North Eastern Hockey League

NORTH EASTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE

(1978 - 1979)

Back in 1977, the NAHL had ceased operations leaving East Coast without an 'Eastern' hockey league for the first time since 1953-54. The hockey drought did not last long. The North Eastern Hockey League was formed in 1978.

The league started out as a small 5-team league based in some of the same NAHL communities. The league logo was liberally borrowed from the NAHL as well. The league's first and only season was not with its trouble. The New Hampshire Freedoms relocated midseason to Cape Cod and later formed the basis for the Richmond Rifles of the EHL. Likewise, the Jersey Aces moved to Hampton Roads midseason.

The league changed its name to the Eastern Hockey League in 1979 in part to capture some of the history left in this name. Also, after just one season the league was no longer located exclusively in the US North East.