Will begin play in the 2026-27 season
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
HAVERHILL, MA — The Eastern Hockey League (EHL) and Eastern Hockey League Premier (EHLP) are pleased to announce that the league’s Board of Governors have approved a new expansion franchise for the Hershey Cubs. Former NHL coach and player Bruce Boudreau and his wife Crystal have been junior hockey owners dating back to the 2017-18 season, and they’ve owned and operated the Cubs for the last five years. The Cubs will begin EHL and EHLP competition during the 2026-27 season, skating out of the historic Hersheypark Arena in Hershey, PA.
The Boudreau name is highly recognizable in the sport, highlighted by Bruce accumulating over 600 career victories as a coach in the National Hockey League. As he was wrapping-up his coaching career, Bruce, Crystal, and their son Brady began providing an unparalleled junior hockey experience. It’s this ‘Where Players Come First’ mindset that is bringing the EHL and the Cubs together today.
“Providing a first-class experience for players is of utmost importance to us,” said Bruce Boudreau, Co-Owner and Vice President of the Cubs. “The Hershey Cubs emphasize development, both on and off the ice, guiding players through the transition from junior hockey to college. We believe the EHL is the perfect league for our values. They focus on player development, college exposure, and providing players with a great overall experience.”
While the Cubs’ franchise management is clearly family-based, that connection extends through the coaches, the team, the billet families, and the community.
“The Hershey Cubs are a close-knit family,” said Crystal Boudreau, Co-Owner and President of the Cubs. “This family includes our staff, players, billets, fans, and their families. Our community supports everything we do and makes playing in Hershey a meaningful experience. We are all united in giving the players the best experience and creating community memories they’ll cherish for the rest of their lives.”
The EHL and EHLP have never wavered with their mission over the last 13 seasons, and have chosen to be strategic and selective when it comes to the growth and structure of the league.
“I’m beyond excited to make today’s announcement, and officially welcome Bruce, Crystal, and the Cubs to the EHL and EHLP,” said Neil Ravin, the Commissioner of the EHL and EHLP. “The Cubs will sync perfectly with all of the current members of the league, whom each care deeply about providing our families, and in particular the players, with a Tier II experience that’s unrivaled by our competition. While the junior hockey landscape has gone through its handful of changes in recent years, the EHL has continued to stay the course, and kept moving forward. The Cubs franchise joining our league only solidifies the direction that we’re heading in, which has and always will be, focused on the players.”
The Cubs will compete in the South Division of the EHL and the Mid-Atlantic Conference of the EHLP. They are scheduled to take the ice for their first games in each league in September of 2026.