The Northern Virginia Scholastic Hockey League (NVSHL) is a non-affiliated high school and middle school ice hockey league comprising teams from the Northern Virginia Area including Fairfax County, Prince William County, Loudoun County, Arlington County, Stafford County, Fauquier County, and the cities of Manassas and Alexandria. The NVSHL staff and board of directors includes a combination of coaches, parents, team representatives, referee, and rink supervisors. There are also many members who are not affiliated with and particular team or organization. The current league executive director is Grey Bullen, and its assistant executive director is Jeff Nygaard. Bullen joined the league after Bud Sterling served the same capacity for the previous two seasons. Prior to that, the league was headed by Nygaard, who brought the league from being a part of the MSHL to its own entity, the NVSHL. Teams play a ten-game regular season, followed by a multi-round single elimination playoff tournament to determine the league champion. In the end, the league winner will have played either 13 or 14 games, depending on whether they received a bye in the first round.

History

The NVSHL was created in response to a growing number of varsity-level teams in Northern Virginia. Until the inaugural 2001-02 season, teams from Northern Virginia competed in the similar Maryland Scholastic Hockey League. The inaugural season consisted of two conferences of 12 varsity and provisional varsity (Tier-I) teams each, as well as a junior varsity (Tier-II) league. Since that season, the league has expanded to include 22 varsity, five provisional varsity, and nine junior varsity teams in the 2005-06 season. The 2005-2006 season saw the change of Tier-II to Junior Varsity to more closely reflect the standard of traditional high school sports. Additionally, the league attempts to structure the divisions within the Varsity classification to closely reflect the "Districts" used by the Virginia High School League. NVSHL teams are not officially recognized as varsity school sports by the Commonwealth of Virginia. Only one team, Osbourn High School, has been officially recognized by its local school board, Manassas City Public Schools. In 2012, the NVSHL introduced the middle school division to provide younger players with an opportunity to play in the NVSHL.

Teams

Teams are divided into three levels: varsity, provisional varsity, and junior varsity. Varsity teams are further divided into five divisions. Four of these divisions include only varsity teams composed of players from a single school, and are divided by geographical area. These divisions are the Concorde (North) Division, Liberty (East) Division, Cardinal (South) Division, and the Dulles (West) Division. In addition, the fifth division is reserved for all provisional varsity teams (those consisting of players from more than one school). The provisional division includes teams from all geographical areas. Provisional teams may not qualify for season-ending playoffs, but do compete in regular season games versus other varsity teams. The games count toward each team's record equally with that of a game played between two varsity teams or two provisional teams. This is a matter of controversy, however, because a talented provisional team may spoil a varsity team's chance to qualify for the league playoffs by defeating them or putting the varsity team at a statistical disadvantage for the purposes of tiebreakers. Junior varsity teams play in the junior varsity division, and do not compete in regular games versus varsity or provisional varsity teams. There is no distinction between junior varsity teams composed of players from single or multiple schools. There currently aren't playoffs for junior varsity teams. The last time playoffs were held came in 2003-04, when Forest Park defeated Paul VI. The champion is determined by season record. In years past, there have been playoffs for the junior varsity division. This division was formerly known as the Nygaard Division, named after the first executive director of the NVSHL. The teams are realigned each season through promotion and relegation.

Norris Division

Bishop O'Connell Knights Flint Hill Huskies Heritage/Rock Ridge Pride/Phoenix Loudoun Valley/Woodgrove Vikings/Wolverines Paul VI Panthers Tuscarora/Loudoun County Huskies/Captains

Smythe Division

Briar Woods Falcons Broad Run Spartans Dominion/Potomac Falls Titans/Panthers Independence Tigers Riverside Rams Stone Bridge Bulldogs

Patrick Division

Battlefield Bobcats Fauquier/Patriot Falcons/Pioneers Gainsville Cardinals John Champe/Lightridge Knights/Bolts Kettle Run/Rappahannock Cougars/Panthers Yorktown Patriots

Adams Division

Chantilly/McLean Chargers/Highlanders Herndon/South Lakes Hornets/Seahawks James Madison Warhawks Langley Saxons Oakton Cougars

Junior Varsity

Battlefield Bobcats Briar Woods/Independence Falcons/Tigers Chantilly/McLean Chargers/Highlanders James Madison Warhawks Langley Saxons Yorktown Patriots

Middle School Division

Alexandria Titans (Alexandria) Arlington Admirals (Arlington) Arlington Knights Blue (Arlington) Arlington Knights Green (Arlington) Battlefield (Prince William) Brambleton (Loudoun) Briar Woods/Riverside (Loudoun) Broad Run/Western Loudoun County HC (Loudoun) Colgan (Prince William) Dulles South (Loudoun) Eastern Loudoun County (Loudoun) Fauquier Bulldogs (Fauquier County) Gainesville/Patriot (Prince William) Herndon/Reston (Fairfax) Lake Braddock (Fairfax) Leesburg (Loudoun) Mary Ellen Henderson (Falls Church) McLean/Great Falls (Fairfax) Panthers Seneca Ridge/River Bend (Loudoun) Stone Bridge (Loudoun) Sully Spartans (Fairfax) Vale Vikings West Virginia Vipers

Past champions

NVSHL Varsity (Capitals Cup) Champions

2022-2023 - Langley 2021-2022 - Langley 2020-2021 - Riverside 2019-2020 - Riverside 2018-2019 - Langley 2017-2018 - Bishop O'Connell 2016-2017 - Stone Bridge 2015-2016 - Stone Bridge 2014-2015 - Stone Bridge 2013-2014 - Briar Woods 2012-2013 - Briar Woods 2011-2012 - Stone Bridge 2010-2011 - Stone Bridge 2009-2010 - Woodbridge 2008-2009 - Bishop O'Connell 2007-2008 - Stone Bridge 2006-2007 - Osbourn Park 2005-2006 - Woodbridge 2004-2005 - North Stafford/Robinson (Co-Champions) 2003-2004 - North Stafford 2002-2003 - Stone Bridge 2001-2002 - Stone Bridge

Records

Career

Goals: (96) John Litscher - 2011/12-2013/14 - Battlefield Assists: (71) Points: (142) John Litscher - 2011/12-2013/14 - Battlefield Hat tricks: (17) John Litscher - 2011/12-2013/14 - Battlefield Penalty minutes: (178) Kyle Ward-Dahl - 2001/02-2004/05 - Oakton Goals against average: (1.50) Robbie Kunka - 2001/02-2004/05 - Langley Saves: (713) Nick Bottorff - 2001/02-2004/05 - Centreville Save percentage: (.937) Chris Felinski - 2003 - Loudoun County Shutouts: (3) Wins: (15) Daryl Anthony - 2001/02-2003/04 - Robinson Record: (14-2) Bryan Lynch - 2001/02-2003/04 - Stone Bridge

Single Season

Goals: (38) John Litscher - 2013-14 - Battlefield Assists: (33) Cade Groton - 2015-16 - Stonebridge Points: (55) John Litscher - 2011-12 - Battlefield/Patriot Penalty minutes: (65) Miles Miller - 2012-13 - Potomac Falls/Heritage Goals against average: (.80) Chris Wingo - 2006-07 - Langley Saves: (438) Nick Bottorff - 2004-05 - Centreville Save pct.: (.952) Chris Wingo - 2006-07 - Langley Shutouts: (5) Chris Wingo - 2006-07 - Langley Wins: (10) Dominic Mezappesa - 2001-02 - Broad Run

Single Game

Goals: (11) Cameron Smith - vs. Centervillle/Fairfax - Yorktown - Dec 7, 2012 Assists: (7) Steven Csutoros - vs. Osbourn - Osbourn Park Points: (11)