High school ice hockey in Pennsylvania
Teams from 150 high schools competed as varsity ice hockey teams in Western and Eastern Pennsylvania.[1] Unlike many other high school sport in Pennsylvania, hockey is not run under Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association umbrella. However, Pennsylvania's high school ice hockey is sanctioned by USA Hockey and varsity-level programs are marginally overseen by the NHL Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers organizations through the Penguins Cup and the Flyers Cup.
Format
Varsity teams are divided into four divisions, AAA, AA, A, and Open. Western divisional champions earn a bid to the Penguins Cup playoff tournament. Eastern divisional teams earn a bid by invitation to the Flyers Cup playoff tournament. All teams are eligible except non-pure and second varsity teams.
State Championship
The Pennsylvania State High School Ice Hockey Championship is awarded through a state tournament. The tournament pits the champions from the Penguins Cup and Flyers Cup with the winners receiving the AAA, AA, or A Pennsylvania Cup. The location changes every year rotating between Western and Eastern cities. Attempts to mirror the PIAA state championships by hosting the games in Hershey, PA lasted a single season, with only the 2005 series being held at the historic Hersheypark Arena. Starting in 2014 the state championship is now being playing at Pegula Ice Arena in State College.
== Alumni == Chad Kolarik, Colby Cohen, Brian O'Neill, Ray Dilauro Cam Smith Mike Richter, Ryan Malone, R.J. Umberger, Mike Weber, Nick Foligno, Eric Tangradi, Nate Guenin, Brandon Saad, Dylan Reese, Shane Ferguson, Matt Bartkowski, John Zeiler, Christian Hanson, William Thomas, Grant Lewis, J.B. Bittner, Tony Voce, Zach Elmer, Kris Mayotte, Mike Betz, Ray Staszak, Ryan Smart, Tyler Hostetter, Tyler Kolarik, Brendan McCartin, Tyler Murovich, Chris Clackson, Matt Clackson, Bill Downey, Rob Madore, Ryan Mulhern, Brady Kramer, Andy Cesarski and Ryan Gunderson are among the professional players that have participated in Pennsylvania high school hockey. Please note that several players above played professionally but not necessarily the National Hockey League
Historical timeline
- 1969 - Inter-County Scholastic Hockey League forms
- 1970-1971 - Western Pennsylvania High School Hockey League forms in April at the Alpine Ice Chalet. Teams include Shaler, Churchill, Mt Lebanon, Penn Hills, Upper St Clair, and West Mifflin North
- 1971-1972 - Western Pennsylvania High School Hockey League completes first season of play at the Alpine Ice Chalet as Churchill, Mt Lebanon, Penn Hills, Shaler, Upper St Clair and West Mifflin North. Mt Lebanon defeats Penn Hills, 5-4 in overtime, to capture the first WPHSHL Championship.
- 1972-73 - Western Pennsylvania High School Hockey League expands to 19 schools as Richland, Chartiers Valley, Central Catholic, Bethel Park, Peabody, Fox Chapel, Lawrenceville Catholic, General Braddock, Armstrong, Gateway and Canevin participate. Churchill wins the WPHSHL crown over Richland in 4-3 in overtime.
- 1972-73 - Ohio Valley League forms out of the Sewickley Ice Arena and South Penn High School Hockey League forms out of the Rostraver Ice Garden
- 1975 - WPHSHL becomes Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League
- 1975 - Lake Shore Hockey League forms
- 1975 - Lower Bucks County Scholastic Hockey League forms
- 1975 - Inaugural Pennsylvania High School Hockey Championships in Erie, Pa at the Glenwood Ice Arena
- 1980 - First Flyers Cup tournament Archbishop Carroll finds a way past Haverford's star goalie Christopher Cifone and defeats Haverford High School
- 1981 - First Pennsylvania Cup, State High School Ice Hockey Championship
- 1991 - Lehigh Valley Scholastic Hockey League forms
- 1994 - CPIHL forms
- 1996 - PA Hockey Scholastic Showcase begins play
- 1999 - WPIHL, LKSHL and SHIHL merge to form PIHL
- 2000 - Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League forms
- 2004 - Eastern High School Hockey League forms
- 2005 - AAA League forms for Flyers Cup
- 2007 - Inter County Scholastic Hockey League splits into three divisions, ICSHL Central, ICSHL Chester County and ICSHL Independents, to copy the divisions PIAA uses to organize schools in other sports
Divisions
While the western part of the state has been divided into fairly equal levels at the AAA, AA, and A levels, the eastern part has mostly been run by the independent leagues that compete for Flyers Cup. A change was made recently in an effort to provide more uniformity throughout the eastern portion of the state. Whereas the levels were previously determined by where a team finished in its respective leagues, the Flyers Cup recently restructured the system were AAA is all open enrollment schools, AA is the larger public schools, and A is the smaller public schools. The open enrollment schools are not forced to play AAA, but if they do not they cannot qualify for the Flyers Cup. Changes are still being proposed for the 2008-2009 season that could create a second varsity level for open enrollment schools that do not wish to play at the AAA level.
Leagues
Eastern PA
- Berks Scholastic Ice Hockey League (BSIHL) operated through the end of 2007-2008 season - replaced by EPSHL in 2008-2009 season [2]
- Central Pennsylvania interscholastic Hockey League (CPIHL)[3]
- East Penn Scholastic Hockey League (EPSHL)[4]
- Eastern High School Hockey League (EHSHL)[5]
- Inter-County Scholastic Hockey League (ICSHL)[6]
- Lehigh Valley Scholastic Hockey League (LVSHL)[7]
- Northeast PA Scholastic Hockey League (NEPASHL)[8]
- Suburban High School Hockey League (SHSHL)[9]
- Lower Bucks County Scholastic Hockey League (LBCSHL)[10]
Western PA
(note: teams from West Virginia also play in PIHL.)
Pennsylvania teams (partial list)
School | Nickname | Colors | Established | League | Class | State Championships |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Abington High School | Galloping Ghosts | Red and White | SHSHL | AA | ||
Altoona Area High School | Mountain Lions | Maroon and White | PIHL | AAA | ||
Annville Cleona High School | Dutchman | Red, Black and White | CPIHL | AA | ||
Ambridge Area High School | Bridgers | Garnet and Grey | 1993 | PIHL | AA | |
Archbishop Carroll High School | Patriots | Red and White | EHSHL | AAA | 1977, 1978, 2004 | |
Archbishop Ryan | Raiders | Red, Black and Gold | 1974 | LCSHL & LBCSHL | AAA | |
Archbishop Wood | Vikings | Black, Green and Gold | SHSHL | AAA | ||
Back Mountain (Lake Lehman HS/Dallas HS) | NEPASHL | |||||
Baldwin High School | Highlanders | Purple and White | 1973 | PIHL | AA | 1975, 1988 |
Bayard Rustin High School | Golden Knights | Blue, Gold and White | ICSHL - Chester County | A | 2009, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 | |
Beaver Area High School | Bobcats | Maroon, Gray and White | 1985 | PIHL | Open | 1991, 2001 |
Bensalem High School | Owls | Blue, Gray and White | LBCSHL | AAA | ||
Bethel Park High School | Blackhawks | Orange and Black | 1972 | PIHL | AAA | 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005 |
Bethlehem Catholic High School | Golden Hawks | Brown and Gold | 1991 | LVSHL | AA | |
Bishop Canevin | Crusaders | Navy and Blue | 1972 | PIHL | AA | 1983, 1984, 1989, 2011 |
Bishop Guilfoyle High School | Marauders | Purple and Gold | PIHL | Open | ||
Bishop McCort High School | Crimson Crushers | Crimson and Gold | 1985 | PIHL | A | 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999 |
Bishop McDevitt High School | Lancers | Black and Gold | SHSHL | AA | ||
Bishop Shanahan High School | Eagles | Green and Black | ICSHL - Chester County | AAA | ||
Boyertown Area H.S. | Bears | Red and White | ICSHL - Independent | A | ||
Butler High School | Golden Toronado | Blue and Gold | 1974 | PIHL | AAA | |
Canon-McMillan High School | Big Macs | Gold and Blue | 1994 | PIHL | AAA | |
Cardinal O'Hara | Lions | Red and Blue | EHSHL | AAA | 2010 | |
Carrick High School | Cougars | Blue and Gold | 1996 | PIHL | Open | |
Cathedral Prep | Ramblers | Orange and Black | 1974 | PIHL | AA | 1984, 1997, 2015 |
Cedar Cliff High School | Colts | Blue and Gold | 1994 | CPIHL | AA | |
Center Area High School | Trojans | Royal Blue | 2006 | PIHL | A | |
Central | Wolves | Red and White | PIHL | Open | ||
Central Bucks High School East[13] | Patriots | Red, Blue and White | SHSHL | AA | ||
Central Bucks High School South[14] | Titans | Blue, Black and White | SHSHL | AA | 2014, 2016 | |
Central Bucks High School West[15] | Bucks | Black and Gold | SHSHL | AA | ||
Central Catholic | Vikings | Gold and Blue | 1972 | PIHL | AAA | |
Central Valley High School | Warriors | Blue and White | 2010 | PIHL | Open | |
Central Dauphin High School | Rams | Green and White | 1994 | CPIHL Tier 1 | AA | |
Central York High School | Panthers | Orange and Black | 1997 | CPIHL Tier 1 | AA | |
Chartiers Valley | Colts | Red and Blue | 1972 | PIHL | AA | 1986 |
Chichester High School | Eagles | Maroon and Grey | ICSHL - Independent | A | ||
Conemaugh Valley High School | Blue Jays | Blue and White | 1998 | PIHL | A | |
Conestoga High School | Pioneers | Garnet and Gray | ICSHL - Central | AA | 1985, 1986 | |
Connellsville Area High School | Falcons | Blue and White | 1995 | PIHL | Open | |
Conwell-Egan Catholic High School | Eagles | Blue and White | 1974 | LBCSHL | AAA | 1999 |
Council Rock High School North[16] | Indians | Blue, White and Silver | 1976 | SHSHL | AA | 1991 |
Council Rock High School South[17] | Golden Hawks | Blue, Gold and White | 2003 | SHSHL | AA | 2012 |
Cumberland Valley High School | Eagles | Black and Red | CPIHL Tier I | AA | ||
Downingtown High School East | Cougars | Blue and Yellow | ICSHL - Chester County | AA | 2017 | |
Downingtown High School West | Whippets | Blue and Yellow | ICSHL - Chester County | AA | ||
Easton Area High School | Red Rovers | Red and Black | LVSHL | |||
Fairview High School | Tigers | Red and White | 1975 | LKSHL | 1977, 1981, 1982 | |
Father Judge | Crusaders | Blue and Red | LCSHL | AAA | ||
Ferndale Area Senior High School | Yellow Jackets | Gold and Black | 1996 | PIHL | Open | |
Ford City Jr./Sr. High School | Sabers | Purple and Gold | PIHL | Open | 2009, 2013 | |
Forest Hills High | Rangers | Green and White | 1991 | PIHL | A | |
Fort Leboeuf High School | Bisons | LKSHL | ||||
Fox Chapel | Foxes | Red and Black | 1972 | PIHL | AAA | |
Franklin Regional | Panthers | Navy and Gold | 1981 | PIHL | AAA | |
Freedom High School | Patriots | Black and Yellow | LVSHL | |||
Freeport | Yellow Jackets | Blue and Gold | 1973 | PIHL | A | |
Garnet Valley High School | Jaguars | Black and Maroon | 1993 | ICSHL - Central | A | |
Gateway High School | Gators | Black and Gold | 1972 | PIHL | AA | |
Germantown Academy | Patriots | Blue and Red | Independence Hockey League (Western Pennsylvania) | AA | ||
Great Valley High School | Patriots | Blue and White | ICSHL - Chester County | A | ||
Greater Latrobe High School | Wildcats | Black and Orange | 1981 | PIHL | AA | 2008,2009,2010 |
Greensburg Central Catholic | Centurions | Maroon and Silver | 1982 | PIHL | AA | 1993, 1994, 1996 |
Greensburg-Salem High School | Golden Lions | Brown and Gold | PIHL | Open | ||
Hampton High School | Talbots | Gold and Blue | 1973 | PIHL | AA | |
Harbor Creek High School | Huskies | Orange and Black | LKSHL | |||
Hatboro-Horsham High School | Hatters | Black, Red and White | SHSHL | AA | ||
Haverford High School | Fords | Red and White | ICHSL-CENTRAL | AA | ||
The Haverford School | Fords | Maroon and Gold | IHL | Independent Prep League | ||
Hempfield Area High School | Spartans | Blue and Grey | 1995 | PIHL | AAA | |
Hempfield High School | Black Knights | Red, Black & White | 1994 | CPIHL Tier I | AA | |
Hershey High School | Trojans | Orange and Blue | 1994 | CPIHL Tier I | A | |
Holy Ghost Preparatory | Firebirds | Red and Blue | LCSHL & LBCSHL | AAA | ||
Holy Redeemer | ||||||
Indiana Area High School | Indians | Red and Black | 1992 | PIHL | A | |
Interboro High School | Buccaneers | Black and Gold | EHSHL | A | ||
John Marshall | Monarchs | PIHL | Open | 2011 | ||
Kennett High School | Blue Devils | Blue and White | ICSHL - Chester County | A | ||
Kiski Area HS | Cavaliers | Navy and Gold | 1994 | PIHL | AA | |
Kittanning High School | Wildcats | Red and Grey | 1972 | PIHL | A | |
La Salle College High School | Explorers | Navy and Gold | ICSHL | AAA | 1998, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2016 | |
Liberty High School | Hurricanes | Red and Blue | LVSHL | |||
Lower Dauphin High School | Falcons | Blue and White | CPIHL | AA | ||
Lower Merion High School | Bulldogs | Maroon and Black | ICSHL - Central | A | ||
Malvern Preparatory | Friars | Blue and Gray | ICSHL - Chester County | AAA | 1990,2004 | |
Marple Newtown HS | Tigers | Orange and Black | EHSHL | A | ||
Mars Area High School | Planets | Blue and Gold | 1988 | PIHL | A | 2010–2011 |
McDowell High School | Trojans | Blue and White | 1972 | PIHL | AAA | |
Meadville Area Senior High School | Bulldogs | Red and Black | 1979 | PIHL | AAA | 1987, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2003 |
Mercyhurst Prep | Lakers | Green and Blue | LKSHL | |||
Methacton High School | Warriors | Green and White | ICSHL - Independent | AA | ||
Monsignor Bonner | Friars | Green and White | ICSHL | AAA | 1991 | |
Montour High School | Spartans | Black and Gold | 1972 | PIHL | AA | |
Moon Area High School | Tigers | Black and Red | 1972 | PIHL | AA | |
Mt. Lebanon School District | Blue Devils | Blue and Gold | 1971 | PIHL | AAA | 1976, 2006 |
Nazareth Area High School | Blue Eagles | Blue and White | LVSHL | |||
Neshaminy High School | Redskins | Red, Blue and White | SHSHL | AA | ||
Neuman-Goretti High School | Saints | Black and Gold | ICSHL - Independent | A | ||
North Allegheny | Tigers | Black and Gold | 1973 | PIHL | AAA | 2007, 2013 |
North Catholic High School | Trojans | Scarlet and Gold | 1972 | PIHL | AA | 1981, 1995 |
North Hills Senior High School | Indians | Red and White | 1972 | PIHL | AA | |
North Penn High School | Knights | Blue, Gray and White | SHSHL | AA | ||
Norwin High School | Knights | Blue and Gold | 1974 | PIHL | AAA | |
Palmyra Area High School | Cougars | Orange and Black | CPIHL | AA | ||
Parkland High School | Trojans | Red and White | LVSHL | AA | ||
Paupack | NEPASHL | |||||
Penncrest High School | Lions | Red and Gold | ICSHL - Central | A |
2005 | |
Pennridge High School[18] | Rams | Green, White, and Black | SHSHL | AA | ||
Pennsbury High School[19] | Falcons | Black and Orange | 1975 | SHSHL | AA | 1986 |
Penn-Trafford | Warriors | Green and Gold | 1993 | PIHL | AAA | |
Perkiomen Valley | Vikings | Orange, Black and White | ICSHL | AA | ||
Peters Township High School | Indians | Red and Black | 1973 | PIHL | AAA | 2002, 2003, 2005 |
Pine-Richland High School | Rams | Green and Black | 1972 | PIHL | AAA | 2006 & 2007 |
Pittston | NEPASHL | |||||
Pleasant Valley High School | Bears | Blue and White | LVSHL | AA | ||
Plum High School | Mustangs | Purple and Gold | 1987 | PIHL | AA | 1989 |
Plymouth-Whitemarsh High School | Colonials | Red, White & Blue | SHSHL | A | ||
Pope John Paul II High School | Panthers | Blue, Gold & White | 2010 | SHSHL | A | |
Quaker Valley High School | Quakers | Black and Gold | 1998 | PIHL | A | 2006, 2012 |
Quakertown High School | Panthers | Blue and White | SHSHL | A | ||
Quigley Catholic High School | Spartans | Maroon and Gold | 1990 | PIHL | Open | 2012 |
Radnor High School | Maroon and White | ICSHL - Central | A | 2002, 2003 | ||
Richland Cambria Senior High School | Rams | Blue and Red | 1991 | PIHL | A | |
Ridley High School | Raiders | Green and Black | ICSHL - Central | AA | ||
Ringgold High School | Rams | Blue and Gold | PIHL | Open | 2010 | |
Roman Catholic | Cahillites | Purple and Gold | LCSHL & LBCSHL | AAA | ||
Saint Joseph's Preparatory | Hawks | Crimson and Grey | EHSHL | AAA | ||
Scranton | NEPASHL | |||||
Seneca Valley High School | Raiders | Black and Blue | 1992 | PIHL | AAA | |
Serra Catholic High School | Eagles | Red and Gold | 1987 | PIHL | A | 2000, 2001, 2002 |
Sewickley Academy | Panthers | Red and Black | 1973 | MPHL (Midwest Prep Hockey League) / ISHL (Independent School Hockey League) | A | |
Shady Side Academy | Indians | Navy and Gold | 1973 | MPHL (Midwest Prep Hockey League) / ISHL (Independent School Hockey League) | A | |
Shaler Area High School | Titans | Red and Blue | 1971 | PIHL | AAA | |
Somerset HS | Eagles | Orange and Black | 1993 | PIHL | A | |
Souderton Area High School | Indians | Red and Black | SHSHL | AA | ||
South Fayette High School | Lions | Green and White | 2001 | PIHL | A | |
South Park High School | Eagles | Blue and White | 1973 | PIHL | A | |
Springfield HS | Cougars | Blue and Gold | ICSHL - Central | A | ||
Spring-Ford High School | Rams | Blue and Yellow | ICSHL | AA | ||
State College Area High School | Little Lions | Maroon and Gray | 1975 | PIHL | AAA | |
Steel Valley High School | Ironmen | Maroon and Gold | PIHL | OPEN | ||
Strath Haven High School[20] | Panthers | Black and White | ICSHL - Central | A | ||
Stroudsburg High School | River Rats | Blue and Green | LVSHL | |||
Susquehanna Valley High School | NEPASHL | |||||
Sun Valley HS | Vanguards | Blue and Glod | ICSHL - Independent | A | ||
Thomas Jefferson High School | Jaguars | Black and Gold | 1981 | PIHL | A | 1998, 1999, 2000 |
Trinity | Hillers | Blue and White | 1994 | PIHL | Open | |
Twin Valley High School | Raiders | Green and Black | 2007 | ICSHL - Independent | A | |
Unionville High School | Indians | Blue and Gold | ICSHL - Chester County | A | ||
Upper Darby High School | Royals | Purple and Gold | EHSHL | AA | ||
Upper Dublin High School | Cardinals | Black and Red | SHSHL | A | ||
Upper Moreland High School | Bears | Purple and Gold | SHSHL | A | ||
Upper St. Clair High School | Panthers | Red and Black | 1971 | PIHL | AAA | 1980, 1987, 1990, 2011 |
Warwick High School | Warwick Warriors | Red& Black | 1996 | CPIHL Tier II | A | |
West Allegheny HS | Indians | Red and Grey | 1992 | PIHL | AA | |
West Chester East High School | Vikings | Red, Gold and Black | ICSHL - Chester County | A | 2008, 2013[21] | |
West Chester Henderson High School | Warriors | Maroon and Black | ICSHL - Chester County | A | 2007 | |
West Mifflin Area High School | Titans | Blue and Gold | 1971 | PIHL | Open | |
Westmont Hilltop | Hilltoppers | Red and Grey | 1980 | PIHL | A | |
Whitehall High School | Zephyrs | Maroon and Yellow | 1998 | LVSHL | ||
William Tennent High School | Panthers | Red, Black and White | SHSHL | AA | ||
Wissahickon High School | Trojans | Blue and Gold | SHSHL | A | ||
Wyoming Seminary | Knights | Blue and White | 2015 | NEPASHL | ||
Wyoming Area High School | NEPASHL | |||||
Wyoming Valley West High School | NEPASHL |
Folded programs
School | Nickname | Colors | Folded | State Titles |
---|---|---|---|---|
Penn Hills | Indians | Red and Gold | 2006 | |
Woodland Hills | Wolverines | Turquoise and Black | 2007 | |
Jeannette | Jayhawks | Red and Blue | 2001 | |
Churchill | Chargers | Red White & Black | 1986 | 1977 and 1979 State Finalists 1975 and 1976 WPIHL Champions 10 Years 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1983 |
Seton-La Salle | Rebels | Green and Gold | 2003 | 1998 Class A |
JP McCaskey High School | Red Tornados | Red and Black | 1998 | |
Marple Newtown High School | Tigers | Orange and Black | 2010 | |
Elizabeth Forward High School | Warriors | Red and Black | 2012 | |
Bensalem High School | Owls | Navy and White |
References
- ↑ "State High School Hockey Rankings". Ushsho.com. Retrieved 2013-11-07.
- ↑ "New Page 2". Archived from the original on 2007-07-10. Retrieved 2013-11-07.
- ↑ "Central Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League". Cpihl.com. Retrieved 2013-11-07.
- ↑ "East Penn Scholastic Hockey League". leaguelineup.com. Retrieved 2014-02-26.
- ↑ "HS Hockey 2011-2012". Wayback.archive.org. 2012-02-13. Archived from the original on 2012-02-13. Retrieved 2013-11-07.
- ↑ "Icshl.Org". Icshl.Org. Retrieved 2013-11-07.
- ↑ "Welcome to the Home of the L.V.S.H.L.". Archived from the original on 2009-03-03. Retrieved 2013-11-07.
- ↑ "Northeast Pa Scholastic Hockey Leage". Nepashl.org. Retrieved 2013-11-07.
- ↑ "Suburban High School Hockey League". Shshl.org. Retrieved 2013-11-07.
- ↑ "Lbcshl.org". Lbcshl.org. Retrieved 2013-11-07.
- ↑
- ↑ -n/a. "Welcome to www.pihlweb.com". Pihlweb.com. Retrieved 2013-11-07.
- ↑ "index.html". Wayback.archive.org. 2012-02-06. Archived from the original on 2012-02-06. Retrieved 2013-11-07.
- ↑ "CB South Ice Hockey". CB South Ice Hockey. Retrieved 2013-11-07.
- ↑ "Central Bucks West Ice Hockey". Cbwesticehockey.com. Retrieved 2013-11-07.
- ↑ "Council Rock High School North". Councilrocknorthhockey.org. 2013-10-28. Archived from the original on February 6, 2012. Retrieved 2013-11-07.
- ↑ "Council Rock Ice Hockey South". crihs.com. Retrieved 2013-11-07.
- ↑ "Pennridge - Rams". Eteamz.active.com. Retrieved 2013-11-07.
- ↑ "Pennsbury Ice Hockey Club". Pennsburyhockey.net. 2013-01-05. Retrieved 2013-11-07.
- ↑ "ICSHL: Strath-Haven Panthers | Home Page | Pointstreak Sites". Havenhockey.com. Retrieved 2013-11-07.
- ↑ "W.C. East rewards fans with title - Philly.com". Articles.philly.com. 2013-03-24. Retrieved 2013-11-07.
External links
- PA Hockey
- PA Hockey History
- Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League
- Central Penn. Interscholastic Hockey League
- Northeastern PA Scholastic Hockey League (NEPASHL)