Eastern Hockey League (2013)

Last updated
Eastern Hockey League
Current season, competition or edition:
Sports current event.svg 2024–25 EHL season
Eastern Hockey League logo.jpg
Sport Ice hockey
Founded2003
No. of teams21 — EHL
16 — EHL Premier
Country United States
Most recent
champion(s)
EHL — New Jersey 87's
EHLP — New Jersey 87's
(2024–25)
Most titles3 (Northern Cyclones), (Walpole Express)
Official website EHL

The Eastern Hockey League (EHL) is an American Tier II junior ice hockey league with teams in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic United States. The EHL was officially announced on June 6, 2013, after the Atlantic Junior Hockey League (AtJHL) [1] [2] welcomed six new members from the old Eastern Junior Hockey League and the AtJHL re-branded itself under the EHL banner

Contents

The league prepares high school and college aged players for possible advancement to college and professional hockey.

History

The Atlantic Junior Hockey League was part of the Atlantic Metropolitan Hockey League organization and was formed in 2003 with a stated goal to "meet the needs of the junior hockey community and the players it serves in the Eastern United States". The AtJHL played its first season in 2003–04 with six teams that had previously played in the Junior B Metropolitan Junior Hockey League. On May 30, 2012 the AtJHL announced that after nine years of being a part of the Atlantic Metropolitan Hockey League, the 12 AtJHL ownership groups successfully became a stand-alone entity. After the split, the AtJHL was managed and governed solely by the league owners.

In 2013, Tier III junior hockey leagues underwent a large reorganization that led to the dissolution of the Eastern Junior Hockey League and six of their former members joining the AtJHL. Prior to the 2013–14 season, the AtJHL re-branded to become the Eastern Hockey League (EHL). [3] The six members who came from the EJHL were the Boston Bandits, Connecticut Oilers, New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs, New York Apple Core, Philadelphia Revolution, and the Valley Jr. Warriors.

In December 2014, the EHL announced the Connecticut Nighthawks as an expansion franchise to start in the 2015–16. They also announced the formation of the EHL-Elite Division and that eight teams would participate in the first season composed of the former Junior B teams for EHL organizations. The formation of the Elite Division led to the previous Junior A members to be placed in the EHL-Premier Division. In May 2015, the North American Hockey League, a Tier II league, announced that the New Jersey Junior Titans and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights had been approved to elevate their organizations. After their promotion, the two EHL franchises went dormant. [4]

In March 2016, the EHL announced that it was changing the name of the Elite Division to 19U Elite Division for the 2016–17 season and doubling in size by adding eight more teams, mostly the prospect teams from the Premier Division's South Conference teams. [5] However, the 19U Elite Connecticut Nighthawks team were dropped from the schedule prior to their first season.

In December 2016, it was announced that six organizations (the Boston Bandits, Connecticut Nighthawks, Hartford Jr. Wolfpack, New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs, New Jersey Rockets, and the Northern Cyclones) would be leaving the EHL for the 2017–18 season for the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL). [6] The Bandits, Rockets, and Cyclones had already been announced as adding free-to-play teams in the USPHL's National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC) for the 2017–18 season. [7] All six organizations will add their Premier and Elite teams to the USPHL's Premier and Elite Divisions.

In February 2017, the EHL announced that they would expand [8] to make up for the teams lost to the NCDC. The first team announced was New Hampshire Avalanche, an organization that previously only had youth teams. Next, it was announced the league would be adding the teams from the North American 3 Atlantic Hockey League (the former Metropolitan Junior Hockey League). The six teams from the NA3AHL were the Central Penn Panthers, Jersey Wildcats, Long Island Royals, Metro Fighting Moose (who left for the USHPL after the announcement), New Jersey Renegades, and the return of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights. The league also listed the New Jersey 87's and Cape Cod-based Total Athletics. The one-year dormant New York Bobcats also returned as the Bobcats Royals as part of an organizational merger with the Long Island Jr. Royals of the NA3AHL. The Connecticut Oilers relocated from Norwalk to Hamden following the announcement that the ownership of the USHL's Cedar Rapids RoughRiders added a team called the Connecticut RoughRiders that will play out of the Oilers' former arena in Norwalk. [9]

In March 2017, the EHL announced their new divisional structure for the 2017–18 season with 16 teams in the Premier and 17 in the Elite, [10] although the Elite would decrease to 13 after the departures of the Connecticut Oilers Elite team, the Lehigh Valley Jr. Rebels, Long Island Royals, and Metro Moose. In May 2017, the league announced that they would reorganize their two-tier league with the top tier (formerly called the Premier) being only called the Eastern Hockey League and the lower tier being called the Eastern Hockey League Premier Division. The naming conventions were changed to put the emphasis on the top-level league for college development. [11]

In 2022, the EHL announced it would be self-governed and withdrew from USA Hockey sanctioning. [12]

Teams

EHL teams

Eastern Hockey League
DivisionTeamArenaLocationJoined
North
East Coast Wizards Edge Sports Center Bedford, Massachusetts 2014
New England Wolves Merrill Fay Arena Laconia, New Hampshire 2005 [a 1]
New Hampshire Avalanche Ice Den Arena Hooksett, New Hampshire 2017
Valley Jr. Warriors Haverhill Valley Forum Haverhill, Massachusetts 2013
East
Boston Junior Eagles Boston Sports Institute Needham, Massachusetts 2024
Bridgewater Bandits Bridgewater Ice Arena Bridgewater, Massachusetts 2023 [a 2]
Express Hockey Club Rodman Arena Walpole, Massachusetts 2005
Seahawks Hockey Club Tony Kent Arena South Dennis, Massachusetts 2017
Central Connecticut Nor'Easter International Skating Center Simsbury, Connecticut 2012 [a 1]
Connecticut RoughRiders SoNo Icehouse Norwalk, Connecticut 2013
HC Rhode Island Thayer Arena Warwick, Rhode Island 2022
New York Apple Core Brewster Ice Arena Brewster, New York 2013
Providence Capitals Dennis M Lynch Arena Providence, Rhode Island 2023
South
New Jersey 87's Jersey Shore Arena Wall Township, New Jersey 2018
New Jersey Bears Flemington Ice Arena Flemington, New Jersey 2020 [a 1]
Pennsylvania Huntsmen Power Play Rinks Exton, Pennsylvania 2023
Philadelphia Little Flyers IceWorks Skating Complex Aston, Pennsylvania 2003
Philadelphia Hockey Club Hollydell Ice Arena Sewell, New Jersey 2022
  1. 1 2 3 Relocated franchise
  2. Franchise had previously been a member of the EHL

EHL timeline

Boston Junior EaglesPennsylvania HuntsmenProvidence Hockey ClubBoston Junior TerriersHC Rhode IslandPhiladelphia Hockey ClubKeene EclipseWorcester Jr. RailersSeacoast SpartansNew Jersey 87'sTeam MarylandNorth Carolina Golden BearsLehigh Valley Jr. RebelsNew Hampshire AvalancheConnecticut RoughRidersTotal Athletics SeahawksConnecticut NighthawksEast Coast WizardsNew England WolvesValley Jr. WarriorsPhiladelphia Little FlyersNew York Apple CoreWalpole ExpressPhiladelphia Jr. FlyersConnecticut OilersWashington Junior NationalsBoston Junior RangersPhiladelphia RevolutionHartford Jr. WolfpackBridgewater BanditsRockets Hockey Club (Tier III)Northern CyclonesNew Hampshire Junior MonarchsNew York BobcatsWilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights (Tier III)New Jersey Titans (EHL)Eastern Hockey League (2013)

  Active    Active non-member    Future  

EHL Premier teams

EHL Premier
DivisionTeamArenaLocationJoined
Northeast Bridgewater Bandits Bridgewater Ice Arena Bridgewater, Massachusetts 2023
CT Nor’Easter AAA Academy International Skating Center of Connecticut Simsbury, Connecticut 2024
Express Hockey Club Rodman Arena Walpole, Massachusetts 2015
New England Wolves Merrill Fay Arena Laconia, New Hampshire 2015
New Hampshire Avalanche Ice Den Arena Hooksett, New Hampshire 2019
Providence CapitalsRhode Island Sports Center North Smithfield, Rhode Island 2024
Seahawks Hockey ClubTony Kent Arena South Dennis, Massachusetts 2021
Valley Jr. Warriors Haverhill Valley Forum Haverhill, Massachusetts 2015
Mid-Atlantic Atlantic City Seals Atlantic City Skate Zone Atlantic City, New Jersey 2022
New Jersey 87'sJersey Shore Arena Wall Township, New Jersey 2017
New Jersey Bears Flemington Ice Arena Flemington, New Jersey 2020 [a]
Pennsylvania HuntsmenPower Play Rinks Exton, Pennsylvania 2022
Philadelphia Little Flyers IceWorks Skating Complex Aston, Pennsylvania 2017
Union ThunderUnion Sports Arena Union, New Jersey 2022

Former teams

Championships

EHL (formerly AtJHL/EHL-Premier)

SeasonRegular seasonPlayoffNational Tournament result
AtJHL
2003–04Hartford Jr. WolfpackWashington Jr. Nationals
2004–05Boston BulldogsBoston Bulldogs
2005–06New York BobcatsNew York Bobcats
2006–07New York BobcatsNew York BobcatsNew York Bobcats lost Semifinal game vs. New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs (EJHL)
Northern Cyclones lost Semifinal game vs. Bay State Breakers (EJHL)
[15]
2007–08New Jersey Rockets
Portland Jr. Pirates
Northern CyclonesNorthern Cyclones lost Semifinal game vs. New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs (EJHL)
New Jersey Rockets eliminated in Round Robin
[16]
2008–09Northern CyclonesNorthern CyclonesNorthern Cyclones and New York Bobcats eliminated in Round Robin [17]
2009–10Northern CyclonesWalpole ExpressWalpole Express and New York Bobcats eliminated in Round Robin [18]
2010–11Walpole ExpressWalpole ExpressWalpole Express lost Semifinal game vs. Helena Bighorns (NorPac)
Northern Cyclones eliminated in Round Robin
[19]
2011–12Walpole ExpressWalpole ExpressNo representatives sent to nationals [20]
2012–13Northern CyclonesWilkes-Barre/Scranton KnightsNo representatives sent to nationals [21]
EHL Premier
2013–14New Hampshire Jr. MonarchsNorthern CyclonesNorthern Cyclones lost Semifinal game vs. North Iowa Bulls (NA3HL)
New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs eliminated in Round Robin
[22]
2014–15Philadelphia Little FlyersConnecticut OilersNorthern Cyclones lost Div. 1 Championship game vs. North Iowa Bulls (NA3HL) [23]
2015–16Philadelphia Little FlyersNew Hampshire Jr. MonarchsTier III National Tournament not held
2016–17Philadelphia Little FlyersPhiladelphia Junior Flyers
EHL
2017–18Philadelphia RevolutionNew Hampshire AvalancheTier III National Tournament not held
2018–19Philadelphia Little FlyersNew Hampshire Avalanche
2019–20Boston Junior RangersPostseason cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2020–21New Jersey 87's [24] Boston Junior Rangers
2021–22Boston Junior RangersNew Jersey 87's
2022–23New Hampshire AvalancheBoston Junior RangersNo longer a member of USA Hockey
2023–24Railers Junior HCRailers Junior HC
2024-25New Hampshire AvalancheNew Jersey 87's

EHLP (formerly 19U Elite)

SeasonRegular seasonPlayoff
EHL-19U Elite
2015–16New Hampshire Jr. MonarchsBoston Jr. Rangers
2016–17Vermont LumberjacksPhiladelphia Revolution
EHLP
2017–18 Boston Jr. Rangers Boston Jr. Rangers
2018–19Boston Jr. Rangers New England Wolves
2019–20Boston Jr. RangersPostseason cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2020–21New Hampshire AvalancheNew Jersey 87's
2021–22New Hampshire AvalancheBoston Jr. Rangers
2022–23Boston Jr. RangersNew Jersey 87's
2023–24Railers Junior HCRailers Junior HC
2024–25New England WolvesNew Jersey 87's

See also

Notes

  1. Relocated

    References

    1. "New Jersey Rockets 2011-12 roster and statistics". HockeyDB . Retrieved 2024-05-04. League Search Page -> AtJHL -> 2011-12 -> New Jersey Rockets -> Roster & Statistics
    2. "Joseph Gambardella". hockey-reference.com . Retrieved 2024-05-04. New Jersey Rockets | AtJHL
    3. EHL (June 6, 2013). "Announcing The Eastern Hockey League". EasternHockeyLeague.org. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
    4. "EHL History". EHL. Archived from the original on August 8, 2015. Retrieved September 3, 2015.
    5. "EHL Announces New 19U Elite Division For 2016-17". Eastern Hockey League. March 2, 2016.
    6. "USPHL Consolidating Tier III Junior Hockey in the East". USPHL. December 22, 2016.
    7. "USPHL Announces New Tuition Free Hockey Division for 2017-18 Season". Junior Hockey News. October 6, 2016. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved December 22, 2016.
    8. "2017-18 League Expansion". EHL. February 18, 2017.
    9. "CT RoughRiders Press Release". Cedar Rapids RoughRiders. March 6, 2017.
    10. "2017-18 Divisional Structure". EHL. March 23, 2017.
    11. "EHL Announces New Two-Tier System". EHL. May 5, 2017.
    12. "New Structure Starting in Upcoming 2022-23 Season". EHL. May 23, 2022.
    13. "The Death Pool – EHL Kills Off Lehigh Valley After Catching 22 Year Old Illegal Player". TheJuniorHockeyNews. December 4, 2018. Archived from the original on December 6, 2018. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
    14. "EHL Welcomes Ducks and Eclipse". EHL. February 17, 2020.
    15. "2007 Tier III Junior A Nationals". Pointstreak. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
    16. "2008 Tier III Junior A Nationals". Pointstreak. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
    17. "2009 Tier III Junior A Nationals". Pointstreak. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
    18. "2010 Tier III Junior A Nationals". Pointstreak. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
    19. "2011 Tier III Junior A Nationals". Pointstreak. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
    20. "2012 Tier III Nat. Championships". USA Hockey. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
    21. "2013 Tier III Nat. Championships". USA Hockey. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
    22. "2014 Tier III Nat. Championships". USA Hockey. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
    23. "2015 Tier III Junior Nat. Championships". USA Hockey. Retrieved September 17, 2015.
    24. "Eastern Hockey League Second Round Playoff Preview: Six Series Set To Begin This Week". Hockey Night in Boston News. March 8, 2021.