The Atlantic Junior Hockey League was part of the Atlantic Metropolitan Hockey League organization and was formed in 2003 with a stated goal to "meet the needs of the junior hockey community and the players it serves in the Eastern United States". The AtJHL played its first season in 2003–04 with six teams that had previously played in theJunior BMetropolitan Junior Hockey League. On May 30, 2012 the AtJHL announced that after nine years of being a part of the Atlantic Metropolitan Hockey League, the 12 AtJHL ownership groups successfully became a stand-alone entity. After the split, the AtJHL was managed and governed solely by the league owners.
In December 2014, the EHL announced the Connecticut Nighthawks as an expansion franchise to start in the 2015–16. They also announced the formation of theEHL-Elite Division and that eight teams would participate in the first season composed of the former Junior B teams for EHL organizations. The formation of the Elite Division led to the previous Junior A members to be placed in theEHL-Premier Division. In May 2015, theNorth American Hockey League, aTier II league, announced that theNew Jersey Junior Titans and theWilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights had been approved to elevate their organizations. After their promotion, the two EHL franchises went dormant.[4]
In March 2016, the EHL announced that it was changing the name of the Elite Division to19U Elite Division for the 2016–17 season and doubling in size by adding eight more teams, mostly the prospect teams from the Premier Division's South Conference teams.[5] However, the 19U Elite Connecticut Nighthawks team were dropped from the schedule prior to their first season.
In December 2016, it was announced that six organizations (theBoston Bandits, Connecticut Nighthawks,Hartford Jr. Wolfpack,New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs,New Jersey Rockets, and theNorthern Cyclones) would be leaving the EHL for the 2017–18 season for theUnited States Premier Hockey League (USPHL).[6] The Bandits, Rockets, and Cyclones had already been announced as adding free-to-play teams in the USPHL's National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC) for the 2017–18 season.[7] All six organizations will add their Premier and Elite teams to the USPHL's Premier and Elite Divisions.
In February 2017, the EHL announced that they would expand[8] to make up for the teams lost to the NCDC. The first team announced was New Hampshire Avalanche, an organization that previously only had youth teams. Next, it was announced the league would be adding the teams from theNorth American 3 Atlantic Hockey League (the former Metropolitan Junior Hockey League). The six teams from the NA3AHL were the Central Penn Panthers, Jersey Wildcats, Long Island Royals, Metro Fighting Moose (who left for the USHPL after the announcement), New Jersey Renegades, and the return of theWilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights. The league also listed the New Jersey 87's and Cape Cod-based Total Athletics. The one-year dormant New York Bobcats also returned as the Bobcats Royals as part of an organizational merger with the Long Island Jr. Royals of the NA3AHL. The Connecticut Oilers relocated from Norwalk to Hamden following the announcement that the ownership of the USHL'sCedar Rapids RoughRiders added a team called the Connecticut RoughRiders that will play out of the Oilers' former arena in Norwalk.[9]
In March 2017, the EHL announced their new divisional structure for the 2017–18 season with 16 teams in the Premier and 17 in the Elite,[10] although the Elite would decrease to 13 after the departures of the Connecticut Oilers Elite team, the Lehigh Valley Jr. Rebels, Long Island Royals, and Metro Moose. In May 2017, the league announced that they would reorganize their two-tier league with the top tier (formerly called the Premier) being only called the Eastern Hockey League and the lower tier being called the Eastern Hockey League Premier Division. The naming conventions were changed to put the emphasis on the top-level league for college development.[11]
In 2022, the EHL announced it would be self-governed and withdrew fromUSA Hockey sanctioning.[12]
Connecticut Nighthawks — EHL, 2015–2017. Joined the USPHL and its National Collegiate Development Conference.
Connecticut Chiefs — EHL 2017–2024. Franchise purchased and relocated to Simsbury and re-branded Connecticut Nor'Easter.
Connecticut Oilers — EHL 2013–2017 Re-branded to Connecticut Chiefs in 2017.
Hartford Jr. Wolfpack — Charter member of the AtJHL/EHL, 2003–2017. Joined the USPHL Premier Division.
Hudson Valley Eagles — AtJHL, 2005–2007.
Jersey Shore Wildcats — EHL Premier, 2017–18. Joined from the NA3AHL in 2017, not listed in 2018.
Lehigh Valley Jr. Rebels — 19U Elite Division, 2016–17. Returned with an EHL team in 2018–19, but were removed by the league early into the season due to using an ineligible player.[13]
Maine Eclipse — EHL/EHLP, 2020–2021. Initially announced as the Keene Eclipse, based out ofKeene, New Hampshire, in the EHL and EHL Premier for the 2020–21 season, but relocated before the season toBiddeford, Maine.[14] The Eclipse then withdrew about halfway through the season. Returned for the 2021–22 season, but were removed from the schedule after four games played by the EHL team and three by the EHLP team.
Laconia Leafs — AtJHL, 2005–2013. Renamed New Hampshire Lakers but went dormant for 2013–14 season. Relocated toWaterville Valley, New Hampshire, in 2014 and returned as the New England Wolves.
New Jersey Junior Titans — Charter member of AtJHL, 2003–04. AtJHL team dormant from 2004 to 2012. Returned from 2012 to 2015. EHL team went dormant again in 2015 after organization joined theNAHL.
New Jersey Renegades - (2017-2025) EHL Premier move to theUSPHL Premier League
New Jersey Rockets — AtJHL/EHL, 2004–2017. Joined the USPHL and its National Collegiate Development Conference.
New York Bobcats — Charter member of AtJHL, 2003–2016. Was not listed for the 2016–17 season but returned in 2017 as the New York Bobcats Royals as part of their merge with the Long Island Jr. Royals. Not listed again for 2018–19.
New York Bridgemen — EHLP, 2019–20. Not listed as a member of the EHL Premier in the 2020–21 season.
North Carolina Golden Bears — EHL, 2018–2020. Golden Bears were not listed as a member for the 2020–21 season.
North Jersey Avalanche — Charter member of AtJHL, 2003–04. Returned to only fielding a team in theMetropolitan Junior Hockey League in 2004.
Northern Cyclones — AtJHL/EHL, 2004–2017. Joined the USPHL and its National Collegiate Development Conference.
Philadelphia Junior Flyers — AtJHL/EHL, 2008–2020. Junior Flyers were not listed as fielding a junior team in the EHL in 2020–21.
Philadelphia Revolution — EHL/EHLP, 2013–2020. Joined from the Eastern Junior Hockey League (EJHL) in 2013; were not listed as fielding a junior team in the EHL or the EPHL in 2020–21.
2024–25 EHL season
