USPHL Launches $250,000 NIL Performance Program

Join the Evolution. Where Performance Pays.

The United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL) has announced the launch of the first league-wide, performance-based NIL compensation system in North American junior hockey. Beginning with the 2025-26 season, the initiative will reward winning, excellence, and development across both the National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC) and the USPHL Premier Division, marking a transformative step in the evolution of junior hockey.

Join the Evolution. Where Performance Pays. This guiding principle defines the USPHL’s commitment to building the most athlete-centric development platform in the sport. By directly tying NIL compensation to performance, the league is modernizing the junior hockey experience while maintaining competitive integrity through a structured and disciplined league-wide NIL cap of $250,000 per season.

Under this model, the USPHL will allocate $180,000 annually to the NCDC and $70,000 to the USPHL Premier Division, creating a unified performance economy that rewards achievement at every level of the league.

NCDC NIL Performance Payout Program will allocate $180,000 annually. In 2026, Championship success will be rewarded when each player on the 2026 Dineen Cup championship roster will earn $5,000, representing a total championship allocation of $130,000. 2025-26 end-of-season performance awards will further honor the league’s top players, with $5,000 designated for Best Forward, Best Defenseman, and Best Goaltender. Postseason performance will also be rewarded, as six players named to the NCDC All-Tournament Team will receive $1,000 each, while the Playoff Most Valuable Player will earn an additional $4,000 on top of their All-Tournament recognition, bringing the total playoff NIL allocation to $10,000. Individual excellence throughout the 2026-27 regular season will be recognized through a weekly Player of the Week NIL award of $1,000 over a 25-week season, totaling $25,000. 

USPHL Premier NIL Performance Payout Program will feature a total annual allocation of $70,000. Starting in the 2025-26 season, the Premier National Championship winner will equally split a pool of $40,000 with each player earning more than $1,000 each. Season-ending performance awards will mirror the NCDC structure, with $5,000 each awarded to the Premier Division’s Best Forward, Best Defenseman, and Best Goaltender. Playoff performance will be recognized through Premier All-Tournament Team selections, with six players earning $500 each, while the Playoff MVP will receive an additional $2,000, resulting in a total playoff NIL allocation of $5,000. In the 2026-27 season, consistent regular-season performance will be recognized through a weekly Player of the Week NIL payout of $500 over a 20-week schedule, totaling $10,000.

This league-wide initiative fundamentally changes the junior hockey landscape. The USPHL is now the only junior hockey organization where players can earn verified NIL income while competing at elite national levels, reducing or offsetting tuition costs, building measurable college recruiting leverage, and advancing through a paid, performance-based development ladder. Instead of paying to play with no return, athletes now compete inside a system that rewards excellence both financially and developmentally.

The USPHL is no longer just a league. It is a performance economy for junior hockey. From the Premier Division to the NCDC, players are rewarded on the ice, through NIL income, in college opportunity, and in long-term career value. This model gives the USPHL a clear and powerful recruiting advantage and firmly establishes the league as the future of junior hockey development in North America.

Weekly Player of the Week selections and season-ending performance awards across both divisions will be voted on by accredited junior hockey media members and influencers. Eligibility for accredited voters requires a verified website and social media presence, regular and ongoing coverage of junior hockey, weekly participation in Player of the Week voting, no conflicts of interest related to player advising, and continued coverage of the USPHL. Media members seeking accreditation may apply by contacting media@usphl.com.

As the league enters the 2026–27 season, the USPHL NIL Performance Payout Program stands as a defining milestone in junior hockey history. Join the Evolution. Where Performance Pays.