Metropolitan Boston Hockey League

The Metropolitan Boston Hockey League1

The league was born and founded March 31, 1977, and incorporated in Massachusetts in August, 1979.

The Metropolitan Boston Hockey League
City	Boston, MA
Classification	Minor Hockey
Founded	March 31, 1977
Colors	Gold and Black

The MBHL is unique in youth hockey. The MBHL is classified as an "AAA" or "Tier I" league, but have not had a ranked team in the top 50 "AAA" nationally in several years. However, Assebet Valley has been on the fringe of these rankings several times over the past decade. Within the league, modified NCAA rules are played, the same as in U.S. college hockey. Slapshots and body checking are allowed at all age levels. MBHL league play begins the first weekend after Labor Day and winds up with playoffs in late March of the following year. No other Minor hockey organization in North America -- or the world, permits body checking or slapshots at the Mite & Squirt/Novice & Atom levels.

The MBHL had fourteen original organizations, five are still going strong -- Assabet Valley Patriots, The Worcester Crusaders, Lowell Jr. Riverhawks, St. Moritz Devils and the Springfield Pics. The Bay State Breakers, Boston Jr. Eagles, Boston Jr. Terriers, Bridgewater Bandits, Middlesex Islanders, Minuteman Flames, Providence Capitals, South Shore Kings, and Top Gun all left the MBHL in 2004 for the Eastern Hockey Federation.

Teams

The MBHL Currently Has 10 Member Organizations (see table at bottom).

Team	City	Home Rink
Assabet Valley Patriots	Concord, MA	Valley Sports Arena
Capital District Selects	Troy, NY	Frear Park
Connecticut Lazers	Simsbury, CT	International Skating Center of Connecticut
Connecticut Wolves	Northford, CT	Northford Ice
Edgewood Hawks	Cranston, RI	Schneider Arena
Lowell Jr. River Hawks	Lowell, MA	Janas Arena
New Hampshire Avalanche	Hooksett, NH	Ice Den Arena
St. Moritz Devils	Dedham, MA	Boston Ice Center
Springfield Pics	Springfield, MA	Olympia Ice Center
Worcester Crusaders	Worcester, MA	Buffone Rink

High school programs fed

The MBHL feeds many High School programs.

• Catholic Memorial High School
• Cushing Academy
• Lawrence Academy at Groton
• Malden Catholic High School
• Matignon High School
• Middlesex School
• Phillips Andover Academy
• Phillips Exeter Academy
• Saint Peter-Marian High School
• St. John's High School
• St. John's Preparatory School
• St. Mark's School
• Saint Sebastian's School
• Thayer Academy
• Worcester Academy

Notable MBHL player alumni

NHL, AHL, other pro, NCAA Div I, or drafted

Players

• Tony Amonte
• Tom Barasso
• Al Bourbeau
• Phil Bourque
• Bobby Brooke
• Doug Brown
• Ed Campbell
• Jim Campbell
• Bob Carpenter
• Eddie Caron
• John Carter
• Ted Crowley
• Marvin Degon
• John Doherty
• Ted Donato
• Hal Gill
• Mike Grier
• Bill Guerin
• Ned Havern
• Steve Heinze
• Scott Horvath
• Jeff Lazaro
• Jordan LaVallee
• John Lilley
• Shawn McEachern
• Jeff Norton
• James Pemberton
• Jeff Pietrasiak
• Tom Poti
• Jeremy Roenick
• Kevin Stevens
• Bob Sweeney
• Keith Tkachuk
• Dan Travis
• Noah Welch
• Jim Carey
• Scott Young

Coaches

• Bob Sweeney
• Ulf Samuelsson
• Scott Greer

External links

• Official site