OFFICIAL SITE OF THE
UTAH OUTLIERS
Mountain Division Champions 2023 I 2022 I 2021
Outliers Join NCDC Tier II For The 2023-24 Season!
The Utah Outliers are excited to announce that the organization has been promoted and will join the USPHL National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC) Tier-II level for the 2023-24 season.
The NCDC Executive Committee approved the Outliers along with the five other members of the USPHL mountain division (Idaho Falls Spud Kings, Ogden Mustangs, Northern Colorado Eagles, Provo Predators) to join the USPHL NCDC and form what will be known as the NCDC West division.
The current mountain divisions' six teams will compete at the premier level for the 2022-23 season and use the year to prepare for the jump to the NCDC Tier-II level. Over the next 12 months, the Outliers will focus their recruiting efforts on attracting the nation's next group of NCAA Division I players and potential NHL draft prospects.
The addition of the NCDC West division will help strengthen the NCDC brand by making it a nationwide league and the only Tier-II junior hockey division located in the western United States. The NCDC currently has 14 teams throughout the eastern part of the country.
The NCDC playoffs will have both divisions (East & West) crown a division winner. The two division winners will then face off and play a best of three series to crown a USPHL NCDC Champion.
With the addition of the NCDC Western division comes many new and exciting opportunities, not just for the 6 new organizations but also for the current Eastern division teams and the entire USPHL brand. The USPHL continues to show itself as a leader in growing the sport and developing top-end talent.
GM/Head Coach Paul Taylor had this to say about the organization's move to the NCDC "We are thrilled to be moving into the NCDC for the 2023-24 season and compete at the Tier 2 level. This will give our program the opportunity to train and develop some of the best junior hockey players in the world and help them reach their goals of playing NCAA D1 and professional hockey. I believe the Outliers and the entire NCDC West division will be a great addition to the USPHL and we look forward to helping enhance this great league."
Outliers' ownership partner Rich Wolper is also excited to see the Outliers make the move to the NCDC. "We have been working on this plan for a long time, and to now be able to finally solidify it and join the NCDC is fantastic. I believe we have a really great opportunity to build hockey in the west and help many young players achieve their dreams of playing at the highest levels. We look forward to building the NCDC West with our divisional partners and helping the USPHL grow and succeed even further."
With this announcement, the future looks bright for both the Utah Outliers and the NCDC. The USPHL continues to assert itself as one of the top hockey development leagues in North America and has now just reshaped junior hockey in America!