The Eastern Hockey League boasts teams in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic United States, officially becoming the EHL on June 6, 2013, after the Atlantic Junior Hockey League welcomed six new members from the Eastern Junior Hockey League and the AtJHL re-branded itself under the EHL banner.

Over the past 13 seasons, the EHL has not only proven to be a top supplier of talent to NCAA schools, but the league has taken steps to grow at a rate that doesn’t water down the league’s talent pool.

For the 2026-27 season, the league will field 17 teams at the EHL level and another 13 one rung below at the EHL Premier level.

And while franchises have come and gone since 2013, as has been the case in many junior hockey leagues at all levels in North America, the EHL continues to thrive with the support of committed team ownership across the league that puts player development above all other reasons.

“Let’s be honest – there are a lot of junior hockey teams across the United States and many in our markets,” said EHL commissioner Neil Ravin. “What we have built over the last 13 years has been extraordinary. We vet every application that comes our way and have high standards as to what programs can join our league. I’ve seen other leagues pretty much allow anyone to join and in my opinion, that dilutes the talent pool for those leagues. You have so many teams, but only so many players that are junior hockey caliber.

“In the EHL, we take players that have shown and put in the effort that they want to be junior hockey players with an eye on playing in college. Our team staffs are on the page, too, where they want to work with and develop players to achieve their goals. It might be cliche, but it’s true. The organizations that have been here since Day 1 or pretty close to that have exhibited amazing work ethic and the will to define what junior hockey truly is. We don’t bring teams on to make a quick buck or to boost numbers. I don’t think you can say that about other leagues in this country.”

The league created the EHL Premier division starting with the 2015-16 season and then started self-governance with the 2022-23 season, all aspects of the league that were agreed upon by league and team officials.

“Maybe we’re old school, but we listen to our teams and always take into consideration any suggestions or concerns they may have when it comes to expansion or the operations of the league, and then we present that to the rest of the league,” Ravin said. “We’d rather have our 30 teams where everyone is on the same page rather than 100 teams where it’s just a free for all. In my eyes, more isn’t always better.”

Ravin also said that when expansion talks start, a thorough background check and interview process takes place with everyone involved with a potential new club. The new team has to fit within the league footprint and be on board with the mission of the league.

Sometimes, the team is and sometimes, the team isn’t.

“What has made us so sustainable over the years has been our operations and communication,” said Ravin. “If you don’t have structure, accountability or constant conversations, you’re doomed. We hold all three of those in the highest regard and that’s one of the reasons why we get players that want to play here rather than players that see a junior league as a last resort.

“Our players choose to be here. And there are many reasons for that and all of them revolve around the players and making their junior experience an unforgattable one.”

For more, visit EasternHockeyLeague.org.

Photo/MiaSara McLaughlin

— Matt Mackinder

(August 2, 2026)