When you think of Florida sports, you might think of football, basketball, or baseball, given how many professional teams there are around the state. Despite having two NHL teams with the Panthers right here in South Florida, one local pee-wee hockey team is planning to make a name for themselves in the hockey league.
The Palm Beach Hawks are a co-ed youth hockey team that will represent South Florida at the prestigious 64th annual Pee-Wee Quebec Tournament in Canada next spring. The Hawks are one of 120 teams representing five continents that will be competing.
Youth Hockey in Palm Beach
This isn't your average pee-wee hockey team. The Hawks are made up of 17 players with three being girls. Those girls are all 12 years old, but they hold their own against the boys and are equally as hard working.
The team competes in a lot of tournaments locally and statewide to be better prepared to go international. Many players credit their teammates turning into friends as being the best part of the game.
"It's really fun. Just so much fun going somewhere with your friends. You can hang out, then you get to play verse other teams and make new friends along the way,” said Owen Holder, a sixth grader who has been on the team for two years.
Read also: Your Guide to Palm Beach Beaches
"My favorite part of hockey is just playing with all these great friends that I have on the team, working as a team,” said Tommy Didonato, an 11 year old on the team.
Palm Beach Hawks 16UA 2025 Season End recap
Hawks coach Max Genest played in this tournament when he was also 12 years old. Then, four years ago, both of his sons competed in it. Now, not only does he get to coach this year's team in the competition, but his daughter is also the last of his children to get to compete in it as well.
"We're going to try and bring it home, but first and foremost, we have to represent well."
Junior Hockey and the Palm Beach Hawks
The Palm Beach Hawks were a Tier III junior ice hockey team located in Lake Worth, Florida. Established in 2006 as the Palm Beach Predators, the organization was renamed as the Hawks in 2009.
The organization were members of the Southeast Junior Hockey League (which became the EJHL South in 2011) from 2006 until 2011. A second team was formed for the 2009-10 season which competed in the Metropolitan Junior Hockey League and then the Empire Junior Hockey League from 2011 to 2013. In 2013, many American junior hockey leagues reorganized and both teams joined the United States Premier Hockey League in the Elite and Empire Divisions, respectively.
Read also: The Story of the Palm Beach Breakers
In 2015, the Empire Division was rebranded to the USP3.
The Palm Beach Hawks are a Tier III Junior A ice hockey organization playing in the United States Premier Hockey League's Elite and USP3 divisions. The organization was established as the Palm Beach Predators in or before 2006. The organization was a member of the Metropolitan Junior Hockey League from 2008 to 2011.
The organization operated a second team that was also a member of the Southeast Junior Hockey League from 2006-2011 (which included sitting out the 2008-09 season). The organization operated just one team from 2011 to 2013.
Early Hockey in Florida
The St. Petersburg Amateur Hockey Association set up a youth league that began play for ages 10-14 in the fall of 1966. On September 23, 1967, the Aerosonic Canadians and Tri-Tech Rangers were set to play for the championship for ages 13-17.
From December 1-3, 1972, three Pee Wee teams from Toronto were set to play in a tournament with two Florida youth (12-15 year old) outfits at the Bayfront Center in St. Petersburg. Participants: Martin Grove, Landers Bruins, and Royal York Rangers from Canada, Largo United Surgical and St. Petersburg-based Jerry's Gas Appliances.
Read also: Preserving Mission Bay
A 12 team tournament, featuring six teams from the Toronto Metropolitan Hockey League, and six from the Suncoast Junior Hockey Association, was set to be played at the Bayfront Center in St. Petersburg from January 3-5.
The South Florida Hockey Club continued playing at the Polar Palace. The Bruins relocated to the Polar Palace from West Palm Beach, where the ice had been removed. The team was still sometimes referred to as West Palm Beach.
The Lakeland Amateur Hockey Association held a junior tournament at the Lakeland Civic Center on August 13-14, involving teams from Lakeland, St. Petersburg and Miami. A senior league also operated at the rink. On September 2, it was reported that the Lakeland Seniors had won all three games against Jacksonville and Miami in a tournament in Jacksonville, while the Juniors won three games against Miami and St.
The Florida Hockey League, played at the Lakeland Civic Center, was won by the Lakeland Red Tide. On July 12, they defeated the Tampa Purple Streaks 7-3. The Red Tide beat the Orlando Orange Crush 4-3 to win the Dixie Cup on August 22. The Crush had trimmed the Tampa Purple Streaks 5-1 in the semifinal the previous day. The Florida Hockey League was made up of teams from Orlando, Tampa, Lakeland West and Lakeland East. During the regular season Orlando won four games, Lakeland West three, Tampa two and Lakeland East one.
The Canada-Florida Old Timers Ice Hockey Tournament was played at the Bayfront Center in St. Petersburg from April 21-27. It featured 44 teams from Canada, Finland, Sweden and the United States, including the Solar Bears, a Florida all-star team.
The Canada-Florida Old Timers Ice Hockey Tournament was contested again at the Bayfront Center in April 1980. It featured 40 teams from Canada. There were also youth games played between Lakeland and St.
The Bayfront Arena played host to two tournaments, the Florida Palms International Tournament from April 27-30 for players 30 and older, and the Canada-Florida Old Timers Ice Hockey Tournament for players 35+ from May 5-9. The latter included two local teams, the Florida Solar Players and Elder Gators.
The Glacier Ice and Snow Arena opened in Pompano Beach in 1981.
The Polar Palace in Miami was shuttered in May 1982.
The South Florida Hockey League was contested again at the Sunrise Skating Center.
All-star teams from the Gold Coast Hockey League, known as Team Florida, faced teams from Ottawa, Ontario in an invitational tournament at the Sunrise Skating Center in March 1983. In the U18 Division, Florida won the first game 2-1 and the second 6-5, while Ottawa captured the third, 7-4. In the U15 Division, Ottawa defeated Florida in three straight games.
The South Florida Hockey League and Gold Coast Minor Hockey League both operated at the Sunrise Skating Center.
The Central Florida Amateur Hockey Association and a Central Florida youth program ran at the Orlando Ice Skating Palace.
The Sun Blades Ice Skating Center opened in Clearwater. An amateur league with two eight team divisions, A and B, was formed at the rink, as was a youth league. Neuhaus beat the Knockers 6-2 in December to win the A Division title.
The Lighthouse Point Ice Arena opened in Broward County, and the South Florida No-Check Hockey League was established at the rink.
The South Florida Hockey League operated at the Sunrise Skating Center, and the Gold Coast Minor Hockey League played at the Lighthouse Point Ice Arena.
The Sunrise Junior Hockey League operated at the Sunrise Skating Center, and the Gold Coast Minor Hockey League played at the Lighthouse Point Ice Arena.
Sun Blades host the first Senior Non-check National Ice Hockey Championship in April. The Suncoast Sharks won the championship, and the Sunblades also competed in the tournament, along with teams from Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. The Sharks also won the Sunshine State Hockey Association, which was contested during the winter of 1988. Other teams in the league included the Fort Lauderdale Stars, St. Petersburg Sunblades, and Pompano Beach.
A new facility, Ice Rink International, opened in Orlando in 1989.
The US Senior 30+ Championship was held in Fort Lauderdale and won by the hosts, Dearborn finishing as runners-up. The Senior Non-Check Championship was played in St. Suncoast Sharks beat Orlando Vistas 6-1 in the A Division final. Fort Lauderdale Express won the bronze medal. Indiro's Pizza defeated Sunrise Ice Skating Club 5-3 in the championship game to win the B Division. Jacksonville won the bronze medal.
The South Florida Hockey League operated at the Sunrise Skating Center, and the Gold Coast Minor Hockey League played at the Lighthouse Point Ice Arena.
The Orlando Youth Hockey Association operated a league at the Ice Rink International.
The US Senior Non-Check Championship was held in St.
The University of South Florida club team went 15-6 on the season, 7-3 in the Southern Collegiate Hockey Association.
The US National Senior Non-Check Championship was played at Sun Blades. The Suncoast Sharks were among the teams to play in it. Paddock Pools (MI) beat Suncoast 8:6 in the semifinals, and then beat Pabst/Northland in the final.
The South Florida Hockey League operated at the Sunrise Skating Center.
The University of South Florida club team went 7-3 on the season.
In November 1991 Tampa Bay Jr. Lightning beat Orlando 4-3 to win the Pompano Beach Thanksgiving Hockey Tournament Junior Division (U16-18) championship.
The University of South Florida had a club team that played at the Sun Blades Ice Skating Center in Clearwater. They faced Georgia Tech, the University of Georgia, the University of Tennessee, the University of Alabama-Huntsville (losing 24-1 and 15-0 to them), Duke (beating them 5-0 and 4-2 at Stone Mountain, GA), and the Tampa Bay Jr. Lightning among others. The Bulls were 8-3-1 in the Southern Collegiate Hockey Association as of 2/9. Naples Northerners and Coors Light Silver Bullets were among the teams in the league.