History

The Princeton Junior Tigers grew out of nearly 75 years of local hockey passion, dedicated volunteers, and community leaders who believed that every child should have a fun, welcoming place to learn the game.

John F. Bernard, known throughout Princeton as “Mr. Hockey”, was a Princeton University graduate and lifelong champion of youth sports. In the late 1950s, Bernard founded the Pee Wee Hockey League in Princeton, NJ. He was a founding director of the United States Hockey Hall of Fame and one of its first honorees, in recognition of his 30 years of service to USA Hockey.

Bernard laid the groundwork for what would become the Princeton Youth Hockey Association, founded in 1958.

The Lawrence Flames were founded in 1965 as a competitor of Princeton Youth, and remained independent until 2017 when they merged with Nassau Hockey Association, becoming the Lawrence Nassau Hockey Association.

At the start of the 2021-2021 season, Princeton Youth Hockey merged with the Lawrence Nassau Hockey Association, creating the Lawrence Princeton Nassau Hockey Association. This merger offers youth hockey players in Central New Jersey the chance to compete at a higher level and choose between house and travel leagues.

In 2023, Princeton Youth Hockey rebranded as the Princeton Junior Tigers.

LPNHA manages the Tiger Cubs, Nassau House League, and the Princeton Junior Tigers.