Midwest Elite Hockey League
Encyclopedia
The Midwest Elite Hockey League (MWEHL) is located primarily in the Midwest United States
and is the premier amateur youth hockey
league in the United States
. Players from all over the country move to the area where the teams are located to gain exposure and skill development needed for higher levels. Many of the leagues top players go on to compete in Major Junior
, Tier I Jr Hockey
, NCAA Hockey, NHL
, and other professional leagues. The MWEHL showcase tournaments and games are heavily scouted by scouts from the USHL
, NCAA schools, and the OHL
due to the convenience of seeing many top players in one game or weekend.
and acts as a development system for the country's top youth players.
Each team will play 46 games with 2 home and 2 away inter division games as well as 6 showcases with each division hosting 3 showcases and travel to each other's showcase once.
As well as providing excellent competition for the teams within the league, the new format will also reduce the travel costs for the organizations. The Midget Major (U18) teams play a rigorous tournament schedule that will now be in part replaced by the showcases that are included in the league schedule. The new Midget league will fly under the MWEHL banner using its rules and policies. USA Hockey will monitor the new league and its development.
The MWEHL plans to expand the new format to the Midget Minor (U16) level next season and in the future to all levels.
For the 2009-2010 Season the league added an Eastern Division with the addition of five teams from the northeast US.
Chicago Division:
Mid American Division:
West Division:
East Division:
MWEHL Girls Division Champions 2007-2008
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and is the premier amateur youth hockey
Hockey
Hockey is a family of sports in which two teams play against each other by trying to maneuver a ball or a puck into the opponent's goal using a hockey stick.-Etymology:...
league in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Players from all over the country move to the area where the teams are located to gain exposure and skill development needed for higher levels. Many of the leagues top players go on to compete in Major Junior
Canadian Hockey League
The Canadian Hockey League is an umbrella organization that represents the three Canadian-based major junior ice hockey leagues for players 16 to 20 years of age. The CHL was founded in 1975 as the Canadian Major Junior Hockey League, and is composed of its three member leagues, the Western Hockey...
, Tier I Jr Hockey
Junior ice hockey
Junior hockey is a catch-all term used to describe various levels of ice hockey competition for players generally between 16 and 20 years of age...
, NCAA Hockey, NHL
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
, and other professional leagues. The MWEHL showcase tournaments and games are heavily scouted by scouts from the USHL
United States Hockey League
The United States Hockey League is the top junior ice hockey league in the United States. The USHL has 16 member teams located in the Midwestern United States, consisting of players who are 20 years of age and younger...
, NCAA schools, and the OHL
Ontario Hockey League
The Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada....
due to the convenience of seeing many top players in one game or weekend.
League format
The MWEHL acts as an umbrella organization for the league's teams which compete at various levels of youth hockey from Squirt Minor to Midget Major 18U. The league also operates three girls levels. The MWEHL is sanctioned by USA HockeyUSA Hockey
USA Hockey is recognized by the International Olympic Committee and the United States Olympic Committee as the governing body for amateur ice hockey in the United States and is a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation. The organization is based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and has...
and acts as a development system for the country's top youth players.
League History
The Midwest Elite Hockey league launched a new Midget Major league,the Tier I Elite Hockey League for the 2008-2009 season. The MWEHL also re-aligned the league and will consist of 6 divisions of and 32 teams:Each team will play 46 games with 2 home and 2 away inter division games as well as 6 showcases with each division hosting 3 showcases and travel to each other's showcase once.
As well as providing excellent competition for the teams within the league, the new format will also reduce the travel costs for the organizations. The Midget Major (U18) teams play a rigorous tournament schedule that will now be in part replaced by the showcases that are included in the league schedule. The new Midget league will fly under the MWEHL banner using its rules and policies. USA Hockey will monitor the new league and its development.
The MWEHL plans to expand the new format to the Midget Minor (U16) level next season and in the future to all levels.
For the 2009-2010 Season the league added an Eastern Division with the addition of five teams from the northeast US.
Tier I Elite Hockey League Teams
Detroit Division:- Detroit Belle Tire (Taylor, MichiganTaylor, MichiganTaylor is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 63,131 at the 2010 census. Taylor was originally known as Taylor Township and residents of the township voted to incorporate as the City of Taylor in May 1968...
) - Detroit Compuware (Plymouth, MichiganPlymouth, MichiganPlymouth is a city in Wayne County of the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 9,132 at the 2010 census. The City of Plymouth is an enclave completely surrounded by Plymouth Charter Township, Michigan.-Geography:...
) - Detroit Honeybaked (Oak Park, MichiganOak Park, MichiganAs of the census of 2000, there were 29,793 people, 11,104 households, and 7,595 families residing in the city. The population density was 5,863.8 persons per square mile . There were 11,370 housing units at an average density of 2,263.9 per square mile...
) - Detroit Little Caesars (Detroit, MichiganDetroit, MichiganDetroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
) - Detroit Victory Honda (Plymouth, MichiganPlymouth, MichiganPlymouth is a city in Wayne County of the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 9,132 at the 2010 census. The City of Plymouth is an enclave completely surrounded by Plymouth Charter Township, Michigan.-Geography:...
)
Chicago Division:
- Chicago Fury
- Chicago Mission
- Chicago Young Americans
- Chicago Nationals
- Team Illinois
Mid American Division:
- Baltimore Beaters
- Cleveland Barons
- Ohio Blue Jackets
- Columbus AAA1 Junior Jackets
- St. Louis AAA Blues
- Russell StoverRussell StoverRussell Stover was the founder of the Russell Stover Candies.-Early life:Stover was born in a sod house south of Alton, Kansas in Osborne County, Kansas...
(Kansas City, MissouriKansas City, MissouriKansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
) - Dallas Stars
West Division:
- Colorado Thunderbirds
- Colorado Rampage
- LA Jr. Kings
- LA Selects
- Phoenix Jr. Coyotes (Scottsdale, ArizonaScottsdale, ArizonaScottsdale is a city in the eastern part of Maricopa County, Arizona, United States, adjacent to Phoenix. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2010 the population of the city was 217,385...
)
East Division:
- Boston Advantage
- Buffalo Regal's
- Philadelphia Jr. Flyers
- Pittsburgh Hornets
- Team Comcast (Pennsauken, New Jersey)
MWEHL Champions
2007-2008 MWEHL League Champions- U18 - Cleveland Barons
- U16 - Compuware
- 1993 - Little Caesars
- 1994 - Compuware
- 1995 - Honeybaked
- 1996 - Belle Tire
- 1997 - Compuware
- 1998 - Compuware
- 1999 - Honda Victories
MWEHL Girls Division Champions 2007-2008
- 1996 - Honeybaked
- 14U - Little Caesars
- 16U - Colorado Select
- 19U - Shattuck St Mary
Recent Notable MWEHL Alumni
- Ryan KeslerRyan KeslerRyan James Kesler is an American professional ice hockey center for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League . He serves as an alternate captain for the Canucks during home games. Selected in the first round, 23rd overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, Kesler has...
2003 draft by Vancouver CanucksVancouver CanucksThe Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,... - Patrick KanePatrick KanePatrick Timothy Kane, Jr. is an American professional ice hockey right winger currently playing for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League . The Blackhawks selected him with the first overall pick in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.-Minor and junior:Kane attended the St...
2007 draft by Chicago BlackhawksChicago BlackhawksThe Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10... - Trevor Nill 2007 draft by St. Louis Blues
- Matt DonovanMatt Donovan (ice hockey)Matt Donovan is an American professional ice hockey defenceman who is currently playing with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the American Hockey League. He was selected by the New York Islanders in the 4th round of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.- Amateur career :Donovan attended John F. Kennedy High...
2008 draft by New York IslandersNew York IslandersThe New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League... - Cam FowlerCam FowlerCam Fowler is a Canadian-American professional ice hockey defenseman currently playing for the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League . He was selected twelfth overall by the Ducks in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft...
2010 draft by Anaheim DucksAnaheim DucksThe Anaheim Ducks are a professional ice hockey team based in Anaheim, California, USA. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...