The North American Hockey League (NAHL) is proud to announce the launch of the inaugural NAHL Futures Draft, taking place on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, one day before the NAHL Entry Draft.

The Futures Draft is designed to give 16-year-old players early exposure to junior hockey and support their path to NCAA hockey through the NAHL’s proven development model.

Each NAHL team will select two players born in 2009, one in each of the draft’s two rounds. The draft order will follow a reverse order of the 2024-25 regular season standings.

Following the draft, selected players will be automatically added to their team’s USA Hockey Affiliate Player List for the 2025-26 season. This special status allows players to participate in up to 10 NAHL games without being added to the team’s official USA Hockey Protected List. It offers a unique opportunity for players to gain valuable junior hockey experience while continuing to play at the midget, high school, or prep school level while keeping all future options open.

NAHL teams will hold exclusive rights to their Futures Draft picks through March 10, 2026. If a drafted player has not been added to the team’s official USA Hockey Protected List or signed to an NAHL tender agreement by that date, the player becomes a free agent and is eligible to sign a tender agreement with any team in the NAHL.

“This is a great opportunity for young players to get a feel for what junior hockey is all about,” said NAHL Commissioner Mark Frankenfeld. “The Futures Draft gives our teams a chance to connect with top prospects early, while giving families the peace of mind that their player’s development options remain wide open. It’s another example of our league’s commitment to development and providing players with a pathway to NCAA hockey.”

Added Northeast Generals Head Coach and GM Bryan Erikson “This is a great step for our league getting a look at younger players.  We have had some great success with first year eligible players and feel that this will allow our staff to identify our future leaders earlier.  We look forward to drafting 2 players from the 2009 birth year coming up in June and welcoming them to the #GensFamily”