A New Era of Toledo Cherokee Hockey Begins

TOLEDO, OHIO — September 14, 2026 — A new chapter is beginning for one of Toledo's longstanding junior hockey programs. The Toledo Cherokee Junior Hockey Club is proud to announce the start of the 2026–27 season, highlighted by the addition of the organization's new NCDC program alongside its USPHL Premier team.

The expansion represents a significant step forward for the Cherokee organization, creating new opportunities for aspiring junior hockey players in Toledo, Northwest Ohio, Southeast Michigan, and beyond.

The Toledo Cherokee name has been part of the Northwest Ohio hockey community for decades. Generations of players have worn the Cherokee sweater while developing their skills, competing at the junior level, and pursuing opportunities to advance their hockey careers. Now, that history becomes the foundation for something even bigger.

The addition of an NCDC team gives the Cherokee organization another level within its player-development structure and strengthens the pathway available to players seeking to advance through junior hockey and ultimately toward collegiate opportunities. Operating both NCDC and USPHL Premier teams allows Toledo to identify, recruit, develop, and advance players within one organization and one hockey community.

For young hockey players growing up in the Toledo area, that pathway can now lead into higher-level junior hockey without requiring them to leave the community that helped develop them.

Leading both Toledo Cherokee programs as General Manager and Head Coach is Kenny Miller, who will oversee the organization's hockey operations and overall direction of the hockey operations department. Joshua Way will serve as Assistant General Manager, helping oversee organizational operations and the continued growth of both programs.

Behind the bench, the Cherokee have assembled a coaching staff focused on development, accountability, and preparing players for the next level. Nic Saenz will serve as Associate Head Coach of the Toledo Cherokee NCDC team, while Todd Omey will lead the Toledo Cherokee Premier team as Associate Head Coach. Joining the staff as an Assistant Coach is Isaiah Crawford — Crawford previously wore the Cherokee sweater as a player and now returns to the organization to help develop the next generation of Toledo Cherokee players.

The expansion isn't simply about adding another team. It is about building a sustainable hockey development system in Toledo. The Cherokee organization wants young players throughout Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan to be able to walk into Team Toledo Ice House, watch high-level junior hockey, meet players and coaches, and see a realistic pathway for where the game can take them.

The Toledo Cherokee Premier team begins its 2026–27 campaign on the road Friday, September 25, against a familiar rival — Toledo Cherokee vs. Metro Jets. The longtime rivals will meet in Mount Clemens, Michigan, with puck drop scheduled for 1:00 p.m.

Then, on Saturday, September 26, history will be made when the Toledo Cherokee NCDC team takes the ice for its first home game at Team Toledo Ice House. The Cherokee will welcome the Fort Wayne Spacemen for an 8:30 p.m. puck drop. It will mark the beginning of NCDC hockey in Toledo under the Cherokee banner and open the next chapter of a program that has been part of the city's hockey community for generations.

The players are ready. The coaches are ready. And on September 26, it's time for Toledo to pack the Ice House. A historic name. A new level. A bigger opportunity. The next chapter of Toledo Cherokee Hockey starts now.