About the CHC
(November 2009) - Founded in 2003, the Capital Hockey Conference (CHC) is celebrating its 7th season in 2009-10, and welcomes its 13th and 14th members, the Bishop Watterson Eagles and the Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller Crusaders.Since 2002, the Conference has more than tripled, reflecting phenomenal growth in Columbus high school hockey. The Conference indeed is flattered that state power Moeller, formerly a member of the Southwest Ohio High School Hockey League (SWOHSHL) petitioned the CHC and was granted admission.
This year, the Conference will play in one (1) Division, with each team playing the other 13 teams once.
A constant in the CHC is the fierce competition among its members. Conference highlights include:
- continued dominance by Dublin Coffman (3 regular season titles and 3 Blue Jackets Cups); Dublin Jerome (3 Blue Jackets Cups) and Upper Arlington (3 of 6 regular season titles.
- A 15-1 record in 2008-09 for 2nd year team Olentangy Liberty.
- the Upper Arlington Golden Bears reaching the state Final Four in 2006 and 2007;
The Conference now consists of 13 Columbus-area schools and Cincinnati Moeller: Bishop Watterson, Dublin Coffman, Dublin Jerome, Dublin Scioto, Gahanna Lincoln, Olentangy, Olentangy Liberty, Olentangy Orange, St. Francis DeSales, St. Charles, Thomas Worthington, Upper Arlington and Worthington Kilbourne. The Conference is an outgrowth of the Southwest Ohio High School Hockey League (SWOHSHL), which continues to thrive in the Greater Dayton/Cincinnati area.
With the addition of the 13th and 14th teams, the format of the post-season Blue Jackets Cup has also been altered. The top eight regular season teams will compete for the Blue Jackets Cup championship, while the bottom 6 teams will play in a consolation tournament.
Our History
Historically, Upper Arlington is the Conference's oldest OHSAA team, becoming a varsity sport in 1978. In the mid-1990's, programs began at Thomas Worthington and Worthington Kilbourne (1998), followed shortly thereafter by St. Charles (1999). Teams formerly played in SWOHSHL, then a Columbus-Dayton-Cincinnati league.
In fall 2002, the SWOHSHL experienced rapid growth with the addition of Dublin Coffman, Dublin Scioto, and Gahanna Lincoln. As a result of having 7 teams, those schools banded together to form the CHC in 2003. The Conference then added Dublin Jerome in 2004 and St. Francis DeSales in 2006, Olentangy Liberty in 2007, Olentangy and Olentangy Orange in 2008, and Bishop Watterson and Archbishop Moeller in 2009.
The Conference has also been part of an OHSAA shift to Columbus, the home of the NHL Columbus Blue Jackets. Originally, Columbus-based teams were sent to their regional tournament at Bowling Green or Toledo. The tournament then moved to Troy, Ohio. Finally, in 2006, the Regional Tournament was moved to the Blue Jackets' practice facility, the Dispatch Ice Haus in Columbus, and remains there. The Ice Haus is also the site of the annual Blue Jackets Cup Tournament.
The highlight to date of the Regional Tournament's move to Columbus was the 2006 final between Upper Arlington and Dublin Coffman and the 2009 final between Centerville and Coffman, both played before an SRO overflow crowd.
The Conference and its teams have a rich history of success. Upper Arlington and Dublin Coffman are generally considered an annual state contender. In 2003, Thomas Worthington made a Final Four appearance, led by Andrew Stowe and Kyle Storm. The Conference has also seen great individual talent, including Mitch Staloch (Worthington Kilbourne), Upper Arlington's John Moser (ACHA -- Kent State) and Andy Grindley, Dublin Scioto's Ray Finnegan (Lacrosse -- Bellarmine University), and Dublin Coffman's Matt Kirstein (ACHA -- Penn State) and all-time leading scorer Anthony Rogers.
The CHC also has great depth in coaching, as head coaches Jay Graham (Upper Arlington) and Perry Pooley (Dublin Coffman) played NCAA Division I hockey for The Ohio State University; Jack Hoogeveen (Olentangy Liberty) played for Bowling Green University; and Pat Murphy (Dublin Jerome) played at Hamilton College and professionally in Europe.
Contacts
Inquiries should be directed as follows:
| Commissioner Adam Smith (Scheduling, Hockey issues) | 614-223-8800 | asmith@kaynelaw.com |
| Commissioner Greg Kirstein (Referrees, OHSAA/Cols Blue Jackets Liason) | 614-246-4052 | gkirstein@bluejackets.com |
| Assistant Commissioner Bruce McClary (Treasury) | 614-729-5400 | bruce.mcclary@alliancedata.com |
| Assistant Commissioner Scott Sharkey (Website) | 614-313-6063 | ssharkey@lanshark.com |
| Assistant Commissioner/Head Referee Gary Wilkins | 740-965-5004 | gary.wilkins@mt.com |
| JV Commissioner Art Roehrenbeck | 614-561-1883 | aroehrenbeck@rrohio.com |
| Joel Siegman Blue Jackets Cup Director | 614-246-4158 | jsiegman@bluejackets.com | JD Kershaw (ex-officio) Columbus Blue Jackets Director of Marketing | 614-246-4159 | jkershaw@bluejackets.com |
Past Champions
| Regular Season | Blue Jackets Cup | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008-09 | Dublin Coffman | Dublin Coffman |
| 2007-08 | Dublin Coffman | Dublin Jerome |
| 2006-07 | Upper Arlington | Dublin Jerome |
| 2005-06 | Upper Arlington | Dublin Jerome |
| 2004-05 | Dublin Coffman | Dublin Coffman |
| 2003-04 | Upper Arlington | Dublin Coffman |
