The Metropolitan Boston Hockey League was a youth hockey league founded March 31, 1977, and incorporated in Massachusetts in August 1979.
| The Metropolitan Boston Hockey League | ||
| City | ||
| Classification | Junior ice hockey | |
| Founded | March 31, 1977 | |
| Colors | Gold and Black | |
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.[1]
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.
The MBHL had 9 Member Organization in its last season (see table at bottom).
| Team | City | Home Rink | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capital District Selects | Troy, New York | Frear Park | |
| Connecticut Lazers | Simsbury, Connecticut | International Skating Center of Connecticut | |
| Connecticut Wolves | Northford, Connecticut | Northford Ice | |
| Edgewood Hawks | Cranston, Rhode Island | Schneider Arena | |
| Lowell Jr. River Hawks | Lowell, Massachusetts | Janas Arena | |
| New Hampshire Avalanche | Hooksett, New Hampshire | Ice Den Arena | |
| St. Moritz Devils | Dedham, Massachusetts | Boston Ice Center | |
| Springfield Pics | West Springfield, Massachusetts | Olympia Ice Center | |
| Worcester Crusaders | Worcester, Massachusetts | Buffone Rink |
The MBHL feeds many High School programs.
NHL, AHL, other pro, NCAA Div I, or drafted