The Metropolitan Boston Hockey League, born and founded March 31, 1977, and incorporated in Massachusetts in August, 1979, has grown into one of the finest "AAA"- style or "Tier I" leagues in North America.

To keep some young hockey players on skates -- who through no fault of their own were in imminent danger of having no place to play -- a combination of organizations was melded together and began competing as a league in the Fall of 1977. Originally comprised of a combination of teams and organizations "shut out" by the AHA's new rules, groups competing in the New England AA Hockey League, and brand-new organizations formed specifically for the purpose, they sponsored just thirty-two teams between them. The League membership has fluctuated slightly over time; for the 2002-2003 season we're featuring fourteen organizations fielding a total of one hundred and twenty-three teams, with a schedule calling for 2,018 league games.  And of those twelve original organizations, three are still going strong -- Assabet Valley, Middlesex, and Worcester.

The MBHL is unique in youth hockey. Within our own league we play by modified NCAA rules, the same as in U.S. college hockey.  Slapshots and body checking are allowed at all age levels, instead of being introduced well after young players have had a chance to develop a lot of bad habits in their absence.  To the best of our knowledge, no other youth hockey organization in North America -- or the world, for that matter -- permits body checking or slapshots as we do. We believe that's the way hockey is meant to be played, at any age and by either gender. 

                         

Beginning with the 2001-2002 season, the MBHL proudly offered a separate Girls' division competing against one another in gender-specific age levels.  That first year we featured seven teams in the Girls 12 & Under level; last season we added six teams of Girls 15 & Under. Young women who feel they are physically capable are still encouraged to "play Metro" with and against the boys. Many have taken advantage of that opportunity over the years.   

                                     

Our teams are urged to register as US Hockey club teams, and our member- and League-sponsored tournaments are all US Hockey sanctioned.  In this way, we encourage outside teams to come to "our house," and we in turn are welcomed at tourneys elsewhere.  Naturally, in both instances US Hockey rules prevail.

MBHL play begins the first weekend after Labor Day (the first Monday in September, in the US)  and winds up with playoffs in late March of the following year.

Strong and vital, the MBHL expects continued success in the New Millennium as we begin our twenty-seventh season of competition in 2003