TEAMS

HISTORY

Indiana Youth Hockey Association was founded in 1991, riding an influx of players who got into the sport after the arrival of Mario Lemieux in Pittsburgh.  The Chiefs arrival came ahead of the subsequent boon from the Penguins' Stanley Cup teams, which ultimately produced many more PAHL organizations and, as demonstrated in Indiana itself, caused many of the area ice rinks to be built.

After playing its first few seasons out of the Belmont Complex in Kittanning, the Indiana Ice & Expo Center opened in 1995 in White Township, located immediately to the east of the borough of Indiana.  The arena sits within a larger sports complex and was originally two ice surfaces.  It was rebranded to the S&T Bank Arena in the 2000s and now houses one ice surface.

Sam Kelly was a driving force in growing hockey in Indiana, starting in the 1980s at an outdoor rink in Mack Park.  Kelly coached at all levels as the youth program formed and solidified, and he became the rink manager when the Indiana Ice & Expo Center opened.

The Chiefs nickname is in direct relation to the location the teams call home.  The county -- and subsequently the borough -- were named in honor of the Native Americans of the area, from whom the land for the county and city had been purchased in the late 1700s via the "Indiana grant."  Other area sports teams were using the nickname "Indians," so the hockey program opted to be called the Chiefs.