EAST HANTS MINOR HOCKEY ASSOCIATION

The East Hants Minor Hockey Association (EHMHA) is located in the fastest growing area of Nova Scotia, the Municipality of East Hants. At the present time, enrollments in the EHMHA have reached approximately 350 players. The EHMHA operates an in-house U7 and U9 program, as well as participates in the Dartmouth Whalers Recreational Hockey League (DWRHL) and the Central Minor Hockey Federation (CMHF).

The EHMHA is governed by a Board of Directors who are elected by the membership.

Map:  1076A Highway #2, Lantz, NS  B2S 1M8

Boundary Map: Boundary map

 

THE HISTORY of the EAST HANTS MINOR HOCKEY ASSOCIATION

Minor hockey began in East Hants with the introduction of artificial ice in 1963.  Since that time the growth in minor hockey has increased tremendously. In the earlier years the association was comprised of teams representing:  Stewiacke, Shubenacadie, Milford, Lantz, Dutch Settlement, Elmsdale, Enfield, Musquodoboit Harbour, Tri Village (Waverley, Windsor Junction and Lakeview) and Sipekne’katik.

During the 1969-1970 season a new constitution was adopted and East Hants Minor Hockey Association started on the long journey to today. The officers for the East Hants Minor Hockey Association at this time were:  Edward Westhaver - President; Murray Hupman - Vice President and Enos Wellwood - Secretary/Treasurer.

Prior to the 1969-1970 season a small number of teams (all star teams) would be registered with the Maritime Amateur Hockey Association (forerunner of the Nova Scotia Minor Hockey Council and Hockey Nova Scotia). After this season every player and team within the association would be registered with the M.A.H.A.
 

WHO ARE THE PENGUINS?

In 1967 East Hants was invited to enter a team in the newly formed Metro-Valley Junior League.  It was also the year the NHL expanded to include the Pittsburgh Penguins. One of the organizers of the East Hants team, Don Boyd, took a liking to the new NHL addition and decided to call his team after team. Another reason for the name was that it was different from all the others used in the area.

The name, Penguin, was quickly adopted by all the representative minor teams from East Hants and when the Central Minor Hockey League was formed in 1983, our teams were registered as the East Hants Penguins. In 1974, our Midget Penguins gave the name National exposure at the first Wrigley Cup, for runner of the Air Canada Cup.

Although all the Minor teams had the same name, the sweater crest and colours were left up to each coach. After all, he had to supply them!  In 1979, Jim Hunter, the coach of the Atom Penguins, used a crest he had seen on an old set of sweaters and the Detroit white colours. These sweaters were used for two years even though the Penguin was on skis. Finally in 1981 the crest was changed to include skates. The Calgary colours were also used for the first time.

When the East Hants Minor Hockey Association took over the responsibility for supplying sweaters, it adopted the crest as it is now for all East Hants teams. It was also decided to keep the Calgary colours since no other team in Central Minor used them. In 2008, we began migrating to the new Pittsburgh Penguins colours. In 2018, the colours have been updated and we are proud to wear the current colours of the Pittsburgh Penguins.