// ACADEMYAugust 14, 2026
Welcome home — season 2026/27 starts today.
Nordic Hockey Academy welcomes all returning and new players to the 2026/27 season! Today players and families arrive in Ferlach from all over Europe and beyond for check-in at the academy. The first days are about settling into the apartments, meeting teammates and staff — before the pre-season camp hits the ice at the Ferlach Elite Hockey Center. To everyone joining the NHA Family for the first time: start unknown — finish unforgettable. Let's have a great season!
// ACADEMYSeason 2025–26
Looking forward to the season 2025–2026.
Season 2025–2026 has finally started. Since 2017 NHA has developed hundreds of players from all over the world — dozens moving on to North American leagues (NCDC, NAHL, USHL, NCAA) and European professional leagues. Over 50 NHA players have represented their national teams, including at the World Juniors and Hlinka Gretzky Cup. Nordic Management (Sam & Phil) are deeply privileged to work with such enthusiastic, loyal and committed players and families in the NHA Family.
// U18Season 2025–26
The U18 team is making a name for itself.
The brand new U17 team of 2023–24 finished second in the league, one point behind Red Bull Salzburg — and grew into today's U18 team. With 15 national team players in the roster, and one player historically selected for the Hlinka & Gretzky Cup in Canada, the group keeps pushing among the top teams in the country.
// U20Season 2025–26
The U20 team keeps pushing towards the top.
Fourth consecutive year in the Austrian/Hungarian league: a semi-final in year one, a final in year two — and in 2023–24 the medal was finally taken home from Red Bull. The goal now is crystal clear: only the brightest colour is missing from the hall of fame, and the hunt is on. Last year alone, five NHA players were drafted or selected to US junior leagues.
// U18Season 2024–25
Three medals in four years speaks for itself.
The U18 team won the first phase of the league, qualified for the play-offs in their very first U18 season, beat the legendary KAC 2–0 in the quarterfinals and Hungarian UTE 3–1 (after penalty shots) in the semis. The final against defending champions Red Bull Salzburg ended in a hard-fought silver — in year one. Season 2024–25 was a blast.
// U18April 2025
Silver medal ceremony 2024–2025.
The moment the boys received their silver medals at the rink in Ferlach.
// ACADEMYNashville · May 2026
The #59 Roman Josi's message to the NHA.
Since 2018, NHA and the Elite Edge Showcase in Nashville have worked together — NHA is the only European organisation sending coaches and players to the annual event. Every Nordic player brought to Nashville has received the opportunity to play North American junior or college hockey, among them Jere Väisänen, Paul Schmid, Matteo Mitrovic, Janick Wernicke, Tobias Omholt, Casper Rys, Markus Ingdahl, Christian Johansen, Kilian Trommet, Lorenz Hofer, Leo Cabulis and Eetu Heinonen. See you in May 2026 — Go Preds.
// ACADEMY2017–2026
Nine years of NHA — hundreds of players, lifelong friendships.
Fantastic results, hundreds of players and memories for life. A strong and genuine alumni program keeps former students actively involved in the concept — with Jere Väisänen currently playing at the highest level of all NHA alumni, in the Finnish SM Liiga. Go Jere.
// VIDEO
Player interviews.
NHA players on life at the academy — in their own words.
// VIDEO
Inside the academy.
More moments from the season in Ferlach.
Alumni on the move
// ALUMNI
Paul Schmid & Matteo Mitrovic → Alps League.
Paul Schmid (2000) was the very first player to join NHA in 2017. Via Austrian U20 national team gold, NAHL and NCAA, he is now the top scorer in the Alps League. Matteo Mitrovic played four seasons at NHA, made the Austrian U20 team and World Juniors, and joined Kitzbühel in the Alps League after US juniors.
// ALUMNI
Janick Wernicke → ICE League.
Janick was only 14 when he moved from home to join NHA. Three full seasons later he was selected for the Austrian U20 national team program, moved to the US for junior hockey — and now plays his second season of professional ICE League hockey for the Vorarlberg Pioneers.
// ALUMNI
Leo Cabulis → NAHL.
The only alumni to play a full five seasons in the program. Hundreds of memories and tons of work developed Leo from a young boy into a Latvian U20 national team player — later drafted to the NAHL, where he now plays against his friend Elvis Laskovs.
// ALUMNI
Elvis Laskovs → NAHL.
Since 2017, eight NHA players have been tendered or drafted to the North American Hockey League. After season 2023–24, Latvian U20 national team player Elvis Laskovs became one of them. Congratulations Elvis.
