History of the Iowa/Midwest High School Hockey League
High school hockey teams from around Iowa came together in the fall of 1976 to organize the Iowa High School Hockey League. Prior to that time, the Des Moines Metro High School League boasted 6 club teams. Other established teams were playing in Ames, Mason City and Sioux City. Two Waterloo teams, Columbus and Warriors, were granted Varsity status in the fall of 1975—the only teams to ever be granted such status in the League’s history. In all, eleven teams were placed in two divisions: Dowling, Hoover-Roosevelt, Urbandale and Valley, all from Des Moines, joined Sioux City and the two Waterloo teams to form Division I; fledgling teams from Ames, Ankeny, Mason City and Des Moines Lincoln made up Division II. Waterloo Columbus Sailors captured both titles in the inaugural 1976-1977 season with a 10-2-0 regular-season record, and bested the Des Moines Dowling Maroons 5-2 in the championship game of the state tournament at Hilton Coliseum in Ames.
The League saw many milestones during the 1980s. On February 23, 1982, the Waterloo Warriors and Columbus faced off at McElroy Auditorium in front of 3,800 high school hockey fans. Columbus edged the Warriors 3-2. The first All-Star game was held January 21, 1986, at the North Iowa Recreational Center in Mason City. This marked the first of nine years in a row that the event would be held in conjunction with the United States Hockey League All-Star game. The Jr. Varsity program served to develop players for Varsity-level play until the 1989-1990 season when it became a formal program structured after the Varsity program, complete with statistics, standings and awards presented at a year-end tournament.
As more out-of-state teams joined the League, officials felt that a name change was in order. After 30 years as the Iowa High School Hockey League, a more inclusive moniker, “Midwest High School Hockey League” debuted in 2006-2007.
The practice of rotating the Varsity and Jr. Varsity tournaments among the teams’ home rinks ended in 2009 with centralized tournaments in Ames. Two important non-League events occurred at the end of the 2009-2010 season: 1. Despite the Chicago Showcase being renamed America's Showcase and moving to Pittsburgh, the League continued to actively participate in this prestigious event. In 2018 the Showcase returned to middle America - St. Louis, Missouri. 2. USA Hockey inaugurated the High School National Championships. The League’s first representative was regular-season champion, Des Moines Capitals. MHSHL teams have proven to be contenders every year they have participated. The Omaha Jr. Lancers hosted this rotating tournament in 2014. In 2018 the MHSHL reached its highest post-season success in the League’s history, when the Sioux City Metros captured the USA Hockey High School Division 2 National Championship in Plymouth, Minnesota. (Division 2 teams are comprised of players from multiple high schools.) The Metros made their way through the 16-team field of top high school teams from around the country to reach the title game where they overcame a 2-0 deficit, edging Monarch, Colorado, 3-2. In 2021 the Omaha Jr. Lancers captured the League’s second USA Hockey High School Division 2 National Championship in three seasons. (the tournament was cancelled in 2020 due to Covid-19.) Omaha advanced to the championship game after edging Dubuque 3-2 in the semifinals. In the title game, Omaha overcame an early three-goal deficit to defeat the Capistrano, California Coyotes 5-4 in overtime. Omaha hosted the national tournament for the second time. Consistent management has enabled the League to function successfully. Team-appointed Representatives make up the League’s Board of Directors who elect an Executive Committee to act on behalf of the Board and the League. The goals of the League are to organize and maintain an ongoing program for high school hockey players that improves proficiency and encourages sportsmanship while acknowledging the importance of academics and individual development. Thus, the slogan: “Competitive high school hockey scoring big on family and academic values.” For a complete history of the Iowa/Midwest High School Hockey League, www.mhshl.com |
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