Mankato Area Hockey Association

The MAHA Tradition Page is dedicated to promote the history of MAHA's youth association. If you know of anyone in the past who has either gone on to play college hockey,  who was a MAHA President, or simply have some history/tradition you would like to share,  please email the MAHA Operation's Manager at davvy@charter.net so that they can be aknowledged on this page.

The Mankato Area Hockey Association (MAHA) was formed in April 1973 as a non-profit corporation for the promotion of hockey within the Mankato Area.  In the 1970's, the Mankato Area Recreation Council provided City Recreational Hockey for the area youth.  Players were placed on teams by the location they lived in. MAHA offered another option by providing traveling leagues to further promote the growth of hockey in southern Minnesota.  This also provided more options of competitive play among other communities in the area.  All teams both Rec. and MAHA played and practiced in the various outdoor rinks, the 4H building, The Mankato Curling Club, and at times at Gustavus Adulphus College in St. Peter until Mankato opened its first indoor ice sheet in 1974.

In the fall of 1974 there were 4 traveling teams, 1 PeeWee, 1 Bantam, 1 Midget and 1 Juveniles.  The younger players, Squirt age, played within the Rec program.  In 1977, the Mankato School Board passed the budget for a high School Club Team known as "The Mankato Knights", this was a combined team from all High Schools. They joined the Big Nine conference in 1980.  GIrls Hockey began with an Initiation Program in 1995 with players numbering 17.  This was also a combined group from all the High Schools.  In the 2001-2002 Season, both Mankato East and West High Schools provided girls hockey.