With the state of Pennsylvania being quite close to the Canadian border it’s not surprising to find there are several major hockey teams located there. This includes franchises in the NHL, AHL (American Hockey League) and the OHL (Ontario Hockey League). In this article, I take a closer look at the top hockey clubs in Pennsylvania.
What NHL Teams are in Pennsylvania?
There are two NHL state rivals in Pennsylvania as the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers are located there. They both joined the league in the 1967/68 season when it doubled in size from six to 12 teams and they compete in the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference.
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Penguins play their home games at PPG Paints Arena, which can hold just over 18,000 fans for ice hockey. The team moved there in 2010 after previously playing at the Civic Arena, which was nicknamed the Igloo. The franchise is affiliated with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the AHL as well as the Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL (formerly the East Coast Hockey League).
The team has reached the Stanley Cup Final six times and won the trophy on five occasions in 1990/91, 1991/92, 2008/09, 2015/16 and 2016/17. The only Final they have lost came in 2007/08 when they were eliminated by the Detroit Red Wings in six games.
The club is tied with the Edmonton Oilers for the most Stanley Cup titles for a post-1967 expansion team and their six championships rank number six in NHL history. They became the first team to win back-to-back cups in the salary cap era, and several former players are in the Hockey Hall of Fame, including:
- Mario Lemieux,
- Andy Bathgate,
- Leo Boivin,
- Paul Coffey,
- Ron Francis,
- Tim Horton,
- Marian Hossa,
- Jarome Iginla,
- Joe Mullen,
- Larry Murphy,
- Mark Recchi,
- Luc Robitaille,
- Bryan Trottier
- and Sergei Zubov.
The Penguins won the Presidents’ Trophy in 1991/92 as the league’s top regular-season squad and have captured nine Division and six Conference Championships.
Philadelphia Flyers
The Flyers, who are nicknamed ‘The Broad Street Bullies,’ play out of the Wells Fargo Center, which has a capacity of 20,306 for hockey. The team’s first home was the old Philadelphia Spectrum from 1967 to 2006. The Flyers were the first post-1967 expansion team to hoist the Stanley Cup as they won it in 1973/74 and followed it up with another title the very next season in 1974/75.
They reached the Stanley Cup final again the next year but were swept in four games by the Montreal Canadiens. The Flyers also lost in the Final series in 1979/80, 1984/85, 1986/87, 1996/97 and 2009/10.
The club has won eight Conference Finals and 16 Divisional Championships but surprisingly has yet to win the Presidents’ Trophy.
There are several ex-Flyers’ players in the Hockey Hall of Fame such as:
- Bill Barber,
- Bobby Clarke,
- Paul Coffey,
- Peter Forsberg,
- Dale Hawerchuk,
- Mark Howe,
- Eric Lindros,
- Adam Oates,
- Bernie Parent,
- Chris Pronger,
- Mark Recchi,
- Darryl Sittler
- and Allan Stanley.
The Flyers are affiliated with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the AHL and the Reading Royals of the ECHL.
What AHL Teams are in Pennsylvania?
There are three AHL clubs in Pennsylvania as the Penguins and Flyers each have a team close by.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
The Penguins are affiliated with the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL and play in the Eastern Conference’s Atlantic Division. They play their home games at the 8,300-seat Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre Township, just outside of the city of Wilkes-Barre.
The franchise which is nicknamed ‘The Baby Penguins,’ captured the Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy on two occasions (2010/11 and 2016/17) for being the top regular-season team in the AHL. The team joined the AHL in 1999 and has reached the Calder Cup Final three times but lost on each occasion in 2000/01, 2003/04 and 2007/08.
However, the Penguins have won four Conference Titles and three Division Titles. The franchise was formerly known as the Fredericton Express from 1981 to 1988, the Halifax Citadels from 1988 to 1993 and the Cornwall Aces from 1993 to 1996.
Hershey Bears
The Hershey Bears are an affiliate of the NHL’s Washington Capitals and the South Carolina Stingrays of the ECHL and compete in the Eastern Conference’s Atlantic Division. The franchise was founded way back in 1932 by famous chocolate maker Milton S. Hershey and was originally known as the Hershey Hockey Club. The team is based in the town of Hershey, Pennsylvania and has played in the AHL since 1938/39.
This makes the Bears the longest continuously-operating team in the league which still plays in its original city. Since 2002, Hershey have played their home games at the 10,500-seat Giant Center. They previously played at the Hersheypark Arena between 1938 and 2002.
The franchise has won an AHL-record 12 Calder Cups with the most recent coming in 2022/23. It has also won 18 Divisional Crowns, 24 Conference Titles and has been the AHL’s top regular season team eight times.
Lehigh Valley Phantoms
The Lehigh Valley Phantoms are affiliated with the Philadelphia Flyers and the Reading Royals of the ECHL. The club was founded in 1996 as the Philadelphia Phantoms and changed its name to the Adirondack Phantoms from 2009 to 2014 when the team was located in New York State in Glens Falls. The franchise then moved back to Pennsylvania in 2014 under its current name. As the Lehigh Phantoms the team has won one Divisional Title in 2017/18.
The club is located in the city of Allentown, Pennsylvania and plays in the Eastern Conference’s Atlantic Division with its home games being held at the 8,500-seat PPL Center. As the Philadelphia Phantoms, the franchise won two Calder Cups (1997/98 and 2004/05) as well as four Divisional Titles and two Conference Titles. The team was also the best in the regular season in 1996/97 and 1997/98. As the Adirondack Phantoms, the squad failed to make the playoffs in its five seasons.
What OHL Teams are in Pennsylvania?
Erie Otters
The Erie Otters are located in the city of Erie, Pennsylvania and play in the Midwest Division of the OHL (Ontario Hockey League). The Otters are one of just three American franchises in the Canadian-based league. The current outfit was founded in 1996, but the history of the franchise dates back to 1946.
The club was known as the Windsor Spitfires from 1946 to 1953, the Hamilton Tiger Cubs from 1953 to 1960, the Hamilton Red Wings from 1960 to 1974, the Hamilton/St. Catharines Fincups from 1974 to 1978, the Brantford Alexanders from 1978 to 1984, the Hamilton Steelhawks from 1984 to 1988 and the Niagara Falls Thunder from 1988 to 1996. since moving to Erie, the team has won two OHL Championships, six Division Titles and three Conference Championships. They also had the league’s best regular-season record three times.
What ECHL Teams are in Pennsylvania?
Reading Royals
The Reading Royals of the ECHL compete in the North Division of the league’s Eastern Conference and are located in the city of Reading, Pennsylvania. The team plays its home games at the 7,160-seat Santander Arena in the downtown area. The Royals hoisted the Kelly Cup in 2012/13 by beating the Stockton Thunder in five games and have won five Divisional Titles and one Conference Crown.
The franchise was founded in 1991 as the Columbus Chill and won two Conference Titles while playing in Columbus, Ohio. The Chill franchise relocated to Reading for the 2001/02 season and changed its name and are affiliated with the Philadelphia Flyers and the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the ECHL.
What Junior Hockey Teams are in Pennsylvania?
Pittsburgh Vengeance (USPHL Premier – Tier II)
The Pittsburgh Vengeance is a non-sanctioned junior hockey team which plays in the Great Lakes Conference of the Premier Division in the USPHL (United States Premier Hockey League). The team is located in Harmar Township, Pennsylvania and plays its home contests at the Alpha Ice Complex, outside of Pittsburgh.
The squad was known as the Pittsburgh Jr. Penguins from 1997 to 2012 and began play in 1997 in the Metro Junior A Hockey League. The team’s name was changed to the Three Rivers Vengeance in 2012 and became the Pittsburgh Vengeance in 2013. It joined the USPHL in 2018.
Philadelphia Rebels (NAHL – Tier II Junior)
The Philadelphia Rebels Tier II junior hockey team competes in the NAHL (North American Hockey League) but actually plays its home games at the Hollydell Ice Arena in Washington Township, which is located in Gloucester County, New Jersey. The franchise began as the Wenatchee Wild and played out of Wenatchee, Washington, before moving to Hidalgo, Texas where it was renamed the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees.
The team relocated to Aston, Pennsylvania, in 2015 and became the Aston Rebels. Two years later the club moved to the Class of 1923 Arena, located in Philadelphia at the University of Pennsylvania and was named the Philadelphia Rebels. After just one season they were on the move again and landed at in Jamestown, New York, becoming the Jamestown Rebels. In May, 2022 the franchise headed back to the Philadelphia area. Since its inception, the team has won three Divisional Titles and one regular-season championship.
Johnstown Tomahawks (NAHL – Tier II Junior)
The Tier II Junior Johnstown Tomahawks play in the East Division of the NAHL. They’re based in the city of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and play out of the 1st Summit Bank Arena. The franchise was founded in 1990 as the Dearborn Magic and was located in Dearborn, Michigan. They were renamed the Michigan Nationals in 1991 and then the Dearborn Heights Nationals in 1994.
The club moved in 1996 and became the St. Louis Sting and relocated to Springfield, Missouri, in 2001 and became the Springfield Spirit. The next stop was Wasilla, Alaska, in 2005 where they were renamed the Wasilla Spirit and then the Alaska Avalanche.
The franchise arrived in Johnstown in 2012 to take over when the ECHL’s Johnstown Chiefs headed to Greenville, South Carolina. The Tomahawks won the regular-season title and the East Division Playoff Championship in 2018/19.
What NCAA Hockey Teams are in Pennsylvania?
There are a bunch of NCAA hockey teams in Pennsylvania, here they all are listed:
| Team | Location |
|---|---|
| Geneva Golden Tornadoes | Beaver Falls, PA |
| Washington & Jefferson Presidents | Washington, PA |
| Waynesburg Yellow Jackets | Waynesburg, PA |
| Westminster Titans | New Wilmington, PA |
| Thiel Tomcats | Greenville, PA |
| Robert Morris Colonials | Moon Township, PA |
| Chatham Cougars | Pittsburgh, PA |
| La Roche College Redhawks | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Duquesne Dukes | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Grove City Wolverines | Grove City, PA |
| Pittsburgh Panthers | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Slippery Rock The Rock | Slippery Rock, PA |
| Carnegie-Mellon Tartans | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Allegheny Gators | Meadville, PA |
| California (PA) Vulcans | California, PA |
| Edinboro Fighting Scots | Edinboro, PA |
| Gannon Golden Knights | Erie, PA |
| Penn State Behrend Lions | Erie, PA |
| Mercyhurst Lakers | Erie, PA |
| Seton Hill Griffins | Greensburg, PA |
| Pittsburgh-Greensburg Bobcats | Greensburg, PA |
| St. Vincent Bearcats | Latrobe, PA |
| Clarion Golden Eagles | Clarion, PA |
| Indiana (PA) Crimson Hawks | Indiana, PA |
| Penn State New Kensington Nittany Lions | New Kensington, PA |
| Pittsburgh-Johnstown Mountain Cats | Johnstown, PA |
| Penn State DuBois Nittany Lions | DuBois, PA |
| Saint Francis Red Flash | Loretto, PA |
| Mt Aloysius College Mounties | Cresson, PA |
| Pittsburgh-Bradford Panthers | Bradford, PA |
| Penn State Altoona Lions | Altoona, PA |
| Juniata Eagles | Huntingdon, PA |
| Penn State Nittany Lions | State College, PA |
| Wilson Phoenix | Chambersburg, PA |
| Shippensburg Raiders | Shippensburg, PA |
| Lock Haven Bald Eagles | Lock Haven, PA |
| Gettysburg Bullets | Gettysburg, PA |
| Dickinson Red Devils | Carlisle, PA |
| Messiah College Falcons | Mechanicsburg, PA |
| Central Penn College Knights | Summerdale, PA |
| Penn College Wildcats | Williamsport, PA |
| Lycoming Warriors | Williamsport, PA |
| Mansfield University of Pennsylvania Mountaineers | Mansfield, PA |
| Bucknell Bison | Lewisburg, PA |
| Susquehanna River Hawks | Selinsgrove, PA |
| York College of Pennsylvania Spartans | York, PA |
| Penn State Harrisburg Lions | Middletown, PA |
| Penn State York Lions | York, PA |
| Elizabethtown College Blue Jays | Elizabethtown, PA |
| Lebanon Valley Flying Dutchmen | Annville, PA |
| Bloomsburg Huskies | Bloomsburg, PA |
| Millersville Marauders | Millersville, PA |
| Franklin & Marshall Diplomats | Lancaster, PA |
| Lancaster Bible College Chargers | Lancaster, PA |
| York (Pa.) College Spartans | York, PA |
| Penn State Berks Nittany Lions | Reading, PA |
| Lincoln Lions | Lincoln University, PA |
| Alvernia Golden Wolves | Reading, PA |
| Albright Lions | Reading, PA |
| Misericordia Cougars | Dallas, PA |
| Wilkes Colonels | Wilkes-Barre, PA |
| King’s Monarchs | Wilkes-Barre, PA |
| Kutztown Golden Bears | Kutztown, PA |
| Keystone Giants | La Plume, PA |
| West Chester Golden Rams | West Chester, PA |
| Clarks Summit University Defenders | Clarks Summit, PA |
| Marywood Pacers | Scranton, PA |
| Scranton Royals | Scranton, PA |
| Immaculata U. Mighty Macs | Immaculata, PA |
| Cheyney U. Wolves | Cheyney, PA |
| Muhlenberg Mules | Allentown, PA |
| Cedar Crest College Falcons | Allentown, PA |
| Ursinus Bears | Collegeville, PA |
| Neumann U. Knights | Aston, PA |
| Penn State Schuylkill Nittany Lions | Schuylkill Haven, PA |
| DeSales U. Bulldogs | Center Valley, PA |
| Eastern Eagles | St. Davids, PA |
| Moravian Greyhounds | Bethlehem, PA |
| Lehigh Mountain Hawks | Bethlehem, PA |
| Cabrini College Cavaliers | Radnor, PA |
| Widener Pride | Chester, PA |
| Swarthmore Garnet | Swarthmore, PA |
| Villanova Wildcats | Villanova, PA |
| Rosemont College Ravens | Rosemont, PA |
| Haverford College Fords | Haverford, PA |
| Bryn Mawr College Owls | Bryn Mawr, PA |
| Gwynedd-Mercy College Griffins | Gwynedd Valley, PA |
| Penn State Hazleton Nittany Lions | Hazleton, PA |
| Penn Quakers | Philadelphia, PA |
| Lafayette Leopards | Easton, PA |
| Penn State Wilkes-Barre Nittany Lions | Lehman, PA |
| Chestnut Hill Griffins | Philadelphia, PA |
| Drexel Dragons | Philadelphia, PA |
| Holy Family Tigers | Philadelphia, PA |
| Saint Joseph’s Hawks | Philadelphia, PA |
| U of Sciences Devils | Philadelphia, PA |
| Thomas Jefferson Rams | Philadelphia, PA |
| La Salle Explorers | Philadelphia, PA |
| Temple Owls | Philadelphia, PA |
| Arcadia U. Knights | Glenside, PA |
| East Stroudsburg Warriors | East Stroudsburg, PA |
| Delaware Valley Aggies | Doylestown, PA |
| Penn State Abington Nittany Lions | Abington, PA |
| Bryn Athyn College Lions | Bryn Athyn, PA |
| Cairn U. Highlanders | Langhorne, PA |
| Penn State Brandywine Lions | Media, PA |
Who Are Some Famous NHL Players from Pennsylvania?
There have been several famous NHL players who were born in the state of Pennsylvania over the years including:
- Brandon Saad,
- Vincent Trochek,
- R.J. Umberger,\
- Ryan Malone,
- Gerry O’Flaherty,
- Bob Beers,
- Sam Lafferty,
- Mike Richter,
- Ryan Malone,
- George Parros,
- John Gibson,
- Jay Caufield,
- and Matt Bartkowski.
Is Hockey a Popular Sport in Pennsylvania?
With Pennsylvania hosting a pair of NHL teams, three in the AHL, one in the ECHL and OHL, as well as three major junior squads and several more in the NCAA, it’s pretty safe to say that, yes, the sport of ice hockey is quite popular in the state.
The first NHL team to play there was the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1925. They became the Philadelphia Quakers in 1930/31 after relocating and then folded after one season. The Penguins and Flyers then joined the league in 1967, still strong today.
Big names like Mario Lemieux, Sidney Crosby, Eric Lindros, and Jaromir Jagr have certainly had a significant impact on hockey in Pennsylvania.
See what hockey teams are in other locations here:
- What Hockey Teams are in Texas? (NHL, AHL, and NCAA)
- What Hockey Teams are in California? (NHL, AHL, & NCAA)
- What Hockey Teams are in Wisconsin? (AHL, NCAA, & Jr)
- How Many NHL Teams are in Canada? (Every Team Listed)
Jamie is the founder of Hockey Response and he is the chief writer/ lead editor. Jamie has been playing hockey for over 20 years. He was the defenseman of the year in NL and has played Jr A level hockey. Jamie has coached several kids hockey camps and he was the assistant coach of the Western Kings.