United States Hockey League (USHL)

The United States Hockey League (USHL) is a privately owned junior ice hockey league sanctioned by USA Hockey. It was founded in 1947 and is headquartered in the United States. The USHL is considered the top junior ice hockey league in the country and serves as a stepping stone for players hoping to advance to the National Hockey League (NHL). The league consists of 17 teams divided into two conferences: the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference. Each team plays a 62-game regular season schedule, followed by playoffs to determine the league champion. The USHL also operates a development program called the USHL National Team Development Program (NTDP), which is designed to prepare players for the NHL Draft. The league has a staff of approximately 40 employees and generates revenue through various sources, including ticket sales, sponsorships, and broadcasting rights.