The Mid-Atlantic Women's Hockey League (MAWHL) is the oldest continuously active women's ice hockey league in North America. The MAWHL is a senior amateur league under the oversight of USA Hockey. It is based in the United States and has three divisions allowing for different levels of play. The league has players with a wide array of experience, ranging from athletes who have competed at the high school level to those who have spent time on the United States women's national ice hockey team.
The MAWHL was begun in 1975–76 with only three teams. The Delaware Bobcats, the Boulevard Hookers[1] and the University of Pennsylvania's club team. In the 1976–77 season, the Philadelphia Ice-Centennials joined the MAWHL.
During the summer of 1977, the increased popularity of ice hockey sparked the birth of the Mid-Atlantic Women's Ice Hockey League. It consisted of nine teams at the start of the 1977–78 season. The newcomers included: the Bergen Blades A team and B team, the Ironbound Bandits, the Pittsburgh Pennies, and the Philadelphia Ice-Centennials B team.
At the beginning of the 1978–79 season, the Budweiser Redcoats,[2] and the Green Machine Eagles from Long Island, New York joined our league. Unfortunately the Pittsburgh Pennies, and the Bergen Blades B team dropped out. With these changes MAWHL now had a nine-team league divided into North and South regional divisions. At the start of the 1979–80 season our league started with eight teams: Four in the both divisions.[3] At the start of the 1980–81 season, only six teams remained in the league. Gradually even that number diminished to four with the losses of the Bergen Blades in 1981, and the then Long Island Eagles in 1986[4]
American University Eagles (2001–2002), in level Senior D Division.
(2000–2001 to 2005–2006), in level Senior B Division.
- 2 teams: (1999–2000 & 2004–2005), in level Senior C Division, (2000–2001 to 2003–2004 ) in level Senior D Division.
(2008–2009) in level Senior B Division.
(2006–2007) in level Senior D Division.
(1999–2000 to 2008–2009) in level Senior C Division
- 3 teams: (1975–1976 to 2000–2001) in level Senior B Division, (1998–1999 to 2006–2007) in level Senior C Division, (2000–2001 to 2006–2007) in level Senior D Division.
(2001–2002 to 2006–2007) in level Senior C division.
(1999–2000 and 2006–2007 to 2009–2010) in level Senior C Division.
(1997–1998) in level Senior C Division.
- 2 teams (2002–2003 to 2004–2005) in level Senior B Division, (2002–2003 to 2004–2005) in level Senior C Division.
(2005–2006) in level Senior C Division
(1997–1998 to 2007–2008) in Level Senior C Division
(2005–2006) in Level Senior C Division
- 2 teams: (2005–2006) in level Senior B Division,( 2007–2008 to 2007–2008) in level Senior C Division.
(? to 2003–2004) in level Senior B Division.
(? to 2013/14) in level Senior C Division.
(2007–2008 to 2007–2008) in level Senior D Division.
(1997–1998 to 2001–2002) in level Senior C Division.
- 2 teams: (1998–1999 to 2000–2001) in level Senior C & D Divisions.
(1976–1977 to 1993–1994) in level Senior B Division.
(1994–1995 to 2004–2005) in level Senior B Division
Championship[]
Senior B Division Champions[]
Year
Playoff champion
Regular season champion
Games record
2010–11
No playoffs held.
Philadelphia Freeze
4-0-0
2009–10
No playoffs held.
East Coast Raiders
2-1-1
2008–09
East Coast Raiders
East Coast Raiders
6-2-0
2007–08
East Coast Raiders
East Coast Raiders
6-1-1
2006–07
Philadelphia Freeze
Philadelphia Freeze
3-0-1
2005–06
Philadelphia Freeze
Philadelphia Freeze
9-1-2
2004–05
Bridgewater Wings
Bridgewater Wings
14-2-0
2003–04
Queenston Hockey Club
Queenston Hockey Club
12-1-2
2002–03
Chesapeake Bay Lightning
Chesapeake Bay Lightning
11-2-2
2001–02
Bridgewater Wings
Bridgewater Wings
7-2-3
2000–01
Philadelphia Freeze
Long Island Hurricanes
10-1-1
1999–00
New Jersey Selects
Long Island Hurricanes (North Division)+ Chesapeake Bay Lightning
7-1-0 and 9-1-0
1998–99
Long Island Hurricanes
Long Island Hurricanes
16-2-0
1997–98
New Jersey Selects
Long Island Hurricanes
15-2-1
1996–97
New Jersey Selects
New Jersey Bandits
12-0-0
1995–96
Delaware Bobcats
Delaware Bobcats
9-1-5
1994–95
Washington Wolves
Washington Wolves
11-3-2
1993–94
Washington Redcoats
Washington Redcoats
9-0-3
1992–93
Washington Redcoats
Washington Redcoats
7-1-2
1991–92
Ironbound Bandits
Ironbound Bandits
10-1-1
1990–91
Washington Redcoats
Ironbound Bandits
N/A
1989–90
Ironbound Bandits
Washington Redcoats
9-1-2
1988–89
Ironbound Bandits
Washington Redcoats
7-3-2
1987–88
Washington Redcoats
Ironbound Bandits
9-1-2
1986–87
Philadelphia Roadrunners
Ironbound Bandits
8-2-2
1985–86
Long Island Green Machine Eagles
Long Island Green Machine Eagles
N/A
1984–85
Delaware Bobcats
Delaware Bobcats
13-3-0
1983–84
Long Island Green Machine Eagles
Long Island Green Machine Eagles
13-0-2
1982–83
Washington Redcoats
Delaware Bobcats
12-1-3
1981–82
Delaware Bobcats
Delaware Bobcats
16-0-0
1980–81
Delaware Bobcats
Bergen Blades
12-1-1
1979–80
Delaware Bobcats (tie) Bergen Blades
Bergen Blades (North Division), Washington Redcoats (South Division)
12-0-0 and 8-2-2
1978–79
Bergen Blades
Bergen Blades (North Division), Delaware Bobcats (South Division)
^The Boulevard Hookers are now known as the Philadelphia Women's Ice Hockey Club aka Philadelphia Freeze, source MAWHL website.
^the Budweiser Redcoats known as the Washington Redcoats, now Washington Wolves
^The changes were a result of the Jersey City Recreational team joining, with the Philadelphia Ice-Centennials B team and the University of Pennsylvania team dropping out. It seemed that the increasing ice time costs and the decreasing player enrollments were taking its toll on the leagues stability. Source MAWHL Website.
^Besides ice time costs the league had to also endure the competition for new players against the NCAA hockey clubs who have many promising women hockey players in their ranks.
^No other teams to hold Atlantic Districts. Wings by default. source MAWHL website
^With FWHL - Florida Women's Hockey League. Source: MAWHL Website.
^With FWHL - Florida Women's Hockey League. Source: MAWHL Website.
^With FWHL - Florida Women's Hockey League. Source: MAWHL Website.
^With FWHL - Florida Women's Hockey League. Source: MAWHL Website
^No other teams to hold Atlantic Districts. Wings by default. Source: MAWHL Website