The Metropolitan Boston Hockey League1
Contents
The league was born and founded March 31, 1977, and incorporated in Massachusetts in August 1979.
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 Twenty Two original organizations (some teams changed the team names) four are still going strong—Bay State Sharks, North Shore Raiders, Hobomock U.S.A. (became New England Falcons, now Bridgewater Bandits), The Worcester Crusaders, UMass Lowell River Hawks men's ice hockey (formerly Lowell Chiefs, then West River Wolves), St. Moritz Devils and the Springfield Pics. The Bay State Breakers, Boston Jr. Eagles, Boston Jr. Terriers, West River Wolves, Bridgewater Bandits, Middlesex Islanders, Minuteman Flames, Providence Capitals (formerly Providence Friars), South Shore Kings, Merrimack Cardinals, and Top Gun all left the MBHL in 2004 for the Eastern Hockey Federation. The Assabet Valley Patriots left the league for the NEHL.
Teams
The MBHL Currently Has 9 Member Organizations (see table at bottom).
High school programs fed
The MBHL feeds many High School programs.
Notable MBHL player alumni
NHL, AHL, other pro, NCAA Div I, or drafted