Yellow glow indicates teams that drafted a player from the USHL in 2025. We looked at the 2025 NHL Draft Class to determine the state of the USHL NHL Draft Pipeline. The USHL is the premier feeder league, setting a record 8 first-round picks in 2025 (53 total selections). The USHL produced 1 out of every 4 players drafted, averaging 3.3 players per team—better than any league globally. 27 out of 32 NHL teams drafted a USHL player, confirming widespread commitment to this development path.

Minnesota leads the nation in hockey participation and varsity programs, creating the deepest development system in the United States. This article breaks down how Minnesota youth hockey development works, why the community model outperforms private club systems in other states, and how it produces long term success from youth to high school to NCAA and beyond.

Minnesota’s rink network is bigger and more accessible than anywhere else in the country, from 11,800 lakes to more than 500 indoor and outdoor rinks. This breakdown shows how that ice culture gives young players more opportunities to skate, play, and develop into top-level talent.