The South Shore Kings are a Tier II Junior A ice hockey team playing in the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL). The team plays at the Foxboro Sports Center located in Foxboro, Massachusetts.

The organization fields Tier II and Tier III teams in the National Collegiate Developmental Conference USPHL Premier and Elite Divisions. The Kings also offer youth hockey select teams at the Bantam, Peewee, and Squirt and other various levels.

History The franchise, then known as the NECDL Classics, is a charter member of the Eastern Junior Hockey League (EJHL) since 1993. In 1997 the Classics became the Walpole Stars, remaining as such until 2006, when it changed its name to the Foxboro Stars. One year later the team aligned itself with the South Shore Kings organization (which had fielded midget team), becoming known as the South Shore Kings.

The USPHL was formed for the 2013–14 season during a Tier III reorganization that led to the dissolution of the EJHL. Prior to that season, the Kings participated in the former Junior A Eastern Junior Hockey League (EJHL), the former Junior B Empire Junior Hockey League (EmJHL) and Continental Hockey Association (later named Eastern States Hockey League or ESHL). The former EJHL team now plays in the USPHL Premier Divisions, the former ESHL team plays in the Elite Division, and the former EmJHL team played in the Empire Division from 2012 to 2015.

The 2023-24 season marked the first Dineen Cup (USPHL NCDC playoff championship) and the next year their first regular season divisional and league championship. The team also captured the 2025-26 Dinnen Cup in Idaho Falls,ID at the Mountain America Center

Season-by-season records Season GP W L T OTL Pts GF GA Regular season finish PlayoffsNECDL Classics 1993–97 no dataEJHLWalpole Stars 1997–98 no dataEJHL 1998–99 37 28 8 1 — 57 214 126 1st of 8, EJHL 1999–00 40 31 8 1 — 63 216 104 1st of 11, EJHL 2000–01 37 31 2 3 1 66 —— 1st of 12, EJHL Won Quarterfinal game, 6–2 vs. Lowell Jr. Lock MonstersWon Semifinal game, 4–3 vs. Valley Jr. WarriorsWon Championship game, 5-3 vs. Boston Jr. BruinsLeague champions 2001–02 38 21 12 4 1 47 160 150 3rd of 6, South5th of 12, EJHL Won Quarterfinal game, 5–2 vs. Boston Jr. BruinsLost Semifinal game, 1–4 vs. New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs 2002–03 38 28 5 3 2 61 199 126 2nd of 6, South2nd of 12, EJHL Won Quarterfinals vs. Lowell Jr. Lock MonstersWon Semifinal game, 5-2 vs. Boston Jr. BruinsLost Championship game, 4-5 vs. New York Apple Core 2003–04 38 18 18 1 1 38 127 118 4th of 6, South7th of 12, EJHL Lost Quarterfinals vs. Boston Jr. Bruins 2004–05 52 26 22 3 1 56 170 169 2nd of 7, South5th of 13, EJHL Won Quarterfinals, 2–0 vs. Bay State BreakersLost Semifinal game, 0–2 vs. Boston Jr. Bruins 2005–06 45 23 18 2 2 50 165 152 2nd of 7, South6th of 14, EJHL Won Quarterfinals, 1–1 vs. Green Mountain GladesLost Semifinal game, 3–4 OT vs. New Hampshire Jr. MonarchsFoxboro Stars 2006–07 45 16 21 6 2 40 136 162 4th of 7, South9th of 14, EJHL Lost Quarterfinals, 0–2 vs. New Hampshire Jr. MonarchsSouth Shore Kings 2007–08 45 24 16 3 2 53 170 155 3rd of 7, South6th of 14, EJHL Won Quarterfinals, 1–1 vs. Syracuse StarsLost Semifinals, 0–2 vs. Jersey Hitmen 2008–09 45 21 17 5 2 49 159 160 4th of 7, South7th of 14, EJHL Lost Quarterfinals, 1–1 vs. New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs 2009–10 45 33 5 2 2 73 188 115 1st of 7, South2nd of 14, EJHL Won Quarterfinals, 2–0 vs. Green Mountain GladesWon Semifinal game, 3–2 vs. Jersey HitmenLost Championship game, 3–4 vs. New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs 2010–11 45 25 13 5 2 57 206 156 3rd of 7, South5th of 14, EJHL Won First Round, 2–0 vs. Green Mountain GladesLost Quarterfinals, 1–2 vs. Bay State Breakers 2011–12 45 37 8 — 0 74 221 132 1st of 7, South2nd of 14, EJHL Won Quarterfinals, 2–1 vs. Green Mountain GladesLost Semifinals, 1–2 vs. New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs 2012–13 45 25 16 — 4 54 174 143 2nd of 7, South5th of 14, EJHL Lost Quarterfinals vs. Valley Jr. Warriors 2013–14 48 31 13 — 4 66 166 139 3rd of 9,USPHL Premier Won Quarterfinals, 2–1 vs. P.A.L. Jr. IslandersLost Semifinals, 2–0 vs. Jersey Hitmen 2014–15 50 23 24 — 3 49 166 163 7th of 11,USPHL Premier Won Quarterfinals, 2–1 vs. Boston Junior BruinsLost Semifinals, 2–0 vs. Jersey Hitmen 2015–16 44 31 8 — 5 67 172 109 4th of 12,USPHL Premier Won Quarterfinals, 2–0 vs. P.A.L. Jr. IslandersLost Semifinals, 0–2 vs. Islanders Hockey Club 2016–17 45 20 22 — 3 43 144 148 6th of 10,USPHL Premier Lost Quarterfinals, 0–2 vs. Boston Junior Bruins 2017–18 50 29 16 — 5 63 175 165 4th of 11,NCDC Lost Quarterfinals, 1–2 vs. Connecticut Jr. Rangers 2018–19 50 14 34 — 2 30 120 221 12th of 12,NCDC Did not qualify 2019–20 50 17 27 — 6 40 145 191 11th of 13,NCDC Did not qualify 2018–19 50 14 34 — 2 30 120 221 12th of 12,NCDC Did not qualify 2020–21 39 22 16 — 1 45 116 123 2nd of 7, North5th of 13, NCDC Lost First Round, 1–2 vs. Islanders Hockey Club 2021–22 48 25 19 — 4 54 154 139 3rd of 7, North5th of 13, NCDC Lost Div. Semifinals, 0–2 vs. New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs 2022–23 50 28 17 4 1 61 159 142 2nd of 7, North4th of 14, NCDC Won Div. Semifinals, 2-1 vs. New Hampshire Jr. MonarchsWon North Div 2-1 Twin City Thunder Lost League Finals 1-2 P.A.L. Jr. Islanders 2023–24 52 36 12 2 2 76 192 123 2nd of 6, New England4th of 18, NCDC Won Div. Semifinals, 2-0 vs. Utica Jr. CometsWon Div Finals 3-0 Islanders Hockey ClubWon ATL/NE Reg 3-1 P.A.L. Jr. IslandersWon Dineen Cup 2-1 (Ogden Mustangs) 2024–25 54 44 7 3 0 91 235 127 1st of 9, New England1st of 22, NCDC Won Div. Semifinals, 3-0 (Worcester Jr. Railers)Lost Div. Finals 1-3 (Northern Cyclones)adv to Dineen Cup top Div loser(OTL, 0-1 gm Idaho Falls Spud Kings)(3-OTW, 3-2 Northern Cyclones)(W, 4-0 Mercer Chiefs)(Lost FINAL, 1-2 (Idaho Falls Spud Kings) 2025–26 54 44 7 1 2 91 220 108 1st of 6, New England (East)1st of 19, New England1st of 33, NCDC Won Div. Semifinals, 3-0 (Thunder Hockey Club)Won Div. Finals 3-0 (Islanders Hockey Club)Won NE Round Robin gm1 1-0 (Lewiston MAINEiacs) Won NE Finals 2-0 (Utica Jr. Comets)(L, 5-4 gm 1 Idaho Falls Spud Kings)(W, 3-2 P.A.L. Jr. Islanders)(W, 1-0 Idaho Falls Spud Kings)(W gm1 FINAL, 3-1 Grand Junction River Hawks)(OTW gm2 FINAL, 1-0 Grand Junction River Hawks)Won Dineen Cup, Double Elimination Format

USA Hockey Tier III Junior A National Championships Round robin play in pool with top 4 teams advancing to semi-final.

Year Round Robin Record Standing Semifinal Championship Game 2010 W, Phoenix Polar Bears (WSHL) 7-1W, Walpole Express (AtJHL) 9-2W, Twin Cities Northern Lights (MnJHL) 7-1 3-0-0 1st of 4 Div. IIW, Rochester Ice Hawks (MnJHL) 6-1L, St. Louis Jr. Blues (CSHL) 3-4

Alumni Noel Acciari – Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL) Charlie Coyle – Drafted in 2010 by San Jose Sharks (NHL), traded to and debuted with the Minnesota Wild in 2012. Subsequently traded to Boston becoming a dependable top 9 forward for the Bruins. Matty Beniers - Seattle Kraken (NHL) Jimmy Hayes (ice hockey) - Boston Bruins (NHL) John Marino - Utah Mammoth (NHL) Jim Fahey – San Jose Sharks (NHL) and New Jersey Devils (NHL), 2003 First Team All-American with Northeastern University Matt Gilroy – New York Rangers (NHL), 2009 Hobey Baker Award Winner, 2008 and 2009 First Team All-American, 2007 Second Team All-American with Boston University Gianni Paolo – Actor most known for portraying Brayden Weston on the hit crime drama Power, and Power Book II: Ghost; Also known for MA, The Fosters, The Mick and Chance (TV series) Jordan Smotherman – Atlanta Thrashers (NHL) Chris Wagner – Colorado Avalanche (NHL) Ryan Donato – Chicago Blackhawks (NHL) Jimmy Vesey - New York Rangers, Buffalo Sabres, Toronto Maple Leafs, New Jersey Devils, Colorado Avalanche (NHL), Geneve Servette (Swiss League)

References

External links South Shore Kings Juniors