The North American Hockey League announced today the 20 programs accepted into its new North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL), which will compete at the Tier I Midget AAA level.

1. Boston Jr. Rangers
2. Carolina Jr. Hurricanes
3. Chadders Hockey
4. Florida Panther Alliance
5. Green Bay
6. Indianapolis AAA
7. Lansing Capitals AAA
8. Marquette Electricians
9. Milwaukee Jr. Admirals
10. Nevada Stars
11. Omaha AAA Hockey Club
12. Phantom Fireworks
13. Pikes Peak Miners
14. S2
15. San Jose Jr. Sharks
16. So Cal Titans
17. St. Louis Selects
18. Team Maryland
19. Texas Tornado
20. Thunder Hockey

Comprised of five events in which the 36 teams will compete at the Midget Major (20 teams) and Midget Minor (16 teams) levels for a league championship, the North American Prospects Hockey League season will culminate with an NAPHL Top Prospects Tournament at the NAHL's 2010 Robertson Cup Championship Tournament in late April.

The dates and sites of the five NAPHL events are: September 17-20, 2009 (Blaine, Minn.); October 9-12, 2009 (St. Louis, Mo., or Chicago, Ill.); November 12-15, 2009 (Rochester, N.Y.); January 15-18, 2010 (Ann Arbor, Mich.); and February 12-15, 2010 (San Jose, Calif.).

The five USA Hockey-sanctioned NAPHL events utilize the USA Hockey Officiating Development Program and are designed to maximize the exposure of all the Midget participants through the NAHL's high-profile recruiting events, which attract hundreds of college, junior and professional scouts.