The Erie Youth Hockey Association was founded in 1995 and joined the PAHL that same year. 

The team was originally nicknamed the "Lions" after a professional team that played in Erie from 1963-1974.  The Lions played out of a number of ice rinks in the Erie area:  the Ice Center of Erie, the JMC Memorial Arena (aka "the Zoo"),  Mercyhurst Ice Center, the Erie Insurance Arena, and the Erie Bank Sports Park. 

The Erie Lions frequently partnered with the Erie Otters, who play in the Ontario Hockey League.  That led to the youth organization adopting the Otters nickname.  The Otters teams primarily play out of the Erie Bank Sports Park but still use the Mercyhurst Ice Center and Erie Insurance Arena.