Five New Teams Form New USPHL Premier Alberta Division
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 1, 2025
Nashua, N.H. – The United States Premier Hockey League (“USPHL”) is pleased to announce that five new teams located in the Canadian province of Alberta will be joining the USPHL Premier Conference. In 2025-26, these teams will form the new Alberta Division and will play only against each other, with an eye towards playing teams from other USPHL divisions in showcases and in the USPHL National Championships in 2026-27 and beyond.
The new teams are the Bassano Beavers, Southern Alberta Mustangs, Three Hills Titans, Hanna Havoc and Diamond Valley Rockies. The new teams are joining a USPHL Premier conference that advanced more than 250 players to NCAA and club college hockey teams in the U.S. and Canada from the 2024-25 season alone. Players for the Alberta teams will also be playing in Western Hockey League territory with potential major junior advancement opportunities.
“We’re thrilled to officially welcome Alberta into the USPHL Premier, joining the growing list of Canadian provinces now part of our league footprint, including Quebec, Ontario, and New Brunswick,” said Mark Kumpel, the USPHL Premier Director of Operations. “This expansion into Western Canada marks a significant milestone in the USPHL’s evolution as a truly North American league. We’re proud to bring our development model to Alberta, a region rich in hockey tradition, and look forward to providing even more players with a pathway to college and junior opportunities across both the U.S. and Canada.”
Bassano Beavers
The Bassano Beavers are excited to join the USPHL Premier as an entirely new organization. Dr. Dave Rathgeber is the sole proprietor of the Beavers, who are based in the town of Bassano, located just off the Trans-Canada Highway and approximately 140 kilometers (90 miles) east of Calgary. The Beavers will play in Bassano Arena, which holds a capacity of 250 for hockey.
“I am extremely excited about the opportunity to bring USPHL Premier hockey to Bassano, Alberta, for the inaugural expansion season in the Province,” said Rathgeber. “Bassano is an ideal location for competitive hockey, and we are confident that it will attract high-caliber talent to put on a show night in and night out for our fans.”
Southern Alberta Mustangs
The Mustangs join the Premier from Stavely, Alberta, approximately 100 kilometers (75 miles) to the south of Calgary. A new team, they are excited to bring fans to Stavely Arena, which has a 700-seat capacity.
Lisa May is the Owner and General Manager of the Mustangs. She purchased the name and branding from a prior Mustangs team that played in the Can-Am Junior Hockey League. Mike Gilroy will be Head Coach for the Southern Alberta Mustangs.
“This is a huge step forward for our organization and for Southern Alberta hockey,” said May. “Our players, families, and communities now have direct access to one of the top development platforms in North America.”
Three Hills Titans
The Three Hills Titans are excited to make their debut in the town that is located approximately 125 kilometers (78 miles) northeast of Calgary. They will be playing at Centennial Place Arena beginning this fall.
Mike Gilroy joins Terry Hoffart and Tim Keating as co-owners of the Titans, and they are eager to build a contender from the ground up.
“Success starts with a foundation of great people that are good hockey players. That’s how champions are built,” added Gilroy.
Hanna Havoc
The Hanna Havoc are ready to bring a small-town, blue collar energy to the USPHL from Hanna, Alberta, located approximately 210 kilometers (130 miles) northeast of Calgary. The Havoc will play in the Hanna Agri-Sports Complex, which has a seating capacity for hockey of 1,000.
Owners Travis St. Laurent and B.J. Scheelar are excited to be a part of the USPHL and offer their players new advancement opportunities.
“‘Havoc’ suggests intensity, chaos and force, exactly the kind of energy small town hockey thrives on,” said St. Laurent. “Competing in this prestigious league provides our players a valuable opportunity to grow, develop and showcase their talents on a broader stage. We’re thrilled to bring our passion, grit and competitive spirit to the USPHL and represent the people of Hanna and the surrounding community with pride.”
Diamond Valley Rockies
In sight of the majestic mountains with which they share a nickname, the Diamond Valley Rockies bring USPHL hockey to the Oilfields Regional Arena in this southeastern suburb of Calgary, located just 65 kilometers (40 miles) from Alberta’s largest city.
The Rockies were founded by Ryan McKenzie and Sean Robertson, and they eagerly anticipate bringing the Rockies to the ice with an eye on player development and advancement to college and higher-tier junior hockey.
“Joining the USPHL as team owners is an incredible opportunity to grow the game, invest in the future of hockey and in the community of Diamond Valley,” said McKenzie. “We’re excited to help develop young talent, build a winning culture, and be part of one of the fastest-growing leagues in North America.”
About The United States Premier Hockey League
Founded in 2012, the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL) is the largest junior hockey organization in North America, with over 150 teams and more than 20,000 players aged 8-21, including its youth affiliates in the Tier 1 Hockey Federation (THF). The League’s Junior Divisions include the tuition-free National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC), and the Premier and Elite Conferences. The USPHL has sent more than 10,000 players to college hockey, including over 4,600 to the NCAA, and 19 NCDC alumni have been selected in the NHL Draft.
Media Contact
Joshua Boyd
USPHL Manager Of Media And Communications
media@usphl.com