Pennsylvania high school hockey

Teams from 150 high schools competed as varsity ice hockey teams in Western and Eastern Pennsylvania. Unlike many other high school sport in Pennsylvania, hockey is not run under Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association umbrella. However, Pennsylvania's high school ice hockey is sanctioned by USA Hockey and varsity-level programs are marginally overseen by the NHL Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers organizations through the Penguins Cup and the Flyers Cup. However although it is considered a club it is still apart of the High School and is affiliated with the school.

Format
Varsity teams are divided into four divisions, AAA, AA, A, and Open. Western divisional champions earn a bid to the Penguins Cup playoff tournament. Eastern divisional teams earn a bid by invitation to the Flyers Cup playoff tournament. All teams are eligible except non-pure and second varsity teams.

State Championship
The Pennsylvania State High School Ice Hockey Championship is awarded through a state tournament. The tournament pits the champions from the Penguins Cup and Flyers Cup with the winners receiving the AAA, AA, or A Pennsylvania Cup. The location changes every year rotating between Western and Eastern cities. Attempts to mirror the PIAA state championships by hosting the games in Hershey, PA lasted a single season, with only the 2005 series being held at the historic Hersheypark Arena.

YEAR 	CLASS AAA  	CLASS AA  	CLASS A  2021 	Melvern Prep 	Baldwin  	West Chester East 2020 	COVID 19 	COVID 19 	COVID 19 2019 	LaSalle 	Pine-Richland 	Bayard Rustin 2018 	Saint Joseph's Prep 	Downingtown East 	Bayard Rustin 2017 	Peters Township  	Downingtown East 	Bayard Rustin 2016 	LaSalle  	Central Bucks South  	Bayard Rustin 2015 	Holy Ghost Prep  	Cathedral Prep  	Bayard Rustin 2014 	Peters Township  	Central Bucks South  	Bayard Rustin 2013 	North Allegheny  	Greater Latrobe  	West Chester East 2012 	LaSalle  	Council Rock South  	Quaker Valley 2011 	Upper Saint Clair  	Bishop Canevin  	Mars 2010 	Cardinal O'Hara  	Greater Latrobe  	Mars 2009 	LaSalle  	Greater Latrobe  	Bayard Rustin 2008 	LaSalle  	Greater Latrobe  	West Chester East 2007 	North Allegheny  	Pine-Richland  	West Chester Henderson 2006 	Mt. Lebanon 	Pine-Richland  	Quaker Valley 2005 	Bethel Park  	Peters Township  	Penncrest 2004 	Malvern Prep  	Archbishop Carroll  	Radnor 2003 	Meadville  	Peters Township  	Radnor 2002 	Bethel Park  	Peters Township  	Serra Catholic 2001 	Bethel Park  	Beaver  	Serra Catholic 2000 	Bethel Park  	Thomas Jefferson  	Serra Catholic 1999 	Conwell Egan  	Thomas Jefferson  	Bishop McCort 1998 	LaSalle  	Thomas Jefferson  	Seton-LaSalle 1997 	Bethel Park  	Cathedral Prep  	Bishop McCort 1996 	Meadville  	Greensburg Catholic  	Bishop McCort 1995 	Meadville  	Conwell Egan  	Bishop McCort 1994 	Meadville  	Greensburg Catholic  	Bishop McCort 1993 	Meadville  	Father Judge  	Greensburg Catholic 1992 	Meadville  	Council Rock  	Haverford 1991 	Council Rock  	Beaver  	Monsignor Bonner 1990 	Malvern Prep  	Father Judge  	Bishop Egan 1989 	Meadville  	Bishop Canevin  	Plum 1988 	Baldwin  	William Tennent 1987 	Upper Saint Clair  	Meadville 1986 	Conestoga  	Chartiers Valley 1985 	Conestoga  	Pennsbury 1984 	Cathedral Prep  	Bishop Canevin 1983 	Germantown Academy  	Bishop Canevin 1982 	West Chester  	Fairview 1981 	Archbishop Carroll  	Fairview 1980 	Upper St. Clair  	--- 1979 	Churchill  	South Hills Catholic 1978 	---  	---  	  1977  	Churchill  	Fairview 1976 	Mt. Lebanon 	Abington 1975 	Baldwin
 * Pennsylvania Cup Champions

Alumni
Ray Staszak, R.J. Umberger, Ryan Malone, Bill Thomas, Ryan Smart, Tony Voce, Mike Richter, Tyler Kolarik, David Thomas, Brendan McCartin, Nate Guenin, Mike Weber and Ryan Gunderson are among the professional players that have participated in Pennsylvania high school hockey.

Historical timeline

 * 1969 - Inter-County Scholastic Hockey League forms
 * 1970-1971 - Western Pennsylvania High School Hockey League forms in April at the Alpine Ice Chalet. Teams include Shaler, Churchill, Mt Lebanon, Penn Hills, Upper St Clair, and West Mifflin North
 * 1971-1972 - Western Pennsylvania High School Hockey League completes first season of play at the Alpine Ice Chalet as Churchill, Mt Lebanon, Penn Hills, Shaler, Upper St Clair and West Mifflin North. Mt Lebanon defeats Penn Hills, 5-4 in overtime, to capture the first WPHSHL Championship.
 * 1972-73 - Western Pennsylvania High School Hockey League expands to 19 schools as Richland, Chartiers Valley, Central Catholic, Bethel Park, Peabody, Fox Chapel, Lawrenceville Catholic, General Braddock, Armstrong, Gateway and Canevin participate. Churchill wins the WPHSHL crown over Richland in 4-3 in overtime.
 * 1972-73 - Ohio Valley League forms out of the Sewickley Ice Arena and South Penn High School Hockey League forms out of the Rostraver Ice Garden
 * 1975 - WPHSHL becomes Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League
 * 1975 - Lake Shore Hockey League forms
 * 1975 - Lower Bucks County Scholastic Hockey League forms
 * 1975 - Inaugural Pennsylvania High School Hockey Championships in Erie, Pa at the Glenwood Ice Arena
 * 1980 - First Flyers Cup tournament Archbishop Carroll finds a way past Haverford's star goalie Christopher Cifone and defeats Haverford High School
 * 1981 - First Pennsylvania Cup, State High School Ice Hockey Championship
 * 1991 - Lehigh Valley Scholastic Hockey League forms
 * 1994 - CPIHL forms
 * 1996 - PA Hockey Scholastic Showcase begins play
 * 1999 - WPIHL, LKSHL and SHIHL merge to form PIHL
 * 2000 - Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League forms
 * 2004 - Eastern High School Hockey League forms
 * 2005 - AAA League forms for Flyers Cup
 * 2007 - Inter County Scholastic Hockey League splits into three divisions, ICSHL Central, ICSHL Chester County and ICSHL Independents, to copy the divisions PIAA uses to organize schools in other sports

Divisions
While the western part of the state has been divided into fairly equal levels at the AAA, AA, and A levels, the eastern part has mostly been run by the independent leagues that compete for Flyers Cup. A change was made recently in an effort to provide more uniformity throughout the eastern portion of the state. Whereas the levels were previously determined by where a team finished in its respective leagues, the Flyers Cup recently restructured the system were AAA is all open enrollment schools, AA is the larger public schools, and A is the smaller public schools. The open enrollment schools are not forced to play AAA, but if they do not they cannot qualify for the Flyers Cup. Changes are still being proposed for the 2008-2009 season that could create a second varsity level for open enrollment schools that do not wish to play at the AAA level.

Eastern PA

 * Berks Scholastic Ice Hockey League (BSIHL) operated through the end of 2007-2008 season - replaced by EPSHL in 2008-2009 season
 * Central Pennsylvania interscholastic Hockey League (CPIHL)
 * East Penn Scholastic Hockey League (EPSHL)
 * Eastern High School Hockey League (EHSHL)
 * Inter-County Scholastic Hockey League (ICSHL)
 * Lehigh Valley Scholastic Hockey League (LVSHL)
 * Northeast PA Scholastic Hockey League (NEPASHL)
 * Suburban High School Hockey League (SHSHL)
 * Lower Bucks County Scholastic Hockey League (LBCSHL)

Western PA

 * Lake Shore Hockey League (LKSHL)
 * Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League (PIHL)

(note: teams from West Virginia also play in PIHL.)