PLYMOUTH, Mich. – USA Hockey announced today that CJ Kusch (Grosse Pointe, Mich.) and Cam Babiak (Saline, Mich.) have been named assistant coaches with the National Team Development Program, completing the coaching staff ahead of the 2026-27 season.
Kusch will work alongside head coach Kevin Porter (Northville, Mich.) and associate coach Ryan Hayes (Syracuse, N.Y.) with the U.S. National Under-18 Team, while Babiak will serve with head coach Nick Fohr (Grand Forks, N.D.) and associate coach Mike Weber (Pittsburgh, Pa.) on the U.S. National Under-17 Team.
“Throughout its history, the NTDP has been built on outstanding coaches who are committed to developing players both on and off the ice,” said Scott Monaghan, assistant executive director of USA Hockey for the NTDP and USA Hockey Arena. “CJ and Cam are excellent additions to our staff, and their passion for teaching and developing talent will help us continue to set the standard as the premier player development program in hockey. I’m pleased to have our coaching staff filled, and excited for the season to come.”
ABOUT KUSCH
Kusch joins the NTDP after serving as an assistant coach at Long Island University during the 2025-26 season, where he oversaw the team’s penalty kill, defensive corps and systems play while also leading recruiting efforts and on-ice player development.
Prior to LIU, Kusch spent six seasons with the United States Hockey League’s Muskegon Lumberjacks, including five as an assistant coach after beginning as the club’s video coach. During his tenure behind the bench, the Lumberjacks captured the 2025 Clark Cup championship, advanced to three Eastern Conference Finals and one Clark Cup Final, while developing numerous players who advanced to the NCAA and coached multiple NHL first-round picks. Kusch worked extensively with the team’s defensemen, penalty kill and player development, while also playing a key role in scouting and roster construction.
Before joining Muskegon, Kusch served as director of hockey operations at Western Michigan University, managing the program’s day-to-day operations while assisting with opponent scouting and game preparation.
Kusch is also the founder of the ‘Play with Purpose’ charity hockey game to help raise awareness of distracted driving dangers, a game USA Hockey’s NTDP hosts at the Mitchel Kiefer Memorial Rink at USA Hockey Arena annually. Kusch managed sponsorships, donations and media outreach.
Kusch earned his bachelor’s degree in business law from Western Michigan University.
ABOUT BABIAK
Babiak joins the NTDP after serving as assistant director of hockey operations and video coach at Northern Michigan University, where he worked in player development, video analysis, practice planning, opponent scouting and team operations. He also serves as an on-ice instructor with NAR Hockey, helping develop youth players through individualized skill instruction.
Prior to Northern Michigan, Babiak spent the 2024-25 season as a graduate assistant coach at Adrian College, assisting with practice planning, player development, pre-scout preparation and team operations. He also spent six summers as a skating instructor with Hockey University, working with players of all ages to develop their skating and on-ice skills.
A former NTDP billet’s son, Babiak appeared in games with the U.S. National Under-17 Team during the 2015-16 season before continuing his playing career with the Brookings Blizzard, Bowling Green State University and Adrian College, where he served as an alternate captain.
Babiak earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Bowling Green State University before completing his Master of Business Administration at Adrian College.
Individual-game tickets for all Team USA home games will go on sale later this summer. Season ticket memberships, flex plans and group deposits for the 2026-27 season are available NOW by calling the USA Hockey Arena box office at 734-453-8400, emailing tickets@usahockeyarena.org or clicking HERE for more info!
The complete 2026-27 NTDP schedule can be found HERE.
ABOUT THE NTDP: USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program completed its 29th season of competition and is based at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Michigan. The goal of the full-time development program is to prepare student-athletes under the age of 18 for participation on U.S. National Teams and success in their future hockey careers. Its efforts focus not only on high-caliber participation on the ice, but creating well-rounded individuals off the ice.
