30 Years of the Central Penn Panthers: A Legacy of Hockey Excellence in Central PA
Central Penn Panthers Ice Hockey Club – Celebrating 30 Years
For three decades, the Central Penn Panthers have been a pillar of hockey development in Central Pennsylvania. Founded in the early 1990s, the organization has grown from humble beginnings into a comprehensive program spanning junior and youth hockey. As we celebrate the Panthers’ 30th anniversary, we journey through their history – from the club’s origins in the Metropolitan Junior Hockey League to its expansions in youth hockey, its rebranding and triumphs, and the lasting impact it has made on players and the regional hockey culture.
Origins in the Early 1990s – A Dream Takes Ice
It all started in the early 1990s with a vision to put Lancaster, PA, on the hockey map. Ray Ferry, a transplanted New Englander with a passion for hockey, had moved to Central Pennsylvania in the late 1970s and soon dedicated himself to building local hockey infrastructure. In 1995, Ferry partnered to construct the Regency Ice Rink in Lancaster, laying the literal ice foundation for what would become the Central Penn Panthers. By 1996, the Panthers fielded their first junior team in the Metropolitan Junior Hockey League (MetJHL) – a stepping stone league for aspiring players. The Panthers quickly proved competitive; their junior squad made an immediate mark by qualifying for the 1997 USA Hockey Junior Nationals and earning a bronze medal. This early success signaled that Central Pennsylvania finally had a team to rally behind at the junior level. Under Ferry’s leadership, the club didn’t stop at junior hockey – he also helped establish AAA youth teams, extending the Panthers’ influence into Tier I youth hockey at the highest level in the Atlantic region. By 1997, the Central Penn Panthers organization was officially operating as both a junior franchise and a Tier I youth program, joining the Atlantic Youth Hockey League (AYHL) to compete against the top AAA teams in the Mid-Atlantic. In those early years, young Panthers teams skated in elite AYHL circuits, gaining invaluable experience even when facing powerhouse opponents. The late ’90s laid the groundwork for a culture of development and excellence – from local ponds to national tournaments, the Panthers were on the rise.
Expansion into Tier I Youth Hockey (AYHL)
The move into Tier I youth hockey was a bold expansion that demonstrated the Panthers’ commitment to nurturing talent from a young age. As a Tier I (“AAA”) organization in the AYHL, Central Penn fielded youth teams at various age levels, providing Central Pennsylvania kids with the opportunity to compete at the highest youth level without having to leave home. By the 2000–01 season, for example, the Panthers iced an 18U AAA Midget team in the AYHL, battling familiar East Coast juggernauts. Though wins were hard-earned in those days, the experience these youth gained was immeasurable. The Panthers’ presence in the AYHL from the late 1990s to the early 2000s marked the first time a Central PA program consistently competed among traditional hockey strongholds, such as New Jersey and Philadelphia. This era produced some remarkable players and laid the pathway for the organization’s most famous alumnus. The commitment to Tier I competition showed that the Panthers aimed to develop elite talent – a mission that would pay dividends in the years to come.
The Metropolitan Junior Hockey League Years
A Central Penn Panthers junior player in action during the junior program’s heyday provided top-level competition for players 16–20 in Central PA.
Concurrent with its youth efforts, Central Penn’s junior team flourished in the Metropolitan Junior Hockey League (MetJHL), a Junior B/Tier III junior league. From 1996 onward, the Panthers’ juniors became a fixture in the MetJHL, providing 16– to 20–year–olds in central Pennsylvania with the opportunity to play high-level hockey close to home. The junior Panthers quickly made a name for themselves: in their inaugural 1996–97 season, they not only had a winning record but also earned a trip to the USA Hockey Junior Nationals, bringing home the bronze medal. It was a fairy-tale start for a new team. Over the next decade, the Panthers‘ junior program became synonymous with competitive grit. They consistently contended in the MetJHL, and their persistence paid off with multiple accolades. The team returned to the Junior Nationals stage three more times – 2008–09, 2009–10, and 2011–12 – with the 2008–09 squad achieving a national silver medal. They also captured league honors, including the Keegan Cup (MetJHL championship) twice, in 1997 and 2009. By the late 2000s, Central Penn was among the MetJHL’s premier franchises, even topping the league standings as regular season champions in 2009–10, 2010–11, and 2011–12. These years in the Met showcased the Panthers’ ability to develop and attract high-level junior talent, firmly establishing Central Penn as the destination for ambitious hockey players in the region. From the raucous home crowds at Regency Ice Rink to road trips up and down the East Coast, the MetJHL era forged the club’s competitive identity and produced a generation of players ready to reach for higher levels.
From Regency Panthers to Central Penn Panthers – Tier II Youth Hockey
By the late 2000s, even as the junior team thrived, Central Penn’s leaders saw another opportunity: building a broader base through Tier II travel youth hockey. In 2008, a grassroots initiative at Regency Ice Rink planted the seeds for this expansion. Ferry donated early-morning ice time, and along with hockey dads Wil Younger and Kevin Kowal (whose young sons, Cooper and Kalvin, were eager to play), they started a learn-to-play group that grew rapidly. What began as a casual Saturday skate for a handful of kids blossomed into the Regency Elementary Program (REP), drawing nearly 50 children and introducing many local families to hockey for the first time. Buoyed by that success, Ray Ferry, Younger, Kowal, and coach Josh McCoy took the next step in 2010: they officially established a Tier II youth travel club at Regency, initially called the Regency Panthers. The idea was to start small with two teams, but interest exceeded all expectations – in the inaugural 2010–11 season, the fledgling club iced five teams (6U through 12U) playing an independent schedule. These were truly “limited travel” teams in the beginning, but the enthusiasm and numbers showed that Central PA was hungry for more hockey.
The Regency Panthers quickly aimed to join organized league play. After just one season of exhibition and independent games, the club petitioned the Delaware Valley Hockey League (DVHL) – the Atlantic District’s Tier II league – for membership. The Panthers were admitted as a probationary member for the 2011–12 season, and by the following year, their performance earned a unanimous vote to become full members of the DVHL—this was a major milestone: Central Penn’s youth program had arrived in the established world of Mid-Atlantic travel hockey. In the 2012–13 DVHL campaign, and especially in 2013–14, the young club proved it belonged. The 2013–14 12U team became the first in club history to advance to the DVHL postseason, also setting a club record with 20 regular-season wins. The Panthers were no longer just participating – they were contending.
In 2014, a significant change united the organization under one banner. The youth teams, previously known as the Regency Panthers (sporting blue-and-white uniforms), were rebranded as the Central Penn Panthers in the 2014–15 season to match their older junior counterparts. The colors shifted to the red, white, and navy scheme worn by the junior club, symbolizing that all teams now skated as one program, one family. This rebranding was more than cosmetic; it was a statement that the Panthers’ junior and youth divisions were part of a single, continuous development pipeline. The timing of the rebrand was prescient, as the junior landscape was also changing. Around 2013, the MetJHL folded into new structures, and Central Penn’s junior team transitioned into the North American 3 Hockey League, later moving to the Eastern Hockey League’s Premier Division (Tier III junior). Under the name “Central Penn Panthers,” the club moved forward with a unified identity from 6U Mite age through 20-year-old juniors.
The Emergence of an NHL Star – Nick Foligno’s Panther Roots
Among the hundreds of players who have worn the Panthers jersey, one name shines especially bright: Nick Foligno. The son of longtime NHLer Mike Foligno, young Nick found himself in Central Pennsylvania in the early 2000s when his father was coaching in the area. It was a twist of fate that the Panthers program was there to help shape his journey. As a talented 14-year-old, Nick Foligno played for Hershey High School, dominating the high school circuit with 16 goals and 21 assists in 18 games as a freshman. Midway through that 2002–03 season, Nick sought greater challenges and joined the Central Penn Panthers junior team in the MetJHL. Despite being only 15, he fit right in against older competition – in 31 games with the Panthers, Foligno tallied 11 goals and 17 assists, gaining invaluable experience against junior-level players. That exposure with Central Penn helped catapult him to the next stage of his development. The very next year, Foligno earned a spot with the U.S. National Team Development Program, suiting up for the Under-17 and Under-18 teams before moving on to the major junior level in the Ontario Hockey League. During Foligno’s time with the Panthers, he learned to compete against men, a challenge that prepared him for the grind of elite hockey. In 2006, Nick Foligno became the first (and still only) Central Penn Panthers alumnus to be drafted to the NHL, selected in the first round, 28th overall by the Ottawa Senators. He went on to become an NHL mainstay and later served as captain of the Columbus Blue Jackets and now the Chicago Blackhawks. To this day, Foligno represents the pinnacle of the Panthers’ player development, proof that a kid playing in Central Pennsylvania – nurtured in local rinks by dedicated coaches – could rise to hockey’s highest level. His success continues to inspire young Panthers who dream of following in his footsteps.
Triumph in 2017 – The First Tier II Championship
By the mid-2010s, the Panthers’ youth program had experienced rapid growth and a period of contraction. After peaking at about 10 teams earlier in the decade, the club saw numbers dip around 2015 – a common challenge in youth sports. Entering the 2016–17 season, the organization was down to a single youth travel team: an Under-16 squad coached by Wil Younger. What could have been a tragedy instead became the backdrop for one of the most triumphant chapters in Panthers history. That 16U youth team embraced the “one team, one family” spirit and carried the entire club’s hopes on its shoulders. They delivered beyond anyone’s expectations. In an extraordinary run, the 2016–17 16U A Panthers dominated the DVHL competition, finishing in first place and capturing the DVHL Regular Season title and then powering through the playoffs to win the DVHL Playoff Championship as well. It was the first DVHL championship in club history at any youth level, a breakthrough moment for Central Penn’s Tier II program. For the players and families involved – many of whom had been with the club since those early “REP” learn-to-play days – it felt like the culmination of a long journey. They not only proved that the Panthers could rebuild, but they set a new standard of excellence. Though the 16U A championship team was the lone Panthers squad that year, their success laid a new foundation. It ignited a resurgence that saw the club begin to grow once more in the following seasons. The 2016–17 championship remains a proud touchstone – a reminder that dedication, pride, and love of the game can carry a program through its leanest times to its finest hour.
A Growing Legacy in Central Pennsylvania Hockey
Thirty years after the Central Penn Panthers first took the ice, the organization’s legacy is evident in rinks, trophy cases, and hearts throughout Central Pennsylvania. The Panthers have grown into a full-service developmental program, guiding players from the youngest learn-to-play stages to tier 1, junior hockey, college hockey, and beyond. Today, the club ices teams at every age level from 6U Mites up through 18U Midgets, with multiple skill tiers (AA, A, B) to accommodate and challenge players of varying abilities. In recent seasons, the Panthers have consistently fielded a dozen or more travel teams – 13 squads in 2024–25, for example – a remarkable testament to the sustained interest and participation in the area. League championships have become a proud tradition at every age group. In fact, the program now boasts DVHL division and playoff titles at 10U, 12U, 14U, 16U, and 18U levels over the last decade. The 2016–17 16U champs were just the beginning; since then, Panthers teams have frequently made playoff runs and even clinched district titles, such as the 2023–24 12U squad that won the Atlantic District (AAHA) championship.
Beyond the tangible successes, the impact on player development is where the Panthers’ legacy truly shines. The club has sent countless players to collegiate hockey, from ACHA and AAU club programs to NCAA Division I, and many others into junior leagues across the country. Every one of those alumni, whether they went on to play for a club team or a pro stint in Europe, started as a kid in Lancaster lacing up skates with big dreams. The Panthers have also been a driving force in growing the sport locally. Ray Ferry’s influence, for instance, extended to helping launch the Central Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League (CPIHL) in the mid-90s, giving area high schools their own hockey league. That high school league thrived and just recently celebrated its 30th anniversary as well – a parallel testament to how far hockey in Central PA has come since the Panthers’ inception. Culturally, the Panthers created a family-oriented hockey community in a region that was once considered off the beaten path for the sport. Generations of families have come through the organization, and names like Younger, Kowal, and McCoy that helped start it all can still be found behind the bench or in the stands, cheering on the next generation.
As we celebrate this 30-year milestone, the tone is one of reverent celebration and gratitude. The Central Penn Panthers have provided “a tradition of hockey development and excellence” – a motto the club wears proudly – to countless youth, embodying the idea that great moments are born from great opportunities. From a single rink and a small group of enthusiasts, the Panthers grew into a powerhouse of player development and a cornerstone of the regional hockey landscape. Their story is a rich tapestry of volunteerism, community spirit, and competitive fire. It’s the story of a club that dared to dream big in a non-traditional hockey market and, through perseverance and passion, turned those dreams into reality.
In reflecting on 30 years of Central Penn Panthers hockey, one can’t help but feel a swell of Panther pride. The alumni, the championships, the memories – all are points of pride – but perhaps the greatest legacy of the Panthers is the pipeline of young men and women who developed not just as hockey players, but as people. Whether they went on to the NHL like Nick Foligno or carry a lifelong love of the game, each Panther is part of the family and part of a legacy that will roar on into the future. Here’s to the next chapter in Central Penn Panthers history – the ice is ready for the next generation to write their own great moments, inspired by 30 years of excellence.
#CPPproud #Panther30Years