Metropolitan Boston Hockey League
The Metropolitan Boston Hockey League was a youth hockey league founded March 31, 1977, and incorporated in Massachusetts in August 1979. The MBHL was unique in youth hockey. The MBHL was classified as an "AAA" or "Tier I" league. Within the league, modified NCAA rules were played, the same as in U.S. college hockey. Slapshots and body checking were allowed at all age levels. The league believed that it was critical to develop those skills before young players had a chance to develop bad habits in their absence. A core belief of the MBHL was that  hockey should be “played the way hockey is meant to be played, at any age and by either gender.” The league was also open to young women who felt they were physically capable to "play Metro" with and against boys. MBHL league play began the first weekend after Labor Day and concluded with playoffs in late March of the following year. No other Minor hockey organization in North America—or the world, permitted body checking or slapshots as early as the Mite level. The MBHL had Twenty Two original organizations (some teams changed the team names): Assabet Valley Patriots, Acton  Colonials, Bay State Sharks, formerly the Plymouth County All Stars, North Shore Raiders, Hobomock U.S.A. (became New England Falcons, now Bridgewater Bandits), The Worcester Crusaders, UMass Lowell River Hawks men's ice hockey (formerly Lowell Chiefs, then West River Wolves), Mass Bay Chiefs, formerly St. Moritz Devils and the Springfield Pics. The Bay State Breakers, Boston Jr. Eagles, Boston Jr. Terriers, West River Wolves, Bridgewater Bandits, Middlesex Islanders, Minuteman Flames, Providence Capitals (formerly Providence Friars), South Shore Kings, Merrimack Cardinals, and Top Gun all left the MBHL in 2004 for the Eastern Hockey Federation. Upon the league's discontinuation after  the end of the 2008–2009 season, most remaining teams transferred to the New England Hockey League, which has since been split into the Boston Hockey League and the Elite 9 Hockey League. Teams. The MBHL had 9 Member Organization in its last season (see table at bottom). High school programs fed. The MBHL feeds many High School programs. Notable MBHL player alumni. NHL, AHL, other pro, NCAA Div I, or drafted Ron Haines [ice hockey]