PPHL – The History, The Present, and The Future
THE BEGINNING…
In the Fall of 2014, Shawn Connors, after playing six years of adult hockey in various leagues, took the leap of faith and started a 3-team league out of Hudson, NH. Shawn named the single league – ‘Power Play Hockey League’ as the term “Power Play” in the hockey world is well-known considering it is part of the game. Not only is the name popular, but the name “Power Play Hockey League” would allow Shawn to expand in the future to other regions other than just a Region or State.
Shawn battled the first season trying to keep the season together with only three teams. Constantly recruiting fill-ins to man a fourth team was a battle, but he was willing to fight and prove that his league was going to work out. Shawn was able to successfully complete the first season and continue two more seasons in Hudson, growing with more teams. With more teams interested in other regions, Shawn expanded to the Tri-Town Arena in Hooksett, NH in the Fall of 2015. The current league in Hooksett, the Granite State Hockey League (GSHL) operated by Jeff Myatt, decided it was best to merge with Shawn and PPHL. The expansion and merger to a second facility allowed Shawn to create two separate divisions (A/B & C/D) having a total of 8 teams.
The next season, Winter/Spring of 2016, Shawn decided to move the Hudson games to Salem due to location. Moving the league from Hudson to Salem allowed him to announce the creation of the Southern NH Region of PPHL with three separate levels (A, B, & C). Moving from Hudson to Salem allowed many players from North Shore Massachusetts to sign up and play in the fast-expanding league. Just after one full year, Shawn’s Southern NH League began to rapidly grow with the expansion of a ‘D’ Level, adding ‘Skill Clinics’ for players.
2018 was no different, PPHL brought massive expansion into a new state, Massachusetts. Shawn was able to secure deals with two newly built, two-sheet facilities – Middleton’s Essex Sports Center and Worcester’s Fidelity Ice Center. With the expansion of PPHL into Massachusetts, new investors were becoming interested and sharing the name with other facilities in New Hampshire and Massachusetts.
PPHL was unstoppable moving into 2019. The constant growth in numbers in current locations showed promise to other rink owners, and in the Summer of 2019, was able to secure new deals with the newly built Boston Sports Institute in Wellesley, MA, and the Pilgrim Ice Arena out of Hingham, MA. Securing these deals now expanded the PPHL from Manchester, NH down to the South Shore regions of Massachusetts in Hingham, westward to Worcester, MA. PPHL was now operating 6 different Leagues with over 12 divisions in those locations.
TODAY…
The addition of a second partner, Johnny Kula, gave PPHL a new direction, Power Play Hockey League is now the fastest-growing Adult League in the Country. Over the last two years, the PPHL has not only expanded in their current areas, they are rapidly expanding into regions inside of New England and across the country. Between the great business friendships, new staff members, and new incoming players, the word of the Power Play Hockey League is growing at an astronomical rate with no end in sight.
Along with the successful expansion into new areas, PPHL has revamped the internals of the company; hiring new Division Heads, timely updating information on the website for easier navigation, building sponsorship relationships with national and local companies, and the formation of a Department of Player Safety (DOPS) to protect our Players and Game Officials.
Today – Power Play Hockey League is stronger than ever and built on a solid foundation for any expansion opportunities that may arise at any moment.
THE FUTURE…
The pages are not yet written. However, we are asking you to be an integral part of the most successful Adult Hockey program in the Country!
We look forward to seeing you on the ice!
