The 2020–21 NCDC season was the 4th season of the National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC) Division of the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL). The regular season ran from September 2020 to March 2021 with an unbalanced schedule. The Jersey Hitmen won the regular season championship and went on to defeated the Rockets Hockey Club 5 to 2 to capture the Dineen Cup.
COVID precautions Due to restriction levied at both the state and federal levels, the NCDC was forced to implement unique rules for this season. Games that were cancelled for any reason would not be made up. Because this could easily lead to an unbalanced schedule, the league also altered its playoff structure to allow all league members to participate. The particular regulations in Massachusetts for quarantining also forced the USPHL to have separate North Division quarterfinals; one for Bay State teams and another for the clubs located in Maine and New Hampshire.
Member changes In November of 2019, the Boston Bandits sold the rights to their Tier II club to the Philadelphia Hockey Club. The team began play this season.
In early 2020, the Rochester Monarchs were notified that their franchise would be removed from the NCDC due to poor on ice performance. After finishing the year with just 3 wins, the club dissolved and was soon followed by its Premier division affiliate.
In June, the Boston Advantage were officially welcomed as members of the USPHL. While the flagship franchise would join the NCDC, the organization would also found several other clubs at the lower levels.
Regular season
The standings at the end of the regular season were as follows:
Note: x = clinched playoff berth; y = clinched division title; z = clinched regular season title Standings
North Division
Team xy – Boston Junior Bruins 42309216316099 x – South Shore Kings 3922161045116123 x – New Hampshire Junior Monarchs 3418141138111118 x – Islanders Hockey Club 4316234036127169 x – Twin City Thunder 311216122791106 x – Boston Advantage 4310263427107164 x – Northern Cyclones 291116112474109
South Division
Team xyz – New Jersey Hitmen 45374227819787 x – Rockets Hockey Club 44355407417680 x – P.A.L. Jr. Islanders 4120143447143127 x – Connecticut Jr. Rangers 351715213796113 x – Utica Jr. Comets 3613203029104140 x – Philadelphia Hockey Club 4010271223101168
Dineen Cup playoffs Due to exigent circumstances, the three non-Massachusetts teams in the North Division played a Round-Robin series in the first round. The teams played each other once with the top two finishers advancing to the Division Semifinal.In the semifinal round, teams were arranged so that the top northern qualifier played the second southern qualifier and vice versa.
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)
Division Quarterfinals
Best of three
South Division
(S3) P.A.L. Jr. Islanders vs. (S6) Philadelphia Hockey Club
(S4) Connecticut Jr. Rangers vs. (S5) Utica Jr. Comets
North Division
(N1) Boston Junior Bruins vs. (N6) Boston Advantage
Massachusetts Quarterfinals
(N2) South Shore Kings vs. (N4) Islanders Hockey Club
Round Robin
Division Semifinals
South Division
(S1) Jersey Hitmen vs. (S4) Connecticut Jr. Rangers
(S2) Rockets Hockey Club vs. (S3) P.A.L. Jr. Islanders
North Division
(N1) Boston Junior Bruins vs. (N4) Islanders Hockey Club
References
General reference
External links Official website of the National Collegiate Development Conference