2009-10 Youth Hockey Changes from Around the USA
USA Midget hockey (full season) has concentrated around two different leagues, the Tier 1 Elite League (T1EHL) and the new North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL). The T1EHL has added seven new members and removed two of last years member clubs at the midget level and is now comprised of 25 midget teams in five divisions of five at the major level and 20 teams or four divisions of five at the minor level (new this season). The NAPHL consists of 20 clubs at the midget major level and will likely have between ten and fifteen at the minor level. Announcements about these changes were made early this past summer in this column.
The Eastern Hockey Federation (EHF) is now offering two AAA divisions. The regular or Elite division containing the 10 clubs that they have had for the past few years and a non-Elite version now consisting of the Springfield Pics, New England Rhinos, Team Dynamic, Global Hockey (Boston Little Rangers), NECDL Classics the Providence Blues and second picked teams from many of the existing league members.
The New England Alliance (NEA) is formed consisting of Boston Advantage, Connecticut Clippers, Connecticut Lazers, Connecticut Wolves, East Coast Wizards, Edgewood Hawks and Boch Blazers.
St Moritz Devils of the old MBHL have folded.
The Providence Capitals and Edgewood Hawks have combined and will be fielding teams in the EHF and RIAHA (need update on what teams will be called).
MBHL disbands. Springfield Jr Pics go to EHF. Assabet Valley Patriots, New Hampshire Avalanche and Worcester Crusaders go to NEHL. The Albany, NY clubs merge and remain in the NEHL. The Lowell Jr Riverhawks join the Dual State League. The Connecticut Lazers, Connecticut Wolves and Edgewood Hawks join the new NEA.
In Troy-Albany NY, the two competing AAA programs have combined to form the Troy Albany Jr River Rats and will play in the NEHL.
The MassConn Braves were bought out and combined with the New England Jr Falcons of the NEHL.
The Mill City Monsters have become the Eastern Jr Raiders and are still members of the NEHL.
The Exeter Freeze is no longer.
The Westchester Vipers have joined the LIAHL.
The UPHL, if it still exists (web site not updated yet this fall) has lost the Orland Park Vikings as a member, but have gained the Joliet Jaguars, Louisville Stallions, the Nashville Polar Bears, the Nashville Southern Flyers and the Peoria Rivermen.
The Nashville (TN) Southern Ice Storm are now the Nashville Polar Bears. They have joined the UPHL.
The Chicago Flames have merged with a rec program to for the Chicago Bruins.
The Lake County Atoms have become the Rink Side Maulers and play out of Gurnee, IL in the NIHL.
The Dallas Stars AAA and Dallas Penguins AAA programs have combined to form the Dallas Stars Elite AAA club. Don't worry, however, there are plenty of other clubs in the Dallas Metroplex now offering AAA hockey. Both the Dallas Ice Jets and the Dallas Alliance Bulldogs have re-entered the AAA market and the Texas Tornado of the NAHL are fielding AAA Midget teams. At the midget level the Dallas Stars Elite AAA teams are part of the Tier 1 Elite League and the Texas Tornado are part of the new NAPHL. The other teams are believed to be independent.
The Colorado Outlaws AAA program has folded.
Team Rocky Mountain AAA program was created and is playing out of Broomfield CO. They are playing an independent schedule.
The Inland Wild have reformed as the Jr Reign and are affiliated with the Ontario Reign of the ECHL in Ontario California.
The Tri-County Penguins of the southern LA metro area have been formed as a member of CAHA and SCAHA.
While the changes at the team level are too numerous to mention, the above cover many of the association/club level changes that have occurred this off-season. Please feel free to email any that are missed, but we hope you find this information helpful.
The Eastern Hockey Federation (EHF) is now offering two AAA divisions. The regular or Elite division containing the 10 clubs that they have had for the past few years and a non-Elite version now consisting of the Springfield Pics, New England Rhinos, Team Dynamic, Global Hockey (Boston Little Rangers), NECDL Classics the Providence Blues and second picked teams from many of the existing league members.
The New England Alliance (NEA) is formed consisting of Boston Advantage, Connecticut Clippers, Connecticut Lazers, Connecticut Wolves, East Coast Wizards, Edgewood Hawks and Boch Blazers.
St Moritz Devils of the old MBHL have folded.
The Providence Capitals and Edgewood Hawks have combined and will be fielding teams in the EHF and RIAHA (need update on what teams will be called).
MBHL disbands. Springfield Jr Pics go to EHF. Assabet Valley Patriots, New Hampshire Avalanche and Worcester Crusaders go to NEHL. The Albany, NY clubs merge and remain in the NEHL. The Lowell Jr Riverhawks join the Dual State League. The Connecticut Lazers, Connecticut Wolves and Edgewood Hawks join the new NEA.
In Troy-Albany NY, the two competing AAA programs have combined to form the Troy Albany Jr River Rats and will play in the NEHL.
The MassConn Braves were bought out and combined with the New England Jr Falcons of the NEHL.
The Mill City Monsters have become the Eastern Jr Raiders and are still members of the NEHL.
The Exeter Freeze is no longer.
The Westchester Vipers have joined the LIAHL.
The UPHL, if it still exists (web site not updated yet this fall) has lost the Orland Park Vikings as a member, but have gained the Joliet Jaguars, Louisville Stallions, the Nashville Polar Bears, the Nashville Southern Flyers and the Peoria Rivermen.
The Nashville (TN) Southern Ice Storm are now the Nashville Polar Bears. They have joined the UPHL.
The Chicago Flames have merged with a rec program to for the Chicago Bruins.
The Lake County Atoms have become the Rink Side Maulers and play out of Gurnee, IL in the NIHL.
The Dallas Stars AAA and Dallas Penguins AAA programs have combined to form the Dallas Stars Elite AAA club. Don't worry, however, there are plenty of other clubs in the Dallas Metroplex now offering AAA hockey. Both the Dallas Ice Jets and the Dallas Alliance Bulldogs have re-entered the AAA market and the Texas Tornado of the NAHL are fielding AAA Midget teams. At the midget level the Dallas Stars Elite AAA teams are part of the Tier 1 Elite League and the Texas Tornado are part of the new NAPHL. The other teams are believed to be independent.
The Colorado Outlaws AAA program has folded.
Team Rocky Mountain AAA program was created and is playing out of Broomfield CO. They are playing an independent schedule.
The Inland Wild have reformed as the Jr Reign and are affiliated with the Ontario Reign of the ECHL in Ontario California.
The Tri-County Penguins of the southern LA metro area have been formed as a member of CAHA and SCAHA.
While the changes at the team level are too numerous to mention, the above cover many of the association/club level changes that have occurred this off-season. Please feel free to email any that are missed, but we hope you find this information helpful.
