The Pennsylvania state ice hockey championship actually predates the Flyers Cup, by six years. The championship debuted in 1975, in Erie, and featured teams from Erie, Pittsburgh, and the Philadelphia area.
Baldwin, from suburban Pittsburgh, representing the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League, won that inaugural tournament, defeating Churchill in overtime in the championship game.
The following year, Abington claimed the state title after competing in both the Suburban High School Hockey League and the Intercounty League during the regular season; the Galloping Ghosts won the SHSHL title (their third in succession) and winning the Intercounty League regular-season title before falling in the playoff semifinals.
The state tournament was played in Pittsburgh and the Galloping Ghosts prevailed, winning four games in three days to take what was at the time was considered the Class A title (one of two classes that year. Abington defeated Gateway 4-3 in overtime in the championship game at the Pittsburgh Civic Arena (the old Igloo).
(When a third class was added to the state championship in in 1989, past Class A winners were listed as AA champions going forward).
Abington also won a second state crown, the Class AA title, in 1978).
The ‘modern era’ of the state final began in 1981 when the Flyers Cup and Penguins Cup champions began facing off against each other.
The two sides of the state utilize different criteria in classifying their teams; for instance, in the East, Class AAA is the domain of private schools, which is not necessarily the case in the West.
In the years since, the following schools from the SHSHL, the Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference and/or the Lower Bucks County Scholastic Hockey League have won state titles. The Flyers Cup did not expand to three classes until the 1990-91 season, so Philadelphia-area teams that played in state championship games prior to that were not necessarily Flyers Cup champions.
Class A
1990 Bishop Egan
Class AA
2016 Central Bucks South
2014 Central Bucks South
2012 Council Rock South
1995 Conwell-Egan
1992 Council Rock
1988 William Tennent
Class AAA
2018 St. Joseph’s Prep
2016 LaSalle
2015 Holy Ghost Prep
2012 LaSalle
2009 LaSalle
2008 LaSalle
2004 Malvern Prep
1999 Conwell-Egan
1998 LaSalle
1991 Council Rock
1990 Malvern Prep
1983 Germantown Academy
This year’ state championship games for the Pennsylvania Cup are scheduled for Saturday at the Robert Morris Center in Pittsburgh
11:00 Class A West Chester Rustin vs. Montour
1:30 Class AA Downingtown East vs. Pine Richland
4:00 Class AAA LaSalle vs. North Allegheny
The Grundy Skate Shop is a full service hockey pro shop inside the Grundy Arena, offering a great selection of equipment, brands and various services. We do a range of repairs as well as offer custom hockey jerseys. We recently celebrated our 5th year at the shop but owner, Bill Keyser, has over 25 years experience in the industry and specializes in skate sharpening, including profiling. Please visit our Facebook page or stop in and check us out!
If you’re interested in learning more about girls’ hockey go to info@ladytpariots.org
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