The History Of Beaver County Badgers Hockey

Badger Pride

"It's a great day for hockey." Just as hockey coaching legend Badger Bob Johnson used to say, we involved with the Beaver County Amateur Hockey Association believe that every day is a great one to play this game.

The BCAHA is one of the oldest and most successful associations in the Pittsburgh Amateur Hockey League. Our teams have won numerous championships at all levels, including 45 in past 12 seasons alone.

Tracing Our Roots

The year was 1973. Mt. Lebanon, Greensburg, Johnstown and a few others were established in the Pittsburgh Amateur Hockey League.

That's when Sam Gruber, a Beaver County resident, met Judge Robert Brosky of the Pittsburgh Common Pleas Court and the two became interested in forming a youth hockey association in Beaver County.

By 1974, following a lot of work by Brosky, the association had enough players to begin play.

There were no ice arenas in Beaver County at this time, but there was one in nearby Sewickley, which is where the first Beaver County Hockey teams practiced.

Fewer than 30 players attended that first practice, and less than 10 of them had ever been on skates before.

In 1975, a new rink opened in Beaver County at the entrace to Brady's Run Park, giving the fledgling association a home of its own. That was also the year that the Beaver County Amateur Hockey Association was accepted into the PAHL.

Needless to say, that first season in the PAHL was difficult. Since the association did not have enough players to field teams at the Mite or Pee Wee division, the association combined the groups to form a single Pee Wee team. Predictably, the team struggled, failing to score a goal until the 13th game of the season.

But by 1981-82, the BCAHA was able to catch up to the rest of the league and claimed their first two PAHL championships. The first came at the Pee Wee level and the second at Bantam.

The 1983-84 season was highlighted by the Mite PAHL championship team, led by Brad Frattoroli who scored a whopping 93 goals. That BCAHA record still stands.

Beaver County Hockey, like many hockey associations in western Pennsylvania, hit its stride in the early 1990's, fueled largely by the success of the Pittsburgh Penguins, and the introduction of a USA Hockey-sanctioned initiation program. It began a legacy of success that continues today.

From 1993-2002, at least one BCAHA team claimed a PAHL title each year, highlighted by the remarkable success of our midget teams, who won seven consecutive PAHL and state titles.

What's in a Logo

Until 1993, the Beaver County Badgers were known simply as Beaver County Hockey, with no official mascot.

The logo on the jerseys for our inaugural season in 1975 read "OAK HILL VFW," a reflection of the BCAHA's first sponsor.

In 1977, a logo featuring a beaver with crossed sticks was introduced.  That logo remained virtually unchanged until 1993, when Beaver County Hockey officially adopted its mascot, the Badger, in memory of former Pittsburgh Penguins coach "Badger" Bob Johnson, who led the Pens to their first Stanley Cup in 1991 and who died shorly thereafter.

With the mascot, the BCAHA also adopted a philosophy in line with Badger Bob's favorite phrase..."It's a great day for hockey."

Badger tradition

Badger teams have a tradition of success, racking up 50 PAHL championships, 10 State Championships, 4 Mid-Am District Championships and 4 trips to the National Championships.