USA Inline NDP Showcase Games at '25 Zona Cup Finals

New for 2025 at the Zona Cup Finals!

Last season we announced the IHAAZ series would be partnering with the USA Inline National Development Program (NDP). For those not familiar with the USA Inline NDP, it is a pathway for both male and female youth players to follow to one day represent the USA in international competition. 

For players to be on the radar for the Men's/Women's World JR teams and National teams, getting them into the NDP database and scouting watch lists is crucial. 

Beginning last season, the NDP partnered with State Wars to host NDP showcase games during their youth divisions at State Wars Finals each year. The top players from each birth year division are scouted during round robin play and invited to participate in those showcase games during the final days of each youth divisions play. Those selected players receive a USA jersey and compete against other regional teams in a handful of showcase games coached by the scouts and coaches of the World JR and Mens teams. In the future, as the JR team rosters are selected, having participated in showcase games like these helps to give these players and edge in being selected for those future teams.

IHAAZ houses one of the largest regional tournament series in the country, with 40+ teams from one state, competing in multiple events each year. As such we are a great incubator for talent in this part of the country. As the newly formed USA NDP continues to grow and build their foundation in the sport we have looked to expand our partnership in ways that will help our AZ players get the exposure and recognition they deserve.

To do this, we have worked with the NDP program and our IHAAZ uniform partner (True Threds) to revamp what used to be our IHAAZ All Stars games, and in its place created an NDP Showcase of our own, using the IHAAZ qualifier events as the scouting grounds. A panel of game officials and coaches worked together to select teams in each age group who will compete in our own NDP showcase games during the Zona Cup Finals. Selected players and alternates will be required to register with the NDP program ahead of the event.

Beyond the Zona Cup Finals showcase games, selected players will receive an invitation to represent Arizona in 2026 (next summer) at the 22nd State Wars Hockey Championship event for their age/birth year division, and possibly the NDP Showcase games during that event, competing against the other top players in their age group from around the country. Other State Wars teams may be formed for 2026, more information to be announced next season. 

Player selections will be announced for each age group of the Zona Cup finals over the next few days.

For more info or questions click HERE for the NDP/State Wars FAQs