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WINNING FORMULA Minnesota Hockey revamps CCM High Performance pathways while staying true to its community roots INNESOTA HOCKEY is launching a revamped CCM Fall High Performance pro- gram designed to continue paving the way Minnesota boys' hockey players develop while staying true to the community and high school hockey system that has made Minnesota the top development model in the nation. Beginning with the 2027-28 season, the program will introduce two 15s and two 17s teams that will centralize in Blaine during the fall. The teams will face USA Hockey Development League programs, Shattuck-St. Mary's, international competition, Tier I clubs and regional North American Hockey League teams in exhibition play, while also collaborating with the United States Hockey League. The players will then return to their community/high school teams and benefit from the country's most successful hockey development model. They will take on leadership roles, compete for a State Championship, and carry the community hockey cul- ture forward for the next generation. Only Minnesota residents will be eligible for CCM Fall High Performance teams. "This was built for the Minnesota player. We are putting the Minnesota player first," says Mike MacMillan, Minnesota Hockey's CCM High Performance Program Director. "We're still No. 1 in the country and we want to remain the best." MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE MINNESOTA PLAYER The expanded model will create additional opportunities through- out the state, including four 18U Tier I teams, four 16U Tier I teams, five 18U Tier II teams and six 16U Tier II teams. Together, the additions are intended to provide more Minnesota players with high-level training, coaching, competition and exposure without requiring them to leave the state to pursue development opportunities. The program was created by Minnesota Hockey in collabo- ration with the Minnesota Wild, Minnesota State High School League, Minnesota Hockey Coaches Association, USA Hockey, College Hockey Inc. and Shattuck-St. Mary's. The new program is about celebrating the country's No. 1 development model built around community associations, public rinks and high school hockey at a time when youth hockey across the country increasingly follows privatized, for-profit models. MORE JUICE FROM THE SQUEEZE Minnesota leads the nation in NCA A Division I men's hock- ey players, with 217 for the 2026-27 season, nearly match- ing the combined totals of the next three states: New York (80), Massachusetts (79) and Michigan (71). Minnesota also produced 59 NHL players and five 2026 U.S. Olympic Gold Medalists last season. "Minnesota may have the most players, but we also get way more out of our players than any other state," says Jeremy Reed, executive director of Minnesota Hockey. "If you compare Minnesota's current crop of college hockey players to when these men were 8U players, Minnesota signifi- cantly over-indexes in developing high-end talent. 24 M H J ON L I N E . C O M | N O V / D E C 2 0 2 6 Only Minnesota residents will be eligible for CCM Fall High Performance teams.