High school ice hockey in Missouri

High school hockey in Missouri consists of two leagues centered around the two largest cities in the state, St. Louis and Kansas City, Missouri. The majority of the schools are located in the St. Louis metro area, which teams are members of the Mid-States Club Hockey Association (MSCHA), the larger of the two leagues in Missouri. Schools in the northwest, southwest, central, and western portions of Missouri are members of the Mid America High School Hockey League (MAHSHL). High school ice hockey in Missouri is not sanctioned by the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) but instead by USA Hockey.

NHL Alumni

• Ben Bishop (Chaminade)
• Chris Butler (Chaminade)
• Neil Komadoski (Chaminade)
• Yan Stastny (Chaminade)
• Paul Stastny (Chaminade)
• Chris Wideman (Chaminade)
• Matthew Tkachuk (Chaminade)
• Brady Tkachuk (Chaminade)
• Mike McKenna (Parkway South)
• Cal Heeter (Christian Brothers College High School)
• Phil McRae (Christian Brothers College High School)
• Joe Vitale (Christian Brothers College High School)
• Patrick Maroon (Oakville Senior High)
• Brandon Bollig (Francis Howell North)
• Cam Janssen (Eureka)
• Glenn Patrick (Ladue)
• Luke Kunin (Whitfield School)
• Trent Frederic (DeSmet)
• Joseph Woll (Westminster)

Leagues

Mid-States Club Hockey Association (MSCHA)

The Mid-States Club Hockey Association (MSCHA) is the main high school hockey league in Missouri (and is often referred to as Mid-States). The league is made up of teams in the St. Louis metro area, currently all of which are located in Missouri. The MSCHA is a non-profit organization dedicated to the development of high school hockey.

History

Originally known as the Area High School Club Hockey League, the MSCHA was founded in 1971 with significant seed money and sponsorship from Union Electric, as well as support from the St. Louis Blues, including the donation of the Challenge Cup for the league's winner, and free usage of The Arena for the final. At the time, organized youth hockey was experiencing a boom in the St. Louis area, mostly caused by the Blues' arrival and subsequent appearance in three Stanley Cup finals. Eight teams contested that first season, with DeSmet winning the first championship. Of the eight teams that played that first year, only three can claim to have been in every Mid-States season: SLUH, CBC, and DeSmet. The league grew quickly, achieving a high of over 50 teams in its second year (when it also changed its name to the current MSCHA), but it also experienced a high rate of attrition, as clubs were disbanded due to loss of players or the removal of school support. Nevertheless, throughout the 1970s the league enjoyed great success. Plans were tabled for expansion to Kansas City and Columbia, but they were dropped following a dispute over travel costs and the loss of Columbia's ice rinks.

During the 1980s, the league went through several periods of change; a JV league was established for younger players, schools from new population centers such as West St. Louis County and St. Charles County joined. The playoff format was also changed after the 1984 season into the current system.

The 1990s saw a shift in the balance of power from North County teams such as the Hazelwood schools to newer West County sides, as well as those in St. Charles. In addition to new schools quickly forming teams (resulting in a brief experiment in tiered competition), several former clubs rejoined, including charter member Whitfield. Police presence at games was increased, alcohol was barred from the bleachers, and the league began to cooperate further with schools and encourage faculty/administrative presence at games to curb problems in student sections.

The new millennium presented MSCHA with a large set of opportunities: the St. Louis hockey scene was booming, with players such as the Stastny brothers Paul and Yan and goaltender Ben Bishop honing their NHL-bound skills on high school teams. The league had signed a television contract with local cable provider Charter Communications (via its CCIN channel), allowing both league and playoff games, including finals, to be seen in homes around the area. However, a series of ugly incidents cast a shadow on this success, including a Priory skater being concussed from a late hit against Affton, further brawls among fans (most notably at Clayton–Ladue games, where the riot police has been called in several times), and a game where a Zumwalt South player physically assaulted a referee, only to be hit back by the official. Two new post-season competitions were introduced, the Doug Wickenheiser Memorial Cup and Founders Cup, each for teams that finished lower on the league ladder.

League Champions

At the conclusion of the regular season, the teams ranked in the top 12 play a round-robin format playoff leading up to the Challenge Cup championship game. The next 16 ranked teams play a similar round-robin format playoff for the Wickenheiser Memorial Cup. The remaining teams play in a traditional playoff style format for the Founders Cup.

Challenge Cup Champions	Wickenheiser Cup Champions	Founders Cup Champions
2024 - DeSmet 2023 - DeSmet 2022 - SLUH 2021 - CBC 2020 - Vianney 2019 – SLUH 2018 – SLUH 2017 – CBC 2016 – CBC 2015 – CBC 2014 – CBC 2013 – SLUH 2012 – CBC 2011 – Francis Howell Central 2010 – DeSmet 2009 – CBC 2008 – CBC 2007 – CBC 2006 – Oakville 2005 – CBC 2004 – CBC 2003 – CBC 2002 – DeSmet 2001 – CBC 2000 – DeSmet 1999 – DeSmet 1998 – DeSmet 1997 – DeSmet 1996 – Vianney 1995 – Parkway South 1994 – Parkway South 1993 – CBC 1992 – Parkway Central 1991 – Kirkwood 1990 – DeSmet 1989 – DeSmet 1988 – CBC 1987 – CBC 1986 – DeSmet 1985 – DeSmet 1984 – Hazelwood East 1983 – CBC 1982 – Kirkwood 1981 – Kirkwood 1980 – DeSmet 1979 – Vianney 1978 – DeSmet 1977 – Lindbergh 1976 – DeSmet 1975 – Affton 1974 – Kirkwood 1973 – Kirkwood 1972 – DeSmet	2024 - Clayton 2023 - Fort Zumwalt West 2022 - Priory 2021 - Ladue 2020 - Duchesne 2019 – Lafayette 2018 – Westminster 2017 – Westminster 2016 – Marquette 2015 – Francis Howell North 2014 – Rockwood Summit 2013 – Wentzville Holt 2012 – Whitfield 2011 – Wentzville Holt 2010 – Oakville 2009 – MICDS 2008 – Whitfield 2007 – Priory 2006 – Lafayette 2005 – John Burroughs 2004 – Priory 2003 – Belleville (Illinois) Althoff 2002 – Lindbergh 2001 – Lindbergh 2000 – Affton 1999 – no Tier II championship 1998 – no Tier II championship 1997 – John Burroughs 1996 – Rockwood Summit 1995 – Hazelwood Central 1994 – Ladue 1993 – Granite City (Illinois)	2024 - Wentzville Liberty 2023 - Westminster 2022 - Francis Howell Central 2021 - Eureka 2020 - Parkway South 2019 - Eureka 2018 – Whitfield 2017 – Wentzville Holt 2016 – John Burroughs 2015 – John Borroughs 2014 – Whitfield 2013 – Mehlville 2012 – Ladue 2011 – Whitfield 2010 – Wentzville Timberland 2009 – Parkway West 2008 – Parkway Central 2007 – Saint Charles West

Conferences

Central Conference	Municipal Conference	St. Charles Conference	Suburban Conference
Clayton John Burroughs Ladue MICDS Northwest Priory Webster Groves Westminster	CBC Chaminade DeSmet Kirkwood Marquette SLUH Vianney	Duchesne Ft. Zumwalt East Ft. Zumwalt North Ft. Zumwalt West Francis Howell Francis Howell Central St. Dominic Wentzville Holt Wentzville Liberty Wentzville Timberland	Eureka Fox Lafayette Lindbergh Oakville Parkway Central Parkway South Parkway West Rockwood Summit Seckman

Mid America High School Hockey League (MAHSHL)

The league is made up of teams from Arkansas; Oklahoma; northern, western and central Missouri; and teams from eastern and southern Kansas. Established for the 2009–2010 season, the MAHSHL replaces the Kansas City Metro Area High School Hockey League (KCMAHSHL) which ceased operations for 2008–09. The MAHSHL differs from the Mid-States Club Hockey Association, in that only one team is affiliated with a specific high school. The remaining teams are aligned with a group of school districts. A student athlete must play for the team aligned with their attending school district.

The league carries two divisions, a Varsity Division and a Junior Varsity Division.

Teams

• Rockhurst Hawklets
• Springfield Spirit
• Topeka/Saint Joseph Griffons/Jr Pilots
• Wichita Jr Thunder (Kansas)
• Kansas City Fighting Saints
• Kansas City Stars (Kansas)
• Northwest Arkansas Ice Hogs (Arkansas)
• Kansas City Jr. Mavericks
• Mid-Missouri Tigers
• Carriage Club
• Oklahoma City Oil Kings (Oklahoma)

Former teams

The closure of numerous teams in the Kansas City area over a short period of time was primarily driven by the loss of all sheets of ice in the southern portion of the metropolitan area. The King Louie West Ice Chateau on Metcalf Ave in Overland Park, Kansas closed in 2007. In January 2011, Pepsi Ice Midwest on 135th Street in Overland Park, also closed resulting in the loss of the remaining three sheets of ice in the southern Kansas City area. With the loss of King Louie and Pepsi Ice Midwest, there were no longer conveniently located rinks for many of the high school teams that were once part of the Kansas City Metro Area High School Hockey League.

• Blue Valley Tigers
• Blue Valley North Mustangs
• Blue Valley Northwest Huskies
• Blue Valley West Jaguars
• Des Moines Jr. Buccaneers (Iowa)
• Jefferson City Capitals
• Jefferson City Eagles
• Lee's Summit Storm
• Oak Park Northmen
• Olathe East Hawks
• Park Hill South Panthers
• Pembroke Hill Raiders
• Shawnee Mission Northwest Cougars
• Shawnee Mission South Raiders
• St. Joseph Griffons
• St. Pius Warriors
• St. Thomas Aquinas Saints
• Topeka
• Tulsa Flames
• Wichita Warriors

League Champions

Varsity Division	Jr Varsity Division
2021 - Springfield Spirit 2020 - Carriage Club 2019 – Springfield Spirit 2018 – Wichita Jr. Thunder 2017 – Wichita Jr. Thunder 2016 – Springfield Spirit 2015 – Springfield Spirit 2014 – NW Arkansas Ice Hogs 2013 – Rockhurst High School 2012 – NW Arkansas Ice Hogs 2011 – Springfield Spirit 2010 – Springfield Spirit	2021 - Carriage Club 2020 - Wichita Jr Thunder 2019 – NW Arkansas Ice Hogs 2018 – St. Joseph Griffons 2017 – Carriage Club 2016 – Wichita Warriors 2015 – Springfield Spirit 2014 – Mid Missouri Tigers 2013 – Wichita Warriors 2012 – Wichita Warriors 2011 – Wichita Warriors 2010 – Wichita Warriors

All Conference Selections

During the 2020-21 season, the MAHSHL Board of Directors convened to hold their inaugural MAHSHL All-Conference selections. At the Varsity level, each coach nominated players from their representative teams in each position (center, left and right wings, defensemen, and goaltenders) and the other coaches voted on those nominations to fill the 20 selections. No coach was allowed to vote for their own nominations.

Player selections by year:

All Conference Selections

2021: CENTERS - Dominic Luevano (KC Saints), Tyler Caine (Springfield Spirit), Cody Hodgden (KC Stars [B]), Easton Norris (Wichita Jr Thunder); RIGHT WING - Gavin Loven (Springfield Spirit), Sean Hsu (NWA Ice Hogs), Luke Steiner (KC Stars [B]), Andrew Finn (Rockhurst Hawklets); LEFT WING - Wyatt Wirth (Springfield Spirit), Luke Hsu (NWA Ice Hogs), Jack Przybylski (KC Stars [B]), Gavin Davis (KC Saints); DEFENSEMEN - Darrell Smith (Wichita Jr Thunder), Nick Dannegger (Springfield Spirit), Henry Apostolakos (KC Saints), Noble Oxford (Rockhurst Hawklets), Charlie Zwillenberg (Carriage Club), John Brown (Springfield Spirit); GOALTENDERS - Zane Lutzke (Springfield Spirit), Jake Phillips (OKC Oil Kings)

External links

• Mid States Club Hockey Association