• Source: Metropolitan Boston Hockey League

      • The Metropolitan Boston Hockey League was a youth hockey league founded March 31, 1977, and incorporated in Massachusetts in August 1979.

      The MBHL was unique in youth hockey. The MBHL was classified as an "AAA" or "Tier I" league. Within the league, modified NCAA rules were played, the same as in U.S. college hockey. Slapshots and body checking were allowed at all age levels. The league believed that it was critical to develop those skills before young players had a chance to develop bad habits in their absence. A core belief of the MBHL was that hockey should be “played the way hockey is meant to be played, at any age and by either gender.” The league was also open to young women who felt they were physically capable to "play Metro" with and against boys.
      MBHL league play began the first weekend after Labor Day and concluded with playoffs in late March of the following year. No other Minor hockey organization in North America—or the world, permitted body checking or slapshots as early as the Mite level.
      The MBHL had Twenty Two original organizations (some teams changed the team names): Assabet Valley Patriots, Acton Colonials, Bay State Sharks, Plymouth County All Stars, 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), Mass Bay Chiefs, 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.
      Upon the league's discontinuation after the end of the 2008–2009 season, most remaining teams transferred to the New England Hockey League, which has since been split into the Boston Hockey League and the Elite 9 Hockey League.


      Teams


      The MBHL had 9 Member Organization in its last season (see table at bottom).


      High school programs fed


      The MBHL feeds many High School programs.

      Avon Old Farms School
      Catholic Memorial 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
      Walpole High School


      Notable MBHL player alumni


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


      = Players

      =


      = Coaches

      =
      Bob Sweeney
      Ulf Samuelsson
      Scott Greer
      Bobby Carpenter


      References




      External links


      Official site

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