High school ice hockey in New York

Ice hockey is a popular and growing sport in the state of New York. 151 high schools field sanctioned varsity teams competing in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association. 76 "club" non-sanctioned New York High School Hockey teams compete in New York State Amateur Hockey Association.

Contents

NYSPHSAA

The sanctioned teams compete from end of November till Mid-March with maximum number of practices and games. These teams are divided into two divisions, 1 and 2. Each based on strength of program and considered "rolling" divisions allowing teams to switch divisions each year. The sanctioned Varsity teams are divided into sections used by every sport under NYSPHSAA; Sections I, II, III, V, VI, VII, IX, and X. Each section has different sets of rules for eligibility of Catholic teams to participate in the State Tournament. Section I and VI do not allow Catholic schools to compete for the Public State Tournament.

NYSAHA

The "club" teams are divided into two divisions, large school and small school. Each section is divided into four regions East, West, Central, and North all follow the NYSAHA Guidebook for state bound eligibility. Majority of the teams come from Long Island, Broome County, Hudson Valley, and Western New York. The non-sanctioned Club teams are divided into sections used by all amateur hockey teams under NYSAHA umbrella. NYSAHA has set guidelines on the state bound teams and depending on the number of teams' from each section that are state bound determine how many teams' from each section will attend the three day state tournament for large and small school tournament. Eight teams participate in three day state tournament at host-city in point system to determine the top four teams to compete in semi-finals and then eventually the State championship.

The non-sanctioned teams have no official start and stop date and no limit on the minimum and maximum of games. West Section begins league play around the end of November and end the season around the end of March. East, Central, and North sections compete from September till the end of March.

State Tournament

NYSPHSAA, each section has different sets of rules for eligibility of Catholic teams to participate in the State Tournament. Section I and VI do not allow Catholic schools to compete for the Public State Tournament. The Catholic schools from Section I and VI meet in Catholic High School State Athletic Association one game championship. NYSPHSAA has pre-determined state tournament brackets with each section sending one team per section and at-large teams in one-game elimination. The Final Four for both Division I, II have been played in Utica, New York's Memorial Auditorium.

History

Though high school hockey in New York can be dated back to the mid 1940's, the first league -- called the Northern New York Scholastic Hockey League -- was formed in 1948 and comprised teams from Massena, Norfolk, Potsdam and Saranac Lake. One of the League's founders, Don Spotswood, was a 1934 Clarkson College graduate who taught high school mathematics in the then Norfolk School District (today Norwood-Norfolk). Clarkson College, along with St. Lawrence University, were significant influences in the birth of high school hockey in this region.

Buffalo Explorer High School Club Hockey League was the first club hockey league in Western New York, starting in 1972. Southtowns High School Club Hockey League began in 1974 and Western New York High School Club Hockey League in 1976.

NYSPHSAA recognized high school hockey starting in 1980 with official state tournament being held. Not every section started at the same time and not every team that was sanctioned was allowed to participate in the sanctioned State tournament. Section VI (Western New York) did not allow its champion to participate till 2001. NYSAHA recognized high school hockey in 1982 but league championship were being held as early as 1972 in Buffalo. NYSAHA divided into two divisions in 2002 as prior to that year, only one championship was awarded.

In 2008-09, there was no club state championship. For the 2009-10 season, WNYHSCHL will join AAU.

Alumni

Dustin Brown, Robert Esche, Todd Marchant, Lee Stempniak, Brian Gionta, Marty Reasoner, Craig Conroy, Rob Schremp, Guy Hebert, Brooks Orpik, Patrick Kane, Lance Miller, Christopher Higgins, Rob Scuderi and Erik Cole are among the many players that participated in New York high school hockey.

Historical timeline

1947 - Norfolk High School fields their first team (today, Norwood-Norfolk)
1969 - Town of Oyster Bay High School Club Hockey League forms
1972 - Buffalo Explorer High School Club Hockey League forms
1973 - New York Islanders High School Club Hockey League forms
1974 - Southtowns High School Club Hockey League forms
1976 - Western New York High School Club Hockey League forms
1980 - New York State Public High School Athletic Association crowns its first champion
1982 - New York State Amateur Hockey Association crowns its first champion
1990 - Section VI recognizes hockey as official sport
2001 - Section VI sends its champion to state tournament
2002 - NYSAHA crowns two champions - Large and Small School

NYSPHSAA teams

School Nickname Colors Est. Section Division Championships
Alexandria Bay Purple Ghosts Purple, White X II
Amherst Tigers Orange, Black 1990 VI II
Aquinas Irish Maroon, White V I 1998, 1999^
Auburn Maroons Maroon, White III I
Baldwinsville Bees Red, White III I
Batavia Blue Devils Blue, White V II
Beekmantown/Chazy Eagles Red, Gray 1989 VII II
Bethlehem Eagles Orange, Black II II
Bishop Kearney/Eastridge Kings Blue, Black V I
Bishop Timon/Saint Jude Tigers Green, Gold VI Private 2002
Brewster Bears Green, White I II
Brighton Barons Navy, White V I
Brockport Blue Devils Blue, White V I 2003
Bronxville Broncos Blue, Gray I II
Burke Catholic Eagles Navy, White IX II
Burnt Hills/ Scotia Spartans Maroon, White II II
Byram Hills Bobcats Scarlet, Navy I II
Canandaigua Braves Red, Gray, White V II
Canisius Crusaders Blue, Gold VI Private 2009, 2010
Canton Golden Bears Gold, Brown X I 1993, 1994, 1997, 1998
Carmel Rams Red, White, Blue 2001 I II
Cazenovia Lakers Blue, Gold III II
Central Square Red Hawks Maroon, White III II
CBA Albany Brothers Purple, Gold II I
CBA Syracuse Brothers Purple, Gold III II
Churchville-Chili Saints Orange, White V I
Cicero-North Syracuse North Stars Green, Blue III I
Clarkstown North Rams Purple, Gold I I
Clarkstown South Vikings Brown, Gold I I
Clinton Warriors Maroon, White III II 1995, 1996, 2005, 2006
Corcoran Cougars Maroon, White III II
Cortland/Homer Golden Eagles Blue, Gold III II
East Ramapo Titans Black, Gold, White I II 1998
Eastchester/Tuckahoe/Bronxville Eagles Blue, Red I II
Fairport Red Raiders Red, White V I
Fayetteville-Manlius Hornets Green, White III I
Fox Lane Foxes Red, White I I
Franklin Academy (Malone) Huskies Green, White X II
Frontier Falcons Royal, White 2001 VI I
Fulton Red Raiders Red, White, Green 1982 III II
Gates-Chili Spartans Blue, White V I
Geneseo/Livonia Lakers Blue, White V II
Geneva Panthers Black, Gold V I
Glens Falls Indians Red, Black 1985 II II 1990, 1991
Greece Arcadia/Olympia Lightning Black, Silver V I 1996*
Greece Athena/Odyssey Thunder Purple, Gold V I 2009
Guilderland Flying Dutchmen Red, White II I
Hamburg Bulldogs Purple, White 2008 VI II
Hamilton Emerald Knights Green, White III II
Hilton Cadets Red, Black V I
Horace Greeley Quakers Royal, Orange I II
Indian River Warriors Columbia, Navy, White X II
Irondequoit Eagles Gold, Blue V I
Irvington/Briarcliff I II
Ithaca Little Red Crimson, Gold IV I 1984, 1987, 1994, 2000, 2007
James I. O'Neill Raiders Maroon, White IX II
John Jay Indians Purple, White I II
Kenmore East Bulldogs Navy, Gold 2001 VI II
Kenmore West Blue Devils Blue, White 2001 VI I
Lake Placid Blue Bombers Blue, Gold VII II 1980
Lakeland/Panas Rebels Gold, Black I II 1999
Lancaster Redskins Red, Black 2004 VI I
LaSalle Institute Cadets Blue, Black II I 2000
Lewiston-Porter Lancers Green, Black 2009 VI II
Liverpool Warriors Blue, Orange III I
Lockport Lions Navy, Gold 2008 VI I
Mahopac Indians Blue, Gold I I
Mamaroneck Tigers White, Black, Orange I I
Massena Red Raiders Red, White X I 1981, 1982, 1993, 1995, 2008
McQuaid Jesuit Knights Black, Gold V I 2005
Mohonasen/Schalmont Warriors/Sabres Green, Orange II II
Monroe Woodbury Crusaders Purple, Black, White IX I 2007
New Hartford Spartans Red, White, Blue III II 1997, 2009, 2010
New Rochelle Huguenots Purple, White I I
Newburgh Free Academy Goldbacks Blue, Gold IX II
Niagara Falls Wolverines Navy, Gold 2007 VI I
Niagara Wheatfield Falcons Red, Black 2008 VI I
Niskayuna/Schenectady Mohawks Blue, Red II I
North Rockland Red Raiders Red, White I I
North Tonawanda Lumberjacks Navy, Red 2009 VI I
Northeastern Clinton Cougars Maroon, White VII II
Norwood-Norfolk Icemen Green, Gold X II
Notre Dame Batavia Irish Blue, Gold V II
Nyack Indians Red, Black I II
Ogdensburg Blue Devils Blue, White X I
Ontario Bay Storm Black, Gold, Red III II
Orchard Park Quakers Maroon, White 2006 VI I
Ossining ' O ' (There is no official nickname/mascot) Maroon, White I II 1987, 1989
Oswego Buccaneers Royal, White III I
Pawling Tigers Black, Orange I II
Pearl River Pirates Royal, White I II
Pelham Pelicans Navy, Gold I II
Penfield Patriots Red, White V I
Pittsford Panthers Blue, White V I
Plattsburgh Hornets Orange, Black VII II
Pleasantville/Westlake/Kennedy Ice Cats I II
Potsdam Sandstoners Blue, Orange X I
Proctor Raiders Red, Silver, Black III II
Queensbury Spartans Blue, Gold II II
Rome Free Academy Knights Orange, Black III II 1986, 1988
Rush-Henrietta Comets Green, Gold V I
Rye Garnets Garnet, Black, White I II
Rye Town/Harrison Titans Blue, White I I
Saint Francis Red Raiders Red, White VI Private
Saint Joes Marauders Maroon, White VI Private 2004, 2005, 2006
Saint Lawrence Larries Navy, White X II 1982
Salmon River Shamrocks Green, Black X II 1981,1982,1989,1992,2001,2002
Saranac Lake Red Storm Red, Yellow VII II
Saranac/Peru Chiefs Red, White VII II
Saratoga Springs Blue Streaks Blue, White II I 1999
Scarsdale Raiders Maroon, White I I
Seton Catholic Knights Green, Royal VII I
Shaker/Colonie Jets Blue, Gold II I
Shenendehowa Plainsmen Green, White II I
Skaneateles Lakers Navy, Gold III II 1983, 1989
Sleepy Hollow/Edgemont/Valhalla I II
Solvay Bearcats Blue, Orange III II
Somers/North Salem Sabers Black, Silver I II
South Glens Falls Bulldogs Red, Blue II II
Spencerport Rangers Blue, Gold V I
Suffern Mounties Blue, White I I 1992
Sweet Home Panthers Navy, Gold 1994 VI I
Tappan Zee Dutchmen Red, Silver, White I II
Thousand Islands Vikings Navy, Gold X II
Tupper Lake Lumberjacks Red, Black X II
Victor Blue Devils Blue, Gold 2001 V II
Watertown IHC Cavaliers Blue, White III II
Webster Schroeder Warriors Blue, Gold V I
Webster Thomas Titans Navy, Gold, White V II 2008
West Genesee Wildcats Blue, Gold III I 1990, 2001, 2002, 2010
West Seneca East Trojans Green, Gold 2008 VI II
West Seneca West Indians Blue, Gold 2008 VI I
Westmoreland Bulldogs Green, White 2005 III II
White Plains Tigers Orange, Black I I
Whitesboro Warriors Blue, White III II 2003
Williamsville East Flames Red, Yellow 1990 VI II 2004
Williamsville North Spartans Green, Gold 1990 VI I 2002, 2004, 2006
Williamsville South Billies Blue, Red 1990 VI II
Yorktown Cornhuskers Green, White I II

^ Two championships were when Aquinas was a Division II team

NYSAHA Club teams

School Nickname Colors Est. League State Championships
Akron Tigers Black, Gold 2007 BEHSCHL
Arlington Admirals Maroon, Vegas Gold HVHSHA
Bellmore-Merrick Bulldogs Maroon and Navy HSHLNC
Bethpage Golden Eagles Gold and Blue HSHLNC
Binghamton Patriots Red, White, Blue BCHSHA
Canisius Club Crusaders Blue and Gold SHSCHL
Centereach/Selden Cougars Red, White, Blue SCHSCHL
Cheektowaga Warriors Maroon and Gold 1973 WNYHSCHL 2005, 2006, 2007
Chenango Forks Blue Devils Blue, Red, White BCHSHA
Chenango Valley Warriors Red, White, Black BCHSHA
City Honors/Cardinal O'Hara Black and Gray WNYHSCHL
Cleveland Hill/JFK Highlanders Navy and Gold 1997 SHSCHL
Cold Spring Harbor Seahawks Scarlet and Navy HSHLNC
Comsewogue/Point Jefferson SCHSHSL
Connetquot/Sayville Thunderbirds Red and Gold SCHSCHL
Cornwall Dragons Green and White HVHSHA
Depew Wildcats Navy and Carolina Blue 1973 WNYHSCHL
East Aurora Blue Devils Blue and Gray 2004 SHSCHL
East Islip Chiefs Red and Black SCHSCHL
Eden/Lakeshore Teal and Purple 2005 SHSCHL
Fredonia/Dunkirk Steelers Navy and Columbia Blue WNYHSCHL
Garden City Wings Red and White HSHLNC
Grand Island Vikings Blue and White 1974 SHSCHL
Half Hollow Hills Hornets Red and Black SCHSCHL
Hauppauge SCHSCHL
Hendrick Hudson Sailors Blue and White HVHSHA
Hutch Tech Engineers Maroon and White 1972 BEHSCHL
Iroquois/Alden Chiefs Red, white and Blue 2000 SHSCHL
Jamestown Area Red and White WNYHSCHL
Jericho Jayhawks Navy and Gold HSHLNC
John Jay Patriots White and Blue HVHSHA
Johnson City Wildcats Maroon, White BCHSHA
Ketcham/Millbrook HVHSHA
Kings Park/Commack SCHSCHL
Kingston Tigers Maroon and White HVHSHA
Lancaster Club Redskins Red and Black 1973 WNYHSCHL
Levittown Falcons Blue and Orange HSHLNC
Locust Valley Falcons Green and Black HSHLNC
Long Beach Marines Blue and Black HSHLNC 2005
Longwood Lions Green and Gold SCHSHL
Maine-Endwell Spartans Blue, Yellow BCHSHA
Massapequa Chiefs Navy and Gold 1969 HSHLNC
Maryvale Flyers Maroon and White 1973 WNYHSCHL 2010, 2011
McKinley Eagles Orange and Black 1972 BEHSCHL
Niagara Catholic Big Red Red and White BEHSCHL
Northport/Huntington Tigers Navy and Gold SCHSCHL
Oceanside Sailors Navy and Columbia Blue HSHLNC
Olean Area Green,White,Black WNYHSCHL
Orchard Park Club Quakers Maroon and White 1973 WNYHSCHL
Patchogue-Medford Raiders Black and Red SCHSCHL
Pioneer-Springville Griffins Purple and Yellow 2009 WNYHSCHL
Roosevelt Presidents Green and Gold HVHSHA
Sachem Arrows Black and Gold SCHSCHL 1991,1993,1994
Saint Francis Club Red Raiders Red and White SHSCHL
Saint Joes Club Marauders Maroon and White WNYHSCHL
Saint John the Baptist Cougars Red and White SCHSCHL
Saint Mary's Gaels Navy and Columbia Blue Independent 1994-1998,2000-2007
Saint Mary's B Gaels Navy and Columbia Blue HSHLNC
Saint Mary's Lancaster Lancers Navy and Columbia Blue 1999 WNYHSCHL
Seton Catholic Central Saints Green, White BCHSHA
Sewanhaka Indians Purple and Gold HSHLNC
Southwestern/Maple Grove Black and Red 2001 WNYHSCHL 2002
Starpoint Spartans Red and Black 1998 WNYHSCHL
Syosset Braves Black And Red HSHLNC
Union-Endicott Tigers Black, Orange BCHSHA
Valley Central Vikings Blue and White HVHSHA
Vestal Golden Bears Green, Gold BCHSHA
Wantagh/Seaford Baymen Black and Gold HSHLNC
Warwick Wildcats Purple and Gold HVHSHA
Washingtonville Wizards Blue and Gold HVHSHA
West Islip Lions Blue and Gold SCHSCHL
Williamsville North Spartans Green and Gold 2006 WNYHSCHL

Defunct programs

School Nickname Colors Section Defunct Left NYSPHSAA Championships
East Ramapo Titans Black, Gold, White I Yes 2004
Notre Dame Utica Jugglers Blue, Gold III Yes 2005
Hicksville Stars Black, Orange VIII Yes

NYSPHSAA Championships

Year Division I Champion Division I Runner-Up Score Division II Champion Division II Runner-Up Score
1980 Lake Placid (10) Ithaca (4) 4-1 Salmon River (10) CBA Syracuse (3) 4-3
1981 Massena (10) Ithaca (4) 4-1 Salmon River (10) CBA Syracuse (3) 8-1
1982 Massena (10) Rye (1) 7-0 St. Lawrence (10) Nyack (9) 9-0
1983 Skaneateles (3) Massena (10) 4-2 Albany Academy (2) Salmon River (10) 2-1
1984 Ithaca (4) Rome Free Academy (3) 7-3 Rome Catholic (3) LaSalle Institute (2) 5-4(OT)
1985 Liverpool (3) Ogdensburg (10) 5-4 Rome Catholic (3) Albany Academy (2) 3-2(OT)
1986 Rome Free Academy (3) Skaneateles (3) 6-4 St. John's (7) Albany Academy (2) 6-3
1987 Ithaca (4) Massena (10) 5-3 Albany Academy (2) St John's (7) 3-2
1988 Rome Free Academy (3) Albany Academy (2) 6-2 St. John's (7) Suffern (1) 6-1
1989 St. John's (7) Rome Free Academy (3) 5-3 ^Skaneateles (3) ^Salmon River (10) 2-2
1990 West Genesee (3) Albany Academy (2) 1-0(OT) Glens Falls (2) Skaneateles (3) 2-1
1991 Albany Academy (2) Oswego (3) 3-1 Glens Falls (2) Malone (10) 4-3
1992 Suffern (1) Massena (10) 4-3(OT) Salmon River (10) Pittsford (5) 8-6
1993 Massena (10) Saratoga (2) 10-0 Canton (10) LaSalle Institute (2) 4-2
1994 Ithaca (4) Niskayuna (2) 3-2 Canton (10) Williamsville South (6) 8-2
1995 Massena (10) Pittsford (5) 6-3 Clinton (3) Batavia (5) 5-0
1996 Greece (5) Oswego (3) 4-3 Clinton (3) LaSalle Institute (2) 6-5
1997 Canton (10) Oswego (3) 3-2 New Hartford (3) Ogdensburg (10) 6-2
1998 Canton (10) Greece (5) 6-2 Aquinas (5) Plattsburgh (7) 5-2
1999 Saratoga (2) Ithaca (4) 3-0 Aquinas (5) Cortland-Homer (3) 6-4
2000 Ithaca (4) Saratoga (2) 4-0 LaSalle Institute (2) Glens Falls (2) 4-3
2001 West Genesee (3) Williamsville North (6) 4-1 Salmon River (10) Aquinas (5) 3-1
2002 Williamsville North (6) West Genesee (3) 5-3 Salmon River (10) Clarkstown North (1) 10-0
2003 Brockport (5) Williamsville North (6) 5-4 (OT) Whitesboro (3) Batavia (5) 2-1
2004 Williamsville North (6) Seton Catholic (7) 5-2 Williamsville East (6) Salmon River (10) 3-2 (OT)
2005 McQuaid (5) Baldwinsville (3) 7-3 Clinton (3) Salmon River (10) 4-3
2006 Williamsville North (6) Aquinas (5) 1-0 Clinton (3) Monroe-Woodbury (9) 4-1
2007 Ithaca (4) Williamsville North (6) 2-1 (OT) Monroe-Woodbury (9) Canandaigua (5) 4-2
2008 Massena (10) West Genesee (3) 3-2 (3OT) Webster Thomas (5) Thousand Islands (10) 5-2
2009 Greece Athena/Odyssey (5) Mamaroneck (1) 3-2 New Hartford (3) Pelham (1) 6-1
2010 West Genesee (3) Saratoga (2) 3-0 New Hartford (3) Queensbury (2) 5-2
2011 Williamsville North (6) Saratoga (2) 3-2 Cazenovia (3) Williamsville East (6) 6-2

CHSAA Championships

Year Catholic Champion Catholic Runner-Up Score
2002 Bishop Timon/Saint Jude Iona Prep 6-1
2003 Saint Joes Iona Prep 6-5 OT
2004 Saint Joes Iona Prep 5-1
2005 Saint Joes Chaminade 5-1
2006 Saint Joes Fordham Prep 3-0
2007 Saint Joes Fordham Prep 3-2
2008 Saint Joes Iona Prep 5-1
2009 Canisius Msgr. Farrell 5-1
2010 Canisius St. Anthony's 2-1
2011 Saint Joes St. Anthony's 3-2

NYSAHA Championships

References

External links

Year Large School Champion Large School Runner-Up Score Small School Champion Small School Runner-Up Score
2003 St. Marys North Tonawanda 9-0 Southwestern/Maple Grove Maryvale 10-1
2004 St. Marys Lancaster Cheektowaga Southwestern/Maple Grove 4-1
2005 St. Marys Orchard Park 5-3 Long Beach Cheektowaga 5-3
2006 St. Marys Orchard Park 5-3 Cheektowaga Starpoint 11-2
2007 St. Marys St. Anthony's 5-1 Lew-Port Cheektowaga 3-1
2008 St. Anthony's Niagara Wheatfield 6-3 Comsewogue/Pt Jeff Depew 7-4