Ohio Blue Jackets selected to join prestigious USA Hockey Development League
October 5, 2026
COLUMBUS, OH — The Ohio Blue Jackets (OBJ) announced today that the organization has officially accepted an invitation to join the newly formed USA Hockey Development League (DL). The invitation places the Ohio Blue Jackets among an exclusive group of just 29 Tier I organizations selected nationwide to participate in this landmark initiative.
The USA Hockey Development League is a national framework of high-performance youth hockey programs, each fielding one 15U team and one 17U team. Operating under USA Hockey, DL programs identify, train and develop players from across the country to advance to junior hockey, including the USHL and the NAHL, as well as USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program, college hockey and the NHL. Play will begin with the 2027-28 season.
“Being selected as one of only 29 organizations in the nation to join the USA Hockey Development League is an incredible honor and a testament to the dedication of our players, coaches, families, and alumni,” said Ed Gingher, President of the Ohio Blue Jackets. “USA Hockey’s vision for the DL aligns perfectly with our core philosophy: providing our student-athletes with elite-level coaching, premier competition, and an intentional, holistic development path. This platform will provide our players with an unparalleled standard of play and exposure, and we could not be more excited to represent Ohio on this national stage.”
About the USA Hockey Development League (DL)
The USA Hockey Development League is an initiative established by USA Hockey to elevate the player development pyramid across the United States. Designed to optimize training, competition, and exposure for elite student-athletes, the league focuses on:
- Enhanced Competition and Optimal Scheduling: Bringing together premier youth programs to ensure consistent, best-on-best competition while prioritizing training-to-game ratios that maximize long-term athletic development.
- Elevated Player Advancement: Serving as a primary feeder system into the United States Hockey League (USHL), NCAA Division I college hockey, the USA Hockey National Team Development Program (NTDP), and professional ranks.
- Rigorous Organizational Standards: Requiring member clubs to meet elevated benchmarks in facility quality, player safety, off-ice strength and conditioning, sports science, and educational support.
To learn more about this initiative, visit USA Hockey's Development League website HERE.
The Ohio Blue Jackets will continue to provide further details as USA Hockey finalizes launch parameters for upcoming seasons.