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. However although it is considered a club it is still a part of the High School and is affiliated with the school.

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, Pennsylvania, 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

Notable professional players that have participated in Pennsylvania high school hockey include 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, Tony Voce, Ray Staszak, Matt Clackson, Rob Madore, Ryan Mulhern, and Ryan Gunderson. The state has also produced alumni that went on to play minor professional and elite collegiate levels.

Historical timeline

  • 1969 – Inter-County Scholastic Hockey League forms with six teams (Cardinal O'Hara High School, Conestoga High School, Haverford High School, Marple Newtown High School, Saint Joseph's Preparatory School, Swarthmore High School)
  • 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
  • 1974 – Baldwin High School has an undefeated regular season and wins the South Penn League title
  • 1975 – WPHSHL becomes Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League. Baldwin High School wins State of Pennsylvania Title
  • 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. The first Flyers Cup was organized by the Flyers' Hockey Central organization, sponsored by the Pepsi Cola Bottlers of the Delaware Valley. The founding organizers included Aaron Siegel, President of The Spectrum, Andy Abramson, Executive Director/Flyers Hockey Central, Kenneth R. Gesner, Atlantic District Director, Jack Hunt, President, InterCounty Scholastic Hockey League, Andy Richards, President, Suburban High School Hockey League, Paul Saylor, Commissioner, Lower Bucks County Scholastic Hockey League and Jim Cunningham, President, Lower Bucks County Scholastic Hockey League. Archbishop Carroll's Scott Chamness was named the first recipient of the Bobby Clarke Award as the Flyers Cup's Most Valuable Player.
  • 1981 – First Pennsylvania Cup, State High School Ice Hockey Championship was held at the University of Pennsylvania's Class of 23 Rink. The Pennsylvania Cup was organized Frank J. Black, USA Hockey Director for Mid-America Region, Andy Abramson, Executive Director of the Philadelphia Flyers/Hockey Central and Atlantic District Registrar, Atlantic District Director Kenneth R. Gesner, with support by Robert J. Butera, President of the Philadelphia Flyer and Paul Martha, former executive vice president, general counsel and CEO with the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Flyers and Penguins organizations contributed financial and operational support, paying for ice time, game officials, publication of the game day program and support staff. The event was played under as a sanctioned USA Hockey (AHAUS) tournament.
  • 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

  • Lake Shore Hockey League (LKSHL)[11]
  • Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League (PIHL)[12]

(note: teams from West Virginia also play in PIHL.)

Pennsylvania teams (partial list)

School Nickname Colors Established League Class State Championships
Abington High SchoolGalloping GhostsRed and WhiteSHSHLAA
Altoona Area High SchoolMountain LionsMaroon and WhitePIHLAAA
Annville Cleona High SchoolDutchmanRed, Black and WhiteCPIHLAA
Ambridge Area High SchoolBridgersGarnet and Grey1993PIHLAA
Archbishop Carroll High SchoolPatriotsRed and WhiteEHSHLAAA1981 2004
Archbishop RyanRaidersRed, Black and Gold1974LCSHL & LBCSHLAAA
Archbishop WoodVikingsBlack, Green and GoldSHSHLAAA
Back Mountain (Lake Lehman HS/Dallas HS)NEPASHL
Baldwin High SchoolHighlandersPurple and White1973PIHLAA1974, 1975, 1988
Bayard Rustin High SchoolGolden KnightsBlue, Gold and WhiteICSHL - Chester CountyA2009, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
Beaver Area High SchoolBobcatsMaroon, Gray and White1985PIHLOpen1991, 2001
Bensalem High SchoolOwlsBlue, Gray and WhiteLBCSHLAAA
Bethel Park High SchoolBlackhawksOrange and Black1972PIHLAAA1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005
Bethlehem Catholic High SchoolGolden HawksBrown and Gold1991LVSHLAA
Bishop Canevin High SchoolCrusadersNavy Blue, Columbia Blue and White1972PIHLA1983, 1984, 1989, 2011,
Bishop Guilfoyle High SchoolMaraudersPurple and GoldPIHLOpen
Bishop McCort High SchoolCrimson CrushersCrimson and Gold1985PIHLA1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999
Bishop McDevitt High SchoolLancersBlack and GoldSHSHLAA
Bishop Shanahan High SchoolEaglesGreen and BlackICSHL - Chester CountyAAA
Boyertown Area H.S.BearsRed and WhiteICSHL - IndependentA
Butler High SchoolGolden ToronadoBlue and Gold1974PIHLAAA
Canon-McMillan High SchoolBig MacsGold and Blue1994PIHLAAA
Cardinal O'HaraLionsRed and Blue1969EHSHLAAA2010
Carrick High SchoolCougarsBlue and Gold1996PIHLOpen
Cathedral PrepRamblersOrange and Black1974PIHLAA1984, 1997, 2015
Cedar Cliff High SchoolColtsBlue and Gold1994CPIHLAA
Center Area High SchoolTrojansRoyal Blue2006PIHLA
CentralWolvesRed and WhitePIHLOpen
Central Bucks High School East[13]PatriotsRed, Blue and WhiteSHSHLAA
Central Bucks High School South[14]TitansBlue, Black and WhiteSHSHLAA2014, 2016
Central Bucks High School West[15]BucksBlack and GoldSHSHLAA
Central CatholicVikingsGold and Blue1972PIHLAAA
Central Valley High SchoolWarriorsBlue and White2010PIHLOpen
Central Dauphin High SchoolRamsGreen and White1994CPIHL Tier 1AA
Central York High SchoolPanthersOrange and Black1997CPIHL Tier 1AA
Chartiers ValleyColtsRed and Blue1972PIHLA1986
Chichester High SchoolEaglesMaroon and GreyICSHL - IndependentA
Conemaugh Valley High SchoolBlue JaysBlue and White1998PIHLA
Conestoga High SchoolPioneersGarnet and Gray1969ICSHL - CentralAA1985, 1986
Connellsville Area High SchoolFalconsBlue and White1995PIHLOpen
Conwell-Egan Catholic High SchoolEaglesBlue and White1974LBCSHLAAA1999
Council Rock High School North[16]IndiansBlue, White and Silver1976SHSHLAA1991
Council Rock High School South[17]Golden HawksBlue, Gold and White2003SHSHLAA2012
Crestwood High School Comets Red, White, and Black NEPASHL
Cumberland Valley High SchoolEaglesBlack and RedCPIHL Tier IAA
Downingtown High School EastCougarsBlue and YellowICSHL - Chester CountyAA2017, 2018
Downingtown High School WestWhippetsBlue and YellowICSHL - Chester CountyAA
Easton Area High SchoolRed RoversRed and WhiteLVSHLAA
Fairview High SchoolTigersRed and White1975LKSHL1977, 1981, 1982
Father JudgeCrusadersBlue and RedLCSHLAAA
Ferndale Area Senior High SchoolYellow JacketsGold and Black1996PIHLOpen
Ford City Jr./Sr. High SchoolSabersPurple and GoldPIHLOpen2009, 2013
Forest Hills HighRangersGreen and White1991PIHLA
Fort Leboeuf High SchoolBisonsLKSHL
Fox ChapelFoxesRed and Black1972PIHLA
Franklin RegionalPanthersNavy and Gold1981PIHLAA
Freedom High SchoolPatriotsBlack and YellowLVSHL
FreeportYellow JacketsBlue and Gold1973PIHLA
Garnet Valley High SchoolJaguarsBlack and Maroon1993ICSHL - CentralA
Gateway High SchoolGatorsBlack and Gold1972PIHLAA
Germantown AcademyPatriotsBlue and RedIndependence Hockey League (Western Pennsylvania)AA
Great Valley High SchoolPatriotsBlue and WhiteICSHL - Chester CountyA
Greater Latrobe High SchoolWildcatsBlack and Orange1981PIHLAA2008,2009,2010
Greensburg Central CatholicCenturionsMaroon and Silver1982PIHLAA1993, 1994, 1996
Greensburg-Salem High SchoolGolden LionsBrown and GoldPIHLA
Hampton High SchoolTalbotsGold and Blue1973PIHLAA
Harbor Creek High SchoolHuskiesOrange and BlackLKSHL
Hatboro-Horsham High SchoolHattersBlack, Red and White1973SHSHLA-AA
Haverford High SchoolFordsRed and White1969ICHSL-CENTRALAA
The Haverford SchoolFordsMaroon and GoldIHLIndependent Prep League
Hempfield Area High SchoolSpartansBlue and Grey1995PIHLAA
Hempfield High SchoolBlack KnightsRed, Black & White1994CPIHL Tier IAA
Hershey High SchoolTrojansOrange and Blue1994CPIHL Tier IA
Holy Ghost PreparatoryFirebirdsRed and BlueLCSHL & LBCSHLAAA
Holy Redeemer
Indiana Area High SchoolIndiansRed and Black1992PIHLA
Interboro High SchoolBuccaneersBlack and GoldEHSHLA
John MarshallMonarchsPIHLOpen2011
Kennett High SchoolBlue DevilsBlue and WhiteICSHL - Chester CountyA
Kiski Area HSCavaliersNavy and Gold1994PIHLAA
Kittanning High SchoolWildcatsRed and Grey1972PIHLA
La Salle College High SchoolExplorersNavy and GoldICSHLAAA1998, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2016, 2019
Liberty High SchoolHurricanesRed and BlueLVSHL
Lower Dauphin High SchoolFalconsBlue and WhiteCPIHLAA
Lower Merion High SchoolBulldogsMaroon and BlackICSHL - CentralA
Malvern PreparatoryFriarsBlue and GrayICSHL - Chester CountyAAA1990,2004
Marple Newtown HSTigersOrange and Black1969EHSHLA
Mars Area High SchoolPlanetsBlue and Gold1988PIHLA2010–2011
McDowell High SchoolTrojansBlue and White1972PIHLOpen
Meadville Area Senior High SchoolBulldogsRed and Black1979PIHLA1987, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2003
Mercyhurst PrepLakersGreen and BlueLKSHL
Methacton High SchoolWarriorsGreen and WhiteICSHL - IndependentAA
Monsignor BonnerFriarsGreen and WhiteICSHLAAA1991
Montour High SchoolSpartansBlack and Gold1972PIHLAA
Moon Area High SchoolTigersBlack and Red1972PIHLOpen
Mt. Lebanon School DistrictBlue DevilsBlue and Gold1971PIHLAAA1976, 2006
Nazareth Area High SchoolBlue EaglesBlue and WhiteLVSHL
Neshaminy High SchoolRedskinsRed, Blue and WhiteSHSHLAA
Neshannock High SchoolLancersRed and White2018PIHLOpen
Neuman-Goretti High SchoolSaintsBlack and GoldICSHL - IndependentA
North AlleghenyTigersBlack and Gold1973PIHLAAA2007, 2013
North Catholic High SchoolTrojansScarlet and Gold1972PIHLA1981, 1995
Northampton Area High School Konkrete Kids Orange, Black, and White 1990 LVSHL A
North Hills Senior High SchoolIndiansRed and White1973PIHLAA
North Penn High SchoolKnightsBlue, Gray and WhiteSHSHLAA
Norwin High SchoolKnightsBlue and Gold1974PIHLA
Palmyra Area High SchoolCougarsOrange and BlackCPIHLAA
Parkland High SchoolTrojansRed and WhiteLVSHLAA
PaupackBucksPurple, white and blackNEPASHL1998, 2007
Penncrest High SchoolLionsRed and GoldICSHL - CentralA

2005

Pennridge High School[18]RamsGreen, White, and BlackSHSHLAA
Pennsbury High School[19]FalconsBlack and Orange1975SHSHLAA1986
Penn-TraffordWarriorsGreen and Gold1993PIHLAA
Perkiomen ValleyVikingsOrange, Black and WhiteICSHLAA
Peters Township High SchoolIndiansRed and Black1973PIHLAAA2002, 2003, 2005, 2014, 2017
Pine-Richland High SchoolRamsGreen and Black1972PIHLAA2006, 2007, 2019
PittstonPatriotsRed, White, and BlueNEPASHL
Pleasant Valley High SchoolBearsBlue and WhiteLVSHLAA
Plum High SchoolMustangsPurple and Gold1987PIHLAAA1989 & 2017
Plymouth-Whitemarsh High SchoolColonialsRed, White & BlueSHSHLA
Pope John Paul II High SchoolPanthersBlue, Gold & White2010SHSHLA
Quaker Valley High SchoolQuakersBlack and Gold1998PIHLAA2006, 2012
Quakertown High SchoolPanthersBlue and WhiteSHSHLA
Quigley Catholic High SchoolSpartansMaroon and Gold1990PIHLOpen2012
Radnor High SchoolMaroon and WhiteICSHL - CentralA2002, 2003
Richland Cambria Senior High SchoolRamsBlue and Red1991PIHLA
Ridley High SchoolRaidersGreen and BlackICSHL - CentralAA
Ringgold High SchoolRamsBlue and GoldPIHLOpen2010
Roman CatholicCahillitesPurple and GoldLCSHL & LBCSHLAAA
Saint Joseph's PreparatoryHawksCrimson and Grey1969EHSHLAAA
ScrantonNEPASHL
Seneca Valley High SchoolRaidersBlack and Blue1992PIHLAAA
Serra Catholic High SchoolEaglesRed and Gold1987PIHLA2000, 2001, 2002
Sewickley AcademyPanthersRed and Black1973MPHL (Midwest Prep Hockey League) / ISHL (Independent School Hockey League)A
Shady Side AcademyIndiansNavy and Gold1973MPHL (Midwest Prep Hockey League) / ISHL (Independent School Hockey League)A
Shaler Area High SchoolTitansRed and Blue1971PIHLAA
Somerset HSEaglesOrange and Black1993PIHLA
Souderton Area High SchoolIndiansRed and BlackSHSHLAA
South Fayette High SchoolLionsGreen and White2001PIHLA
South Park High SchoolEaglesBlue and White1973PIHLA
Springfield HSCougarsBlue and GoldICSHL - CentralA
Spring-Ford High SchoolRamsBlue and YellowICSHLAA
State College Area High SchoolLittle LionsMaroon and Gray1975PIHLAAA
Steel Valley High SchoolIronmenMaroon and GoldPIHLOPEN
Strath Haven High School[20]PanthersBlack and WhiteICSHL - CentralA
Stroudsburg High SchoolRiver RatsBlue and GreenLVSHL
Susquehanna Valley High SchoolNEPASHL
Sun Valley HSVanguardsBlue and GlodICSHL - IndependentA
Thomas Jefferson High SchoolJaguarsBlack and Gold1981PIHLA1998, 1999, 2000
TrinityHillersBlue and White1994PIHLOpen
Twin Valley High SchoolRaidersGreen and Black2007ICSHL - IndependentA
Unionville High SchoolIndiansBlue and GoldICSHL - Chester CountyA
Upper Darby High SchoolRoyalsPurple and GoldEHSHLAA
Upper Dublin High SchoolCardinalsBlack and RedSHSHLA
Upper Moreland High SchoolBearsPurple and GoldSHSHLA
Upper St. Clair High SchoolPanthersRed and Black1971PIHLAAA1980, 1987, 1990, 2011
Warwick High SchoolWarwick WarriorsRed& Black1996CPIHL Tier IIA
West Allegheny HSIndiansRed and Grey1992PIHLAA
West Chester East High SchoolVikingsRed, Gold and BlackICSHL - Chester CountyA2008, 2013[21]
West Chester Henderson High SchoolWarriorsMaroon and BlackICSHL - Chester CountyA2007
West Mifflin Area High SchoolTitansBlue and Gold1971PIHLOpen
Westmont HilltopHilltoppersRed and Grey1980PIHLA
Whitehall High SchoolZephyrsMaroon and Yellow1998LVSHL
William Tennent High SchoolPanthersRed, Black and WhiteSHSHLAA
Wissahickon High SchoolTrojansBlue and GoldSHSHLA
Wyoming SeminaryKnightsBlue and White2015NEPASHL
Wyoming Area High SchoolNEPASHL
Wyoming Valley West High School NEPASHL

Folded programs

School Nickname Colors Folded State Titles
Penn HillsIndiansRed and Gold2006
Woodland HillsWolverinesTurquoise and Black2007
JeannetteJayhawksRed and Blue2001
ChurchillChargersRed White & Black19861977 and 1979 State Finalists 1975 and 1976
WPIHL Champions 10 Years 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1983
Seton-La SalleRebelsGreen and Gold20031998 Class A
JP McCaskey High SchoolRed TornadosRed and Black1998
Marple Newtown High SchoolTigersOrange and Black2010
Elizabeth Forward High SchoolWarriorsRed and Black2012
Bensalem High SchoolOwlsNavy and White
Wilson High SchoolBulldogsRed and White2015

References

  1. "State High School Hockey Rankings". Ushsho.com. Retrieved 2013-11-07.
  2. "New Page 2". Archived from the original on 2007-07-10. Retrieved 2013-11-07.
  3. "Central Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League". Cpihl.com. Retrieved 2013-11-07.
  4. "East Penn Scholastic Hockey League". leaguelineup.com. Retrieved 2014-02-26.
  5. "HS Hockey 2011–2012". 2012-02-13. Archived from the original on 2012-02-13. Retrieved 2013-11-07.
  6. "Icshl.Org". Icshl.Org. Retrieved 2013-11-07.
  7. "Welcome to the Home of the L.V.S.H.L." Archived from the original on 2009-03-03. Retrieved 2013-11-07.
  8. "Northeast Pa Scholastic Hockey Leage". Nepashl.org. Retrieved 2013-11-07.
  9. "Suburban High School Hockey League". Shshl.org. Retrieved 2013-11-07.
  10. "Lbcshl.org". Lbcshl.org. Archived from the original on 2013-09-17. Retrieved 2013-11-07.
  11. -n/a. "Welcome to http://www.pihlweb.com". Pihlweb.com. Retrieved 2013-11-07. External link in |title= (help)
  12. "index.html". 2012-02-06. Archived from the original on 2012-02-06. Retrieved 2013-11-07.
  13. "CB South Ice Hockey". CB South Ice Hockey. Archived from the original on 2016-05-03. Retrieved 2013-11-07.
  14. "Central Bucks West Ice Hockey". Cbwesticehockey.com. Retrieved 2013-11-07.
  15. "Council Rock High School North". Councilrocknorthhockey.org. 2013-10-28. Archived from the original on February 6, 2012. Retrieved 2013-11-07.
  16. "Council Rock Ice Hockey South". crihs.com. Retrieved 2013-11-07.
  17. "Pennridge – Rams". Eteamz.active.com. Retrieved 2013-11-07.
  18. "Pennsbury Ice Hockey Club". Pennsburyhockey.net. 2013-01-05. Retrieved 2013-11-07.
  19. "ICSHL: Strath-Haven Panthers | Home Page | Pointstreak Sites". Havenhockey.com. Retrieved 2013-11-07.
  20. "W.C. East rewards fans with title – Philly.com". Articles.philly.com. 2013-03-24. Retrieved 2013-11-07.
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