In 1967, the NHL expanded into Pennsylvania with two new professional hockey teams. With the ‘67 expansion, the National Hockey League introduced six brand-new teams. This was the largest expansion in professional sports history.
Teams included the California Seals, Los Angeles Kings, Minnesota North Stars, and St. Louis Blues. And… two teams in Pennsylvania. This brought the league from six to 12 teams.
In this article, I’ll show you what NHL teams are in Pennsylvania, what other top hockey teams are in the state, and where you can watch them.
Pssssst! Are you curious about hockey teams in other U.S. states and Canadian Provinces? You can learn more by checking out our other posts What Hockey Team Is in New York, What Hockey Team Is in Washington State, and What Hockey Team Is in Ontario.
Let’s dive in.
Here’s What Hockey Teams Are In Pennsylvania:
Pennsylvania is home to two NHL teams: The Pittsburgh Penguins and the Philadelphia Flyers. They also have three AHL teams: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Lehigh Valley Phantoms, and Hershey Bears. There is one ECHL team: Reading Royals. They also have a variety of college hockey and junior teams.
How Many NHL Teams Are in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania, the “Keystone State” is one of the few states that has two National Hockey League teams. Pennsylvania is home to the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Philadelphia Flyers.
Both teams were introduced in 1967, alongside 4 other NHL teams, growing the NHL from six to 12 teams.
What Hockey Teams Are in Pennsylvania?
There are two NHL teams in Pennsylvania! Plus, there are several other dominant hockey teams including a few professional teams and some junior teams.
NHL
In 1967, Pennsylvania introduced the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Philadelphia Flyers into the National Hockey League for their inaugural seasons. The Penguins play out of the PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh while the Flyers play out of the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.
AHL
Pennsylvania also has a handful of other professional ice hockey teams. The state boasts a whopping three American Hockey League (AHL) teams, which is the minor league one level below the NHL.
Here are the AHL teams in Pennsylvania:
- Lehigh Valley Phantoms (Philadelphia Flyers farm team)
- Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (Pittsburgh Penguins farm team)
- Hershey Bears (Washington Capitals farm team)
ECHL
The Keystone State also has another professional hockey team—the Reading Royals. They’re a pro hockey team within the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL), one step down from the AHL. As a member of the North Division within the Eastern Conference, the Royals play their home games at the Santander Arena in downtown Reading, Pennsylvania.
College (NCAA)
There are a ton of college hockey teams in the state of Pennsylvania. However, the list is too long to write them all down here. But, here are a few of the top college hockey teams in Pennsylvania:
- Mercyhurst University – Lakers (D-II)
- Pennsylvania State University – Nittany Lions (D-I)
- Robert Morris University – Colonials (D-I)
For the full list of NCAA college hockey teams in Pennsylvania, you can check out this article here.
Junior
There are several junior hockey teams located in Pennsylvania:
- Philadelphia Rebels (NAHL – Tier II Junior)
- Johnstown Tomahawks (NAHL – Tier II Junior)
- Pittsburgh Vengeance (USPHL Premier – Tier II)
Does Pittsburgh Have an NHL Team?
Yes, Pittsburgh has an NHL team – the Pittsburgh Penguins. They were founded in 1967 in the ‘67 NHL expansion which transformed the NHL from a six-team league (Original Six) to a twelve-team league.
Does Philly Have an NHL Team?
Yes, Philly also has an NHL team – the Philadelphia Flyers. They play out of the Wells Fargo Center in downtown Philadelphia.
What Is the Name of the NHL Team in Pittsburgh, PA?
The name of the NHL team in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is the Pittsburgh Penguins. They play out of the PPG Paints Arena in downtown Pittsburgh.
What Is the Pennsylvania Hockey Team Mascot?
There are a wide variety of hockey mascots in Pennsylvania since there are so many hockey teams. Here are the two most well-known hockey mascots in Pennsylvania:
Gritty (Philadelphia Flyers – NHL)
Iceburgh (Pittsburgh Penguins – NHL)
What AHL Hockey Teams Are in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has three AHL teams which are minor-league professional hockey teams that act as developmental farm teams for NHL affiliates.
Here are the three AHL teams in Pennsylvania:
- Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (Pittsburgh Penguins farm team)
- Lehigh Valley Phantoms (Philadelphia Flyers farm team)
- Hershey Bears (Washington Capitals farm team)
What Are the Pennsylvania College Hockey Teams?
There are dozens of Pennsylvania college hockey teams. Here are the top-tier NCAA teams:
- Pennsylvania State University – Nittany Lions (D-I)
- Robert Morris University – Colonials (D-I)
- Mercyhurst University – Lakers (D-II)
For the complete list of college hockey teams in Pennsylvania, check out this article.
Is Hockey Popular in Pennsylvania?
Since Pennsylvania introduced two teams into the 1967 expansion, hockey has been very popular in the Keystone State.
The question is, how popular are they?
Since this can be a topic of opinion and debate depending on who you ask, I’d rather leave it up to what the data says!
In 2022, WalletHub crunched the numbers to figure out what the best U.S. cities are for hockey fans. In the study, they ranked 72 American cities based on 21 key indicators of what makes a “good” hockey city. Indicators range from the performance of major teams to ticket prices and stadium capacity.
Pittsburgh ranked #2 among 72 American cities, just behind Boston, Massachusetts (#1), and just ahead of Detroit, Michigan (#3).
Philadelphia ranked #14, just behind St. Paul, Minnesota (#13), and just ahead of Washington, DC (#15).
There were also two other Pennsylvania cities that cracked the top 72:
- State College, PA (#40)
- Erie, PA (#52)
Pennsylvania had the third most cities on the list, behind Massachusetts and New York state. Overall, I’d say it’s a pretty safe bet that hockey is popular in Pennsylvania.
Are you curious to know more about hockey in other states across the U.S.? Don’t forget to check out our other full guide: Hockey Teams in Every U.S. State: Complete NHL & College List (2023).
Sources
https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-expansion-history/c-281005106
https://scorestream.com/explore/r/pennsylvania/ncaa/hockey/teams