Interscholastic Hockey Program
North Hills Hockey Club supports a comprehensive interscholastic hockey program for student‑athletes in the North Hills School District. Our Middle School, Junior Varsity, and Varsity teams compete in the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League (PIHL), with our Varsity program playing in the Single A division.
Program Focus
The interscholastic program emphasizes strong fundamentals, competitive discipline, teamwork, and character. Players represent North Hills in league play while advancing their skills through structured coaching, game experience, and a commitment to sportsmanship.
Player Pathway
North Hills Hockey provides a clear pathway for athletes to grow within the sport, progressing from Middle School through Junior Varsity and into Varsity competition. Our program allows players to develop as hockey players and leaders while contributing to a long‑standing tradition of excellence in the North Hills community.
Coaches
Varsity Head Coach & Coach-in-Chief — Jeremy Swegman
Jeremy Swegman grew up playing hockey in Pittsburgh and at Bishop Canevin High School, where he was part of the 1993 Penguin Cup Championship team. He began coaching at Bishop Canevin in 2002 and later coached with the Pittsburgh Predators AA program, including two teams that competed at USA Hockey National Championships. He was also part of Bishop Canevin’s 2016 Penguin Cup Championship team and is entering his ninth season with North Hills Hockey Club.
As Varsity Head Coach and Coach-in-Chief, Swegman’s philosophy centers on development, accountability, preparation, and a team-first culture. He believes development is about more than hockey—it is about developing young people who understand commitment, responsibility, and what it means to be part of a team. As Coach-in-Chief, he works to carry those standards throughout the organization and build a consistent player pathway from the youngest levels through Varsity.
Coach Swegman believes North Hills is the right place to build that vision, with the goal of developing players and people while ultimately competing for a Penguin Cup Championship. He is proud of the coaching staff North Hills has built and the growing pipeline of families committed to investing in the program.
JV Coach — Chris Skwortz
14U PIHL Coach — Mike Hetzler
Mike Hetzler brings a strong combination of coaching experience, player development, and championship success to the North Hills Hockey Club. A USA Hockey Level 4 certified coach, he is entering his fourth season with North Hills and has coached across multiple age levels throughout his career.
During his time with North Hills, Coach Hetzler has served as a head coach at the 10U level, leading two teams to Nutcracker Tournament championships. Last season, he also served as an assistant coach with the 14U team that captured the PIHL Postseason Tournament Championship.
Coach Hetzler has also spent five years with the North Pittsburgh Wildcats, serving as an assistant coach at the 10U, 12U, and 14U levels. As a 14U head coach, he guided his team to the PAHL Championship game and tournament championships in Ann Arbor and at Alpha Ice Complex.
A 1995 graduate of North Hills High School, Coach Hetzler was a multi‑sport athlete, competing in both baseball and football. Now in his fourth year as a head coach, he continues to bring his experience and commitment to player development to the North Hills Hockey program.