For the first time in history, the United States men’s and women’s ice hockey teams swept the gold medals when both sides stood atop the podium at the XXV Olympic Winter Games this past February in Italy. Both did so by defeating Canada in overtime by a 2-1 margin. And both did so helmed by NEPAHL alums.
Nearly half of Team USA’s men’s roster has seen action in past NEPAHL tournaments with Jack Eichel, Brady Tkachuk, Clayton Keller, Matt Boldy, Dylan Larkin, JT Miller, Tage Thompson, Charlie McAvoy, Noah Hanifin, Jackson Lacombe and Jake Oettinger all suiting up in at least one of the league’s showcases. Team USA head coach Mike Sullivan is also an alumnus, both as a player while in high school and at Boston University, as well as having coached Team Boston to their first ever Chowder Cup win.
On the women’s side, Team USA captain Hilary Knight along with long time veteran Alex Carpenter are both former participants in NEPAHL’s Women’s Chowder Cup.
The 2026 Women’s Chowder Cup is the first of the four Chowder Cups to be played this summer, coming up June 5th through 7th. The tournament will feature three divisions: 14U Future Prospects (players born in 2012 or younger), 16U Prep Prospects (players born in2010 or younger) and 19U College Prospects (players born in 2007 or younger).
Teams interested in participating in the 2026 Women’s Chowder Cup can contact Mike O’Connell (michaeljoconnell@comcast.net) about registration.
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