THL Announces Texas Scholastic Hockey League

League Governance: Voting and Appointments Begin This Week

DALLAS, TX — The Texas Hockey League (THL) is pleased to provide an important update on the development of the region's new High School Hockey League. Building on the announcement made in The Next Chapter for High School Hockey, the THL is proud to officially reveal the league's name: the Texas Scholastic Hockey League (TSHL).

The TSHL will serve as the dedicated DFW High School Hockey League within the THL umbrella organization, designed specifically to support the unique needs of high school hockey players, families, coaches, and clubs across the DFW region and beyond. The THL Executive Board is committed to launching this league the right way with thoughtful governance, community representation, and a seamless transition that honors the great history of high school hockey in North Texas.

Governance Structure: How THL & TSHL Work Together

The TSHL operates as a dedicated High School League under the THL umbrella. The THL Executive Board holds ultimate authority over both organizations, while the TSHL Board of Governors manages day-to-day league operations within that framework.

Body	Authority & Role
THL Executive Board	Ultimate authority over both the THL and the TSHL. Holds reserved powers, including the right to review, amend, or overturn any decision of the TSHL Board of Governors. Sets overall mission, values, and strategic direction for both leagues.
TSHL Board of Governors (5 Members)	Operational authority over the TSHL day-to-day and season-to-season. Makes decisions on scheduling, rules, discipline, fees, and member clubs within the boundaries set by the THL Executive Board. Chaired by an elected Board Chair from among the five Governors.
TSHL Operations (Commissioner & Staff)	Appointed by the Board of Governors to run day-to-day operations. Includes Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, Discipline, Treasurer, Registrar, and Lead Scheduler.

Introducing the TSHL Governance Structure

The TSHL will be governed by a five-person Board of Governors, each representing a distinct constituency within the high school hockey community. Typically, all Governor terms are two years, with the opportunity for re-election at the TSHL annual meeting. Once the five-person board is in place, this group will elect one Board Chair.

To ensure continuity and prevent multiple Governors from rotating off at the same time, Governor #3 will serve an initial three-year term. Following that inaugural term, the position will revert to the standard two-year term.

Board of Governors

Position	Qualification	Appointed / Elected By
Governor #1	Texas Amateur Hockey Association’s High School Section President	Voted on by TAHA Board
Governor #2	Texas Hockey League Board Member; ensures coordination between high school and travel hockey	Voted on by THL Board
Governor #3	Past President of a high school association; brings deep experience with no direct current organizational tie	*Appointed by THL Board for Inaugural Season (current committee member from the 2025-26 season)
Governor #4	Current or past President or Board member of a high school club (East)	Voted on by current Eastern high school clubs
Governor #5	Current or past President or Board member of a high school club (West)	Voted on by current Western high school clubs

This Week: Governance Takes Shape

Three of the five Governor seats will be decided this week. Here is how the initial appointments and elections will work:

Governor #1 — USA Hockey Representative:

The TAHA’s High School Hockey President will fill this seat or appoint this seat. This Governor will maintain direct ties to the Texas Amateur Hockey Association and USA Hockey, ensuring that the TSHL has a strong voice at the State and National levels and operates in accordance with USA Hockey's standards and requirements.

Governor #2 — THL Board Representative:

The THL Board will vote to fill this seat with an active member of the THL Board. This role ensures coordination and alignment between the TSHL and the THL to maximize opportunities for players across High School and Travel Hockey.

Governor #3 — Past High School Association President:

In Year 1, the THL Board will appoint a current committee member from the 2025-26 high school season for this year only. This ensures continuity, institutional knowledge, and a smooth transition, preserving the legacy of the fantastic league that has operated in DFW for many years.

After the initial term, this seat will be subject to the same election process as outlined for Governors #4 & #5.

Governors #4 & #5 — Elected by the Clubs:

A vote of the current high school clubs will fill these two seats. Candidates must be a current or past President or Board member of a participating club.

Governor #4 will be elected by the constituency representing the collection of teams on the Eastern side of DFW.
Governor #5 will be elected by the constituency representing the collection of teams on the Western side of DFW.

President Club Meeting & Voting Timeline

The THL will meet with High School Hockey Clubs on Thursday, June 25th, at 2:00 PM via Teams. All club Presidents are welcome and encouraged to attend. On the call, the THL will walk through how the nomination and voting process will work for Governors #4 and #5.

Date	Action
Thursday, June 25, 2:00 PM (Teams)	President Club Meeting: All club Presidents are welcome to attend. The Board will walk through the Governor nomination and voting process.
Sat. June 27 – Tues. June 30	Nomination window opens for Governor #4 and Governor #5. Details will be explained on the June 27 call.
July 1 – 3	Each club submits its official vote for the remaining Governor spots.
July 6 - 10	Governors begin building the operational arm of the TSHL, including appointing the Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, Treasurer, Registrar, and Lead Scheduler.
Mid-July	Formation of committee heads and committees, drawing from the governing body and current member clubs.

Important: Club Contact Information Needed

To ensure accurate league communications, each club must submit its current contact information through the Club Contact Information Form.

Complete the Club Contact Information Form →

What Comes Next

Once the Governors are confirmed, they will begin building out the operational arm of the TSHL. The Board recommends the Governors appoint the following leadership roles:

Commissioner
Deputy Commissioner
Treasurer
Registrar
Lead Scheduler

The final step will be to form committee heads and committees, drawing from the governing body described above and from members of the current clubs in the community.

Transparency is important to us, and we will work swiftly and diligently to establish a structure to ensure proper preparation for the Fall 2026–2027 Season. We are grateful to this community and committed to doing this right.

— THL Executive Board

About the Texas Hockey League (THL)

The Texas Hockey League is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to growing hockey across Texas and Oklahoma. Following a successful inaugural travel hockey season, the THL is expanding its mission by forming the Texas Scholastic Hockey League (TSHL), bringing dedicated governance and community-first leadership to high school hockey in the DFW region and beyond.

Website: www.texasscholastichockeyleague.com

Contact: commissioner@texashockeyleague.com