The United States Hockey League, the top junior hockey league in the U.S., announced two Arizona cities in its expansion on June 24.
Phoenix and Prescott Valley were among the six West Coast markets added for the USHL’s 2027-28 season.
According to a USHL news release, incoming owners are scheduled to meet with USHL personnel in July to determine the necessary items for a 2027-28 launch, including venues, leases and team branding.
Prescott Valley’s team will play at Findlay Toyota Center and is beginning the process of selecting a team name via fan vote.
The next chapter starts in the West.
📍 Northern California
📍 Simi Valley, CA
📍 Orange County, CA
📍 San Diego, CA
📍 Prescott Valley, AZ
📍 Phoenix, AZSix new markets. One mission: creating more opportunities for elite players to develop, compete, and advance. #USHL… pic.twitter.com/oVwQrivWub
— USHL (@USHL) June 24, 2026
The USHL is responsible for developing most of the top talent in the U.S., as 21 players from the U.S. Olympic men’s hockey team played in the league from ages 18 to 21. Many of the players in Arizona State’s hockey program came from the USHL.
The league also added teams in California, including San Diego, Orange County, Northern California and Simi Valley. The USHL has not expanded since Madison joined in 2014, and is made up of 16 teams across Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
Reach the reporter or send tips for stories at jenna.ortiz@arizonarepublic.com, as well as @jennarortiz on X.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: USHL expanding to Phoenix, Prescott Valley for 2027 season
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