This is the 2019-20 Eastern Hockey League season. This is the league's seventh season after it was formed by the merger of the Atlantic Junior Hockey League and six members of the Eastern Junior Hockey League.
Playoffs Canceled[]
On March 12th the league issued the following statement:
"The Eastern Hockey League (EHL) has announced today that effective immediately all remaining 2020 EHL and EHLP playoff games have been cancelled due to the COVID-19 virus and outbreak. This includes the upcoming 2020 Frozen Finals in Providence, RI. The decision was made by the league's Board of Governors with the best interest of our players, staff, and their families in mind."[1]
Membership Changes[]
On April 23, 2019 the league announced the leagues teams for the 2019-20 season. Among the changes:[2]
- The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights would be moving to the North American 3 Hockey League.[3]
- The Lehigh Valley Jr. Rebels are not returning after being removed from the league during the 2018-19 season for using an over-aged player.
- The Exeter, New Hampshire based Seacoast Spartans will be added to the higher level league, The organization had previously operated youth teams at several different levels. The team will be based out of the Rinks at Exeter.
- The Worcester Jr. Railers will be added to both of the leagues. The team swill be based out of the Fidelity Bank Worcester Ice Center.
- The New Hampshire Avalanche and New York Applecore are adding teams the Premier Division. Both organizations have already operated teams in the main league.
- The Staten Island based New York Bridgemen are being added to the Premier Division. The team appears to be based out of the Staten Island Skating Pavilion.
Teams[]
New England Division[]
Mid-Atlantic Division[]
Standings[]
New England Conference[]
| Team | GP | W | L | OL | GF | GA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston Jr. Rangers | 46 | 39 | 5 | 2 | 208 | 104 | 80 |
| New Hampshire Avalanche | 46 | 33 | 9 | 4 | 185 | 87 | 70 |
| Vermont Lumberjacks | 46 | 34 | 11 | 1 | 209 | 131 | 69 |
| Seahawks Hockey Club | 46 | 31 | 15 | 0 | 158 | 101 | 62 |
| Walpole Express | 46 | 28 | 13 | 5 | 147 | 110 | 61 |
| New England Wolves | 46 | 25 | 16 | 5 | 170 | 161 | 55 |
| East Coast Wizards | 46 | 23 | 17 | 6 | 164 | 132 | 52 |
| Seacoast Spartans | 46 | 17 | 28 | 1 | 123 | 160 | 35 |
| Connecticut Chiefs | 46 | 14 | 28 | 4 | 112 | 182 | 32 |
| Valley Jr. Warriors | 46 | 13 | 31 | 2 | 123 | 186 | 28 |
| Worcester Jr. Railers | 46 | 7 | 36 | 3 | 111 | 240 | 17 |
Mid-Atlantic Conference[]
| Team | GP | W | L | OL | GF | GA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey 87's | 46 | 36 | 8 | 2 | 234 | 104 | 74 |
| Philadelphia Revolution | 46 | 30 | 12 | 4 | 192 | 117 | 64 |
| Connecticut RoughRiders | 46 | 28 | 14 | 4 | 191 | 165 | 60 |
| Team Maryland | 46 | 23 | 19 | 4 | 182 | 161 | 50 |
| Philadelphia Little Flyers | 46 | 23 | 20 | 3 | 161 | 159 | 49 |
| Philadelphia Jr. Flyers | 46 | 19 | 26 | 1 | 112 | 126 | 39 |
| New York Apple Core | 46 | 13 | 28 | 5 | 132 | 203 | 31 |
| North Carolina Golden Bears | 46 | 1 | 45 | 0 | 47 | 332 | 2 |
Playoffs[]
Format[]
The top eight teams qualify in the New England Conference while the top six qualify in the Mid-Atlantic Conference. The fifth through eighth place teams in the New England Conference play single elimination round. The winners become the fifth and sixth seeds. The third through sixth seeds are matched up in two best-of-three series in each conference.The two winners in each conference and re-seeded and then matched up with the first and second seeds in the best-of-three second.round. The winners of the four second round series advance to the EHL Frozen Finals being held at Schneider Arena on the campus of Providence College in Providence, Rhode Island. The four teams play a single round robin March 25 to 28 with the top two teams advancing to a championship game being held on March 29.
Preliminary Round[]
- Seacoast Spartans defeated Walpole Express 5-3
- East Coast Wizards defeated New England Wolves 2-1
Conference Quarterfinals[]
- Vermont Lumberjacks defeated Seacoast Spartans 2 games to none
- Philadelphia Junior Flyers defeated Connecticut RoughRiders 2 games to 1
- East Coast Wizards defeated Seahawks Hockey Club 2 games to 1
- Philadelphia Little Flyers defeated Team Maryland 2 games to 1
Playoffs cancelled prior to start of conference semifinal round.