Atlantic Metropolitan Hockey League

The Atlantic Metropolitan Hockey League

The Atlantic Metropolitan Hockey League manages Tier I and Tier II youth teams on east coast from Connecticut to Maryland covering four USA Hockey districts.

The AYHL

The Atlantic Youth Hockey League (AYHL) is the premier Tier I AAA travel league on the East Coast. It is comprised of over 125 teams from the Atlantic, Southeast, New York and New England Districts.

It is the AYHL’s mission to train and develop young athletes to prepare them for the highest levels of the game, including NCAA Division I Hockey and Professional.

The League’s levels play begin at the 10U level and advance to the highly competitive and scouted 18U level. The 10U thru 14U levels are generally birth year specific and all have a minor and major age-level component. The Major teams are typically the older team, comprised mostly of players playing in their second year at the level.

15-Pure (or often referred to as 15-Only) consist of a pure, single birth year group of teams with no underage players. At 16U we offer three levels of competition with American, Elite and Premier levels while 18U offers an Elite and Premier level. Tier I youth teams have a large workload when it comes to their playing commitment. There are more practices, games and tournaments and generally more travelling than with associations playing at the Tier II or Recreational levels. At the end of the regular season, all eligible teams will compete for the AYHL Championship at their respective level. Where applicable, as part of their AYHL regular season schedule, teams at both the minor and major levels, compete in the Atlantic District. The District Standings include games played against the other teams in the Atlantic District and then at the end of the season, the top teams compete for the District Championship. The District Champion of each competing level, will move on to represent the Atlantic District, and the AYHL, at the USA Hockey National Championship Tournament. Each year, the USA Hockey National Tournament changes locations throughout the United States and have been held in California, Michigan, New York and New Jersey.

The AYHL has an impressive and ever-growing list of Alums that currently play in the National Hockey League and NCAA and ACHA College hockey. Check out our AYHL alum here

Metropolitan Junior Hockey League

The Metropolitan Junior Hockey League, or MET League had operated as the longest Junior Hockey League in the United States – with over 50 years of operation!

Founded by former New York Rangers General Manager, Emile ‘The Cat’ Francis to foster the growth of amateur hockey in the greater metropolitan area and develop pro level players. The MET League has an impressive list of NHL alumni including Jim Dowd, Brian and Joey Mullen, Nick Fotiu, Mike Richter, Mark Eaton, Nick Foligno and Mike Komisarek. More recent alumni include Frank DiChiaha (Yale), Ryan Hitchcock (US NTDP, Yale), Matt Beattie (2012 Vancouver Draft Selection), Jeremy Bracco (US NTDP career assists leader), Chandler Yakimowicz (2014 St. Louis Blues Draft Selection) and Kevin Labanc (2014 San Jose Sharks Draft Selection) and many other players that went on to careers in the NHL, AHL other minor pro and NCAA College Hockey. The MET League and its member teams have placed the league on hiatus until such time that a more sensible approach to Junior Hockey can be achieved.

Until then, look for great opportunities in the United States Hockey League (ushl.com), the premier Tier I League in the United States or the North American Hockey League (nahl.com), the only Tier II League in the United States. There opportunities at the Tier III Junior level in the Eastern Hockey League (easternhockeyleague.org). Prospective players and parents should to look closely at any team they might consider, as all Tier III Junior teams are not the same nor are they operated the same.