Simi Valley could soon be home to a new ice hockey arena with room for thousands of fans cheering a United States Hockey League (USHL) team. The 16-team development league announced a six-team westward expansion on June 24 with four California teams in Simi Valley, San Diego, Orange County and Northern California along with two Arizona teams in Phoenix and Prescott Valley.
National Hockey League (NHL) Hall of Famer Luc Robitaille is helping lead the expansion into Ventura County.
“We couldn’t be more excited about the expansion into the west of the USHL. This has been a collaborative effort between an influential group of partners all sharing the same vision of growing the game of hockey,” said Robitaille, who played 19 years in the NHL, mostly with the Los Angeles Kings where he now serves as team president. “Each of these new markets has stepped up and is committed to the overall vision. Ultimately, this will contribute huge benefits to Tier I players and will only enhance the aspirations of youth hockey players everywhere.”
Current USHL teams are based in the Midwestern U.S. and Great Plains states and are made up of players ages 16 to 21 who remain amateurs so they can compete in National Collegiate Athletic Association hockey. Players typically live with local families and receive a stipend while attending school or working part time. USHL arenas in cities including Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Lincoln, Nebraska typically have a capacity of around 4,000 fans, although it has not yet been announced how big Simi Valley’s will be or exactly where it will be located.
League officials said more than 50% of NCAA Division I men’s hockey players and nearly 25% of NHL players have USHL experience and the league has developed more than 285 direct NHL draft picks since 2020.
Another expansion backer is Teemu Selänne, a 10-time NHL All-Star during 21 seasons who won a Stanley Cup with the Anaheim Ducks in 2007.
“Not only will this expansion increase accessibility and visibility for kids on the West Coast, but it will also expand the opportunity for those looking to play NCAA and professional hockey across the U.S.,” said Selänne whose son, Eetu, played two seasons for the Madison Capitols in 2015-17 before an NCAA career. “As a former USHL parent, I understand the value the league provides its players and am excited to be part of demonstrating how its approach to safety, education and on-ice development is optimized for players to progress at their own pace.”
The incoming owners are scheduled to meet with league personnel this month to plan for a 2027-28 launch, including venues and team branding.
Simi Valley city officials welcomed the announcement and said the new facility will serve as an anchor for sports and an entertainment destination. The vision is for a hockey arena which can also host concerts and community gatherings, with the potential to become a regional destination and create new recreational and economic opportunities.
“Simi Valley is honored to be identified in this exciting expansion effort. This vision represents more than a hockey franchise. It has the potential to create a new destination for sports, entertainment and tourism in the region,” Simi Valley Mayor Dee Dee Cavanaugh said. “We are excited about the possibilities this opportunity brings and look forward to exploring how this vision may be realized for the benefit of the Simi Valley community.”
City officials said additional information will be released soon about a potential location for the arena and opportunities for community partnerships with the USHL.