The Greater Springfield Junior Amateur Hockey League (G.S.J.A.H.L.) is the premier youth hockey league in the western Massachusetts area. The league commonly referred to as the “Greater Springfield League” or “GSL” was established on April 25th, 1969 to promote and advance amateur ice hockey in the State of Massachusetts, specifically in the Springfield area.
Eddie Shore, one of the greatest players in the storied history of the National Hockey League, originally developed and operated the Greater Springfield Junior Amateur Hockey League free of charge out of his Eastern States Coliseum to provide superior training to boys’ ages 10-16. Today the Greater Springfield League offers competitive organized hockey games for all youth player from age 4 to 18.
The Greater Springfield League is an affiliate of Massachusetts Hockey, Inc. and USA Hockey, Inc. which is empowered to govern the sport of ice hockey in the United States by federal legislation. As an affiliate, we are guided by their core values. These are Sportsmanship; Respect for the Individual; Integrity; Pursuit of Excellence at the Team, Individual, and Organizational levels; Enjoyment; Loyalty; and Teamwork.
We are dedicated to our mission and purpose of developing and fostering among our members, supporters and teams, fair play and sportsmanship, a general community spirit, and promoting interest in the sport of amateur youth hockey in the greater Springfield area.
The GSL is comprised of 16 member associations from Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York. With over 135 Tier II, III, and IV teams playing from 6U to 18U the league prides itself on fielding competitive teams, while having a family knit atmosphere throughout the organization. Today, many alumni take part in volunteering as coaches and managers throughout the league.
Alumni
Several accomplished hockey players have skated with our organization:
Frank Vatrano - Boston Jr. Bruins, USA Development Team, University of Massachusetts, Providence Bruins, Boston Bruins
Tyler Kelleher - University of New Hampshire, Pitsburg Penguins Prospect
Kacey Bellamy - USA Hockey Teams, University of New Hampshire, CWHL Boston Blades, NWHL Boston Pride
Stephanie Olchowski - USA Hockey U15 Bronze medalist, Boston College
Rob Bellamy - University of Maine, ECHL South Carolina Stingrays, AHL Philadelphia Phantoms
