate in a three‑game series against Canada in mid‑August, providing the final test for players aspiring to earn a spot on the U.S. Under‑18 Women’s Select Team. Throughout the summer, the blend of on‑ice competition, targeted development sessions and live streaming creates a comprehensive pathway for the next wave of international hockey talent.