eastern junior hockey league directory

Transcription

February 2011 • 1
GOD BLESS
AMERICA
VOLUME 12, NUMBER 5
FEBRUARY 2011
The largest hockey publication of its kind in the nation
Hockey’s Future Stars, Here Today!
‘Pot Luck Feast
Eastern Junior Hockey League
alumni headline
Beanpot Tournament
2 • February 2011
FCA HOCKEY ANNOUNCES THE
SECOND ANNUAL TEAMFCA CUP
Niagara University
May 26th - 29th
FCA Hockey will be selecting 4 Regional All Star teams to compete in
New York this May. The teams will consist of top players 18 and under
from across the United States and Canada.
Teams will be coached by current and former professional and college
coaches, as well as current junior coaches.
Players of all Denominations are welcome .
If interested if playing, please visit the FCA Hockey website
www.fcahockey.org .
TOURNAMENT DETAILS
February 2011 • contents
Cover Story ....................................................................... 4-5
Eastern Junior Hockey League .............................................6
Capital District Selects ........................................................7
North American Hockey League...................................... 8-9
Boston Shamrocks/Mass. Maple Leafs .............................. 11
Boston Jr. Blackhawks ......................................................... 11
Philadelphia Revolution/Connecticut Jr. Wolfpack ........... 12
Bay State Breakers ............................................................. 12
Western States Hockey League .......................................... 1
Northern Cyclones/Yellowstone Quake ............................ 14
Editor-in-ChiEf
Joshua Boyd
e-mail: [email protected]
Layout dEsign
and ProduCtion:
Chase designs
[email protected]
Joshua Boyd
USA Junior Hockey Magazine (019-181) is
published monthly by Hockey Media Group,
360 West St., Duxbury, MA.
Periodicals postage paid at Duxbury MA
and additional mailing offices.
Postmaster send address changes to:
P.O. Box 963, Duxbury, MA 02331
Tel. 781-934-5888
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E-mail: [email protected]
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Single Copy: $3.95 USD
Mail Subscriptions to:
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Subscriptions are non-refundable
REPORT AN ERROR IMMEDIATELY
USA Junior Hockey will not be responsible
for more than one incorrect insertion.
Visit our Website at: usajuniorhockey.com
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Cedar Rapids Roughriders ................................................. 14
Texas Brahmas/El Paso Rhinos ........................................... 16
Portland Jr. Pirates/New England Huskies ......................... 17
New Jersey Titans/Florida Eels/ Boston Jr. Bulldogs ........ 18
Atlantic Hockey League Directory ..................................... 19
Metropolitan Hockey League Directory ............................ 19
Empire Junior Hockey League ............................................20
Continental Hockey Association ....................................... 21
International Junior Hockey League ..................................22
International Junior Youth Hockey League........................2
USA
Hockeysanctioned
Sanctioned Junior
Junior
Leagues
UsA
Hockey
JuniorLeagues
Leagues
USA
Hockey
Sanctioned
For the
the 2009-2010
2009-2010
Playingseason
Season
for
the
2010-11 Playing
For
Playing
Season
Dan Esdale, USAH VP, Chair, Junior Council
TierIII
Tier
Tier
UnitedStates
StatesJunior
JuniorHockey
HockeyLeague
League
United
States
Junior
Hockey
League
United
Tier
I
USHL.com
USHL.com
USHL.com
United States Junior Hockey League
USHL.com
TierIIIIIIJunior
JuniorAAA
Tier
Junior
Tier
NorthAmerican
AmericanHockey
HockeyLeague
League
NAHL.com
North
American
Hockey
League
NAHL.com
North
NAHL.com
Tier II Junior A
North American Hockey League
TierIII
IIIJunior
JuniorAANAHL.com
A
Tier
III
Junior
Tier
AtlanticJunior
JuniorHockey
HockeyLeague
League
Atlantichockey.org
Atlantic
Junior
Hockey
League
Atlantichockey.org
Atlantic
Atlantichockey.org
Tier
III
Junior
A
EasternJunior
JuniorHockey
HockeyLeague
League
Easternjulnior.com
Eastern
Junior
Hockey
League
Easternjulnior.com
Eastern
Easternjulnior.com
CentralStates
StatesHockey
HockeyLeague
League
Cshlhockey.com
Central
Cshlhockey.com
Central
Cshlhockey.com
AtlanticStates
JuniorHockey
HockeyLeague
League
ATLANTICHoCkEY.org
Minnesota
Junior
Hockey
League
MNJHL.com
Minnesota
Junior
Hockey
League
MNJHL.com
Minnesota
Junior
Hockey
League
MNJHL.com
Eastern Junior
Hockey
League
EASTERNJUNIoR.com
NorthernPacific
PacificHockey
HockeyLeague
League
Norpac-hockey.com
Northern
Pacific
Hockey
League
Norpac-hockey.com
Northern
Norpac-hockey.com
North American
Hockey
League
NAHL.com
Western
States
Hockey
League
WSHL.org
Western
States
Hockey
League
WSHL.org
Western
States
Hockey
League
WSHL.org
Minnesota
Junior
Hockey
league
MNJHL.com
Northern Pacific Hockey League
NoRPAC-HoCkEY.com
Tier
III
Junior
B
Western States Hockey League
Tier III
III Junior
Junior BBWSHL.org
Tier
ContinentalHockey
HockeyAssociation
Association
Jrhockey.net
Continental
Hockey
Association
Jrhockey.net
Continental
Jrhockey.net
Tier
III
Junior
B
EmpireJunior
JuniorHockey
HockeyLeague
League
Empirehockey.com
Empire
Junior
Hockey
League
Empirehockey.com
Empire
Empirehockey.com
Great
Lakes
Junior
Hockey
League
GLJHL.com
Great
Lakes Junior
Junior
Hockey
League GLJHL.com
GLJHL.com
Great
Lakes
Hockey
League
Continental
Hockey
Association
JRHoCkEY.net
Metropolitan
Jr.
Hockey
League
Metleague.org
Metropolitan
Jr.
Hockey
League
Metleague.org
Metropolitan
Jr.
Hockey
League
Metleague.org
Empire Junior Hockey League
EMPIREHoCkEY.com
Great Lakes Junior Hockey League
GLJHL.pointstreaksites.com
Metropolitan Jr. Hockey League
METLEAGUE.org
Southeast Junior Hockey League
SEJHL.net
TierIII
IIIJunior
JuniorC
Tier
III
Junior
CC
Tier
ContinentalHockey
HockeyAssociation
Association
Jrhockey.net
Continental
Hockey
Association
Jrhockey.net
Continental
Jrhockey.net
SoutheasternJunior
JuniorHockey
HockeyLeague
LeagueSEJHL.net
SEJHL.net
Southeastern
Junior
Hockey
League
SEJHL.net
Southeastern
Go to: www.usahockey.com
Goto:
to:www.usahockey.com
www.usahockey.com
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to:
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Click
on:
Players,
Click on: Juniors
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on:Juniors
Juniors
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on: Players,
Players, Click
Click on:
on:
Juniors
Click
4 • February 2011
’Pot luck feast
Eastern Junior Hockey League alumni headline Beanpot Tournament
By Mike Klein
E
very February, Boston College, Boston University, Harvard University, and
Northeastern University converge on the TD Garden in Boston’s North End to
battle for Boston college hockey bragging rights.
Hopefully, they’ll also pick up two non-conference wins against top competition, and
ensure that the fiery rivalry between the four schools will not burn itself out in the foreseeable
future.
As yesterday’s players turn into today’s coaches and hockey parents, it is of little surprise
that the Beanpot’s importance is not lost on the current crop of players. The end result is that
for the 21 Eastern Junior Hockey League alumni playing in the tournament, the chance to play
for the coveted trophy is simply a dream come true.
Players from all of the EJHL’s teams often make the trek on the first two Mondays in
February to watch the games and talk of the tournament always creeps into the locker rooms,
often creating new rivalries to be played out on the TD Garden ice in the coming years.
Coaches Peter Masters (Junior Bruins) and Scott Harlow (South Shore Kings), both Boston
College alumni, are always in attendance, and fellow BC alum Toby Harris (Jersey Hitmen)
likewise watches the Beanpot intently on TV in New Jersey.
Regardless of whether a coach attended a participating school, the tournament is held in
high regard throughout the EJHL. Teams are quick to point out the number of representatives
taking part in the event and the Long Island-based New York Apple Core proudly mentions
its status as one of two junior teams to have a representative at all four schools in the 2005
tournament (the South Shore Kings being the other).
The tournament, aided by unique scheduling, receives coverage rivaled only by the Frozen
Four, and is universally cited as a reason why players commit to the four schools.
Though often dismissed by those outside New England as little more than a regional
curiosity, the coaches, players, and fans have other opinions. The alumni never forget their
experience and young players learn the importance of the Beanpot long before arriving on
campus.
Steve Morra (sophomore forward)
Boston Jr. Bruins
Suited up for the Jr. Bruins (EJHL) from
2007-09 … also played for the Jr. Bruins’
Empire League team in 2006-07 … named
the Unsung Hero of the team in 2008-09 and
named Team MVP in 2007-08 … third in
Empire League scoring in 2006-07 … played
in seven Northeastern games in 2009-10 …
played in nine games in 2010-11, with his first
college point (assist) coming vs. Providence
on Nov. 20.
Zak Stone (freshman forward)
New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs
Spent the last two seasons with the Eastern
Junior Hockey League’s New Hampshire
Jr. Monarchs and New York Apple Core …
helped the Monarchs capture the regular
season and EJHL Championship in 2009-10
… finished 11th in the league in scoring (60
points) … in 2008-09, finished second on the
Apple Core in scoring, tallying 41 points …
had one assist (vs. Harvard, Jan. 19) through
11 games in 2010-11.
northeastern forward anthony Bitetto is a
former new york apple Core player. Photo by
Jim Pierce/Northeastern Athletics Dept.
Beanpot Profiles:
northeastern University
Anthony Bitetto (freshman defenseman)
New York Apple Core
Drafted in the sixth round (168th overall)
by the Nashville Predators in the 2010 NHL
Entry Draft … scored 19 points in 47 games
over a season and a half with the Apple Core
… played two seasons with the Indiana Ice of
the United States Hockey League … helped
the Ice to the Clark Cup title in 2008-09 …
played in Northeastern’s first 21 games of the
season, scoring 13 points.
Jacob Hoefler (freshman defenseman)
New York Apple Core
Played for the New York Apple Core in
2009-10 … scored 14 points from the blue
line for the Apple Core and was named to
the 2010 EJHL Southern Division All-Star
team … tied for seventh on the team with 68
penalty minutes … also played for the Boston
Jr. Bulldogs in 2008-09 … was an assistant
captain for The Brooks School in 2007-08
… played in his first college hockey game on
Dec. 4, 2010, vs. Merrimack.
Beanpot Profiles:
Boston University
Ryan Ruikka (sophomore defenseman)
Jersey Hitmen
Tallied 30 points and a plus-35 rating to
help the Jersey Hitmen capture their first
EJHL championship in 2008 ... Selected
to the 2008 EJHL All-Star Game … as a
freshman in 2008-09, one of four Terriers to
earn Hockey East All-Academic Team honors
… earned second consecutive All-Academic
honors as red-shirt freshman in 2009-10 …
made collegiate debut on Oct. 8, 2010 against
Wisconsin … had three points in 22 games.
Ben Rosen (sophomore defenseman)
South Shore kings
Led all EJHL defensemen in scoring in
2008-09 with team-best 52 points in 45 games
with the South Shore Kings ... Selected to
participate in the 2009 EJHL All-Star Game
... Tallied 31 points for South Shore in 200708 with current BU sophomore Kevin Gilroy
as his teammate … appeared in nine contests
as a freshman in 2009-10 … had a goal for
one point in 16 games in 2010-11.
kevin Gilroy (junior forward)
South Shore kings
Played two years for the Foxboro Stars,
then the South Shore Kings … appeared
in 12 contests as a freshman in 2008-09 …
played in 25 games as a sophomore in 200910 … had a goal and assist in nine games in
2010-11 … brother Matt is a former King, a
former Terrier, a Hobey Baker Award winner
and a current defenseman for the New York
Rangers … sister Sharon plays lacrosse for
Boston University.
Matt Ronan (freshman forward)
Valley Jr. Warriors
Recorded 12 points in 39 games for the
Valley Jr. Warriors of the EJHL last season
... Former standout at Belmont Hill School,
tallying nine goals and 10 assists during the
2008-09 campaign ... Also played for the
Eastern Mass. Senators U18 squad ... His
brother, Dan (`99), and his cousin, Ed (`91),
also played for Jack Parker at BU… played
one game (Oct. 10 vs. Notre Dame) as a
freshman in 2010-11.
Sean Escobedo (sophomore defenseman)
New York Apple Core
Spent two seasons (2006-08) with New
York Apple Core ... Selected for 2008 EJHL
All-Star Game … One of five Terriers - and
only freshman - to play in all 38 contests in
2009-10 … Scored his first collegiate goal,
a game-winner with 1:07 remaining in a 5-4
win against then-No. 17 Notre Dame on Oct.
10, 2010 … had four points through first 23
games in 2010-11.
Ross Gaudet (sophomore forward)
Bridgewater Bandits
Spent 2007-08 season with the Bridgewater
Bandits of the EJHL after a stellar career at
Austin Prep in Reading, Mass. ... Recorded
28 points in 35 games with Bridgewater …
skated in first games as red-shirt freshman
in 2009-10 … named the Terriers’ Most
Improved Player … his 10 goals in 200910 came on just 40 shots … was named to
Hockey East Honor Roll twice … had four
points through first 24 games in 2010-11.
Charlie Coyle (freshman forward)
South Shore kings
Named the 2010 EJHL Rookie of the Year
after finishing fifth in the league in scoring
with 63 points in 42 games ... Drafted in
the first round (28th overall) by the San
Jose Sharks in the first round of the 2010
NHL Entry Draft ... scored six points in six
games for Team USA at the 2011 World
Junior Championships in Buffalo, N.Y. …
had 20 points in 22 games in 2010-11 for the
Terriers.
Mike Hewkin (senior defenseman)
Jersey Hitmen
Scored 13 points in 18 games for Jersey
Hitmen in 2006-07, after starting the season
in the NAHL … captained St. Louis Jr. Blues
(NA3HL) to Jr. B National Championship
in 2005 and also won 2004 title … played in
31 games for NU in 2007-08 … NU’s Most
Improved Player in 2008-09 … skated in 28
NU games in 2009-10 … had five assists
through NU’s first 21 games in 2010-11.
Rob Dongara (freshman forward)
Jersey Hitmen
In 2009-10, tallied 30 points in 36 games
played for Jersey … tied for second on the
squad with four game-winning goals … also
played for Springfield Jr. Blues (NAHL)
… scored his first collegiate goal in extra
attacker fashion against Rensselaer (Oct.
15) … logged his first career assist on Wade
McLeod’s game-winning goal vs. Providence
(Nov. 20) … scored six points through 20 of
Northeastern’s first 21 games.
Robbie Vrolyk (sophomore forward)
Springfield Pics
Played in 16 games for the New England
Jr. Falcons (now Springfield Pics) in 2005-06
… played three seasons for the Sioux Falls
Stampede in the USHL … captained the
Stampede in 2008-09 … skated in 32 games
for Northeastern as a rookie, scoring 11 points
… sidelined with hip injury in 2010-11.
Boston university’s Charlie Coyle laced them up for the south shore Kings. Photo by Steve
McLaughlin/Boston University Athletics Dept.
on thE CoVEr: Eastern Junior hockey League alumni on Beanpot teams
are pictured here from top left: northeastern’s rob dongara (Jersey hitmen)
Photo by Jim Pierce; Boston university’s sean Escobedo (new york apple
Core) Photo by Steve McLaughlin; harvard’s dan ford (rochester stars)
Photo by Gil Talbot; and Boston College’s Patch alber (Boston Jr. Bruins).
Photo courtesy BC Media Relations.
Beanpot Profiles:
Boston college
Brian Dumoulin
(sophomore defenseman)
Earned Eastern Junior Hockey League
Defensive Player of the Year honors as a
defenseman on the New Hampshire Jr.
Monarchs in 2008-09 … Played in all 42
games ... earned Hockey East All-Rookie
Team accolades ... captured the program’s
Bernie Burke Outstanding Freshman Award ...
gained All-Tournament honors at the NCAA
Frozen Four in Detroit, Mich. … Carolina
Hurricanes draft pick … had two goals and
26 points through 21 games in 2010-11.
Edwin Shea (junior defenseman)
Boston Jr. Bruins
February 2011 • 5
victories … was a plus-10 in the postseason,
tying Edwin Shea for second among all BC
players ... lifted the team with first collegiate
goal in a 7-1 win over Miami (April 8) in the
NCAA Frozen Four in Detroit, Mich. … had
seven points in 18 games in 2010-11.
Tommy Atkinson (junior forward)
Boston Jr. Bruins
Registered 12 points in 37 games with
the Jr. Bruins (EJHL) in 2007-08 ... scored
42 points in 28 games for Avon Old Farms,
helping the Winged Beavers to the New
England Prep School Division title in 2006-07
… made his collegiate debut as a sophomore
in 2009-10 against New Hampshire (Nov. 6)
… played in four games … had one assist in
15 games in 2010-11.
Was a three-time EJHL All-Star selection
… gained EJHL Playoff All-Tournament
honors in 2006 … as a freshman in 200809, earned an assist in a 5-3 win over New
Hampshire (March 13) in the first game of
the quarterfinal round of the Hockey East
Tournament … as a junior in 2009-10, earned
an assist against Miami (April 8) in the
NCAA Tournament’s Frozen Four in Detroit,
Mich. … played in first 23 games of 2010-11
season.
Barry Almeida (junior forward)
Springfield Jr. Pics
rence Coassin, seen here in the 2009 Beanpot, is a former new hampshire Jr. Monarchs star.
Photo courtesy of Steve Babineau/Harvard University Athletics Dept.
Was a member of the U.S. Under-18 Select
Team at the 2005 Under-18 Junior World Cup
in the Czech Republic and Slovakia … as a
sophomore in 2009-10, netted the decisive
goal in a 4-3 victory over Boston University
(Feb. 8) in the Beanpot title game … scored
the team’s sixth goal in a 7-6 overtime
win over Maine in the 2010 Hockey East
Tournament title game … 10 points in 22
games as a junior.
Patch Alber (sophomore defenseman)
Boston Jr. Bruins
Served as assistant captain for the Jr.
Bruins … earned EJHL All-Star recognition
in 2008-09 … Played in 17 games for BC
in 2009-10, including all eight postseason
Beanpot Profiles:
Harvard University
in 18 games in 2010-11.
Dan Ford (freshman defenseman)
Rochester Stars
Barry almeida suited up for the new England
falcons (now the springfield Jr. Pics) in his
EJhL days. Photo courtesy of Boston College
Media Relations.
Played for and captained the Syracuse (now
Rochester) Stars of the Eastern Junior Hockey
League while attending Skaneateles (N.Y.)
High School … Named EJHL Defensive
Player of the Year in 2007-08 … Graduated
in top 10 percent of class at Skaneateles in
2009 … Served as assistant captain of the
United States Hockey League’s Sioux City
Musketeers in 2009-10 … Named team’s
Defensive Player of the Year … had six points
Rence Coassin (junior forward)
Suited up for the New Hampshire Junior
Monarchs of the Eastern Junior Hockey
League for two seasons and captained the
team in 2007-08 … Helped the Monarchs
win two Tier-3 Jr. A National Championships
… Skated in 16 games in 2008-09, including
Beanpot consolation against Boston College
… skated in 12 games in 2009-10 … An
ECAC Hockey All-Academic selection …
skated in Harvard’s first 18 games in 2010-11,
scoring three points.
THE NEELY SK8 CHALLENGE
SKATE-A-THON
Presented by
The Cam Neely Foundation for Cancer Care and the Boston Bruins Foundation are working together to
host the second Neely Sk8 Challenge. This event will help raise funds for children battling cancer and their
families. People of all ages can register to skate at 1 of 5 designated rinks, create their own fundraising
page and ask for pledges towards their goal. The highest fundraisers have the chance to win great prizes
and to meet Cam Neely! Ask family and friends to sponsor you with a flat donation and the Sk8 becomes a
hat trick for everyone - fundraising, fitness and fun!
February 13th – March 6th
At 5 rinks across Massachusetts
(including one date during school vacation week)
To register and for details about prizes visit our websites:
www.NeelySK8.com
www.camneelyfoundation.org
or call (617) 346-5900
www.bostonbruins.com
6 • February 2011
Monarchs’ Kesselman a big help
as North wins All-Star Game
New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs veteran
forward aaron Kesselman scored
twice, including the game-winner late
in the third period, to lead the Northern
Division over the Southern Division by
a 7-5 score in the 18th annual Eastern
Junior Hockey League All-Star Game.
Right from the opening faceoff, the
teams set the tone for the game. The
North charged down the ice and put
one on South goaltender John nauta
(Jersey), who was equal to the task.
The South drew first blood just over
a minute into the game when hugo
turcotte (South Shore) sent linemates
robbie davis (South Shore) and
Brandon stroud (Jersey) in on a 2on-1. Davis passed to Stroud, and he
sent it right back to Davis, who fired
it past North goaltender Brian Billett
(Monarchs).
The North countered 25 seconds
later when danny federico (Jr. Bruins)
passed from the point to Cody sharib
(Monarchs), who tipped it into the net.
Zach Luczyk (Jr. Bruins) gave the
North its first lead of the game with
11:17 remaining in the period. Federico
fed Jr. B’s teammate Kyle smith in
the circle and Smith attempted to
pass the puck across the slot. A South
defenseman broke up the pass, but
Luczyk collected the puck and sniped
it from the slot.
Jersey’s Brian sheehan tied the
game at 2-2 with 6:14 on the clock
when he took a pass from terry
o’neill (South Shore) in the slot and
knocked it home.
Just one minute later, the South
regained the lead when Cam hampson
(Jersey) skated down the right wing
and sent a centering pass to Turcotte,
who one-timed it past Billett. Billett
finished with 15 saves in the period.
Kesselman tied the game 2:58 into
the second frame at 3-3 when Sharib
sent him a cross-ice pass and rifled
it from the top of the left circle past
Nauta.
Bay State’s Blake dougherty
replaced Nauta, who made 19 saves in
the contest, midway through the period
and Dougherty was immediately tested
by K.J. tiefenwerth (Jr. Bruins), but
was up for the challenge.
South Shore’s greg tang put the
South back in front, 4-3, with 2:17 on
the clock when he took a pass from
andy Latta (Jersey) and fired it past
North goaltender Colin stevens (Jr.
Bruins). That turned out to be the only
blemish on his 12-save effort in the
second period.
Stroud gave the South a two-goal
lead at 5-3 with 17:40 remaining.
Bay State’s Brendan Corcoran swept
the puck to Davis, who immediately
redirected it to Stroud. Stroud led a 3on-1. With the defenseman covering
the other two forwards, Stroud blasted
a shot past goaltender Brian robbins
(Capital District).
The North mounted an impressive
rally when Bennett Carroccio (Jr.
Bruins) picked up the puck at the point
and sent a pass to Connor anthoine
(Green Mountain) at the goal line.
Anthoine backhanded it to the front
of the net and Connor toomey
(Monarchs) banged it past Dougherty
for a 5-4 score.
Next, the North executed a perfect
faceoff to tie the game at 5-5. Jake
rutt (Monarchs) passed from the
point to Kesselman, who shot from
down low. Dougherty made the save,
but ryan tyson (Monarchs) pounced
on the rebound and scored.
Kesselman netted the game-winner
with 2:18 to go when Sharib hit a South
player who attempted to clear the puck.
Kesselman grabbed the puck, skated
in, and ripped a shot top-shelf past
Dougherty.
Dougherty skated off with a
minute remaining after a brilliant 18save performance, but the South was
unable to tie the game. trent ruffolo
(Monarchs) scored an empty-net goal
just before time expired to set the final
7-5 score.
The Eastern Junior Hockey
League would like to congratulate all
participants in the 2011 EJHL All-Star
Classic. Special gratitude is extended
to sean tremblay and the New
Hampshire Jr. Monarchs for hosting
the festivities, Pop Tops Sportswear for
providing the uniforms, and Pepper
sawyer for producing the line charts.
notes: tyler Kapp (Bridgewater),
ryan randall (Monarchs), Brian
harris (Jr. Bruins), Patrick doherty
(Monarchs) and Justin Mansfield (Jr.
Bruins) were unable to compete in the
All-Star Game due to injury. ryan
tyson (Monarchs), Cody smith (Jr.
Bruins), Bennett Carroccio (Jr. Bruins)
and Kyle Bauman (Rochester) were
added to the lineup in their places.
EASTERN JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE DIRECTORY
29 Cummings Park, Suite 404, Woburn, MA 01801
Office 781-938-4400 • FAX 781-938-4448
Commissioner: Robert Mainhardt; e-mail: [email protected]
Director of Hockey Operations: Jack Sweeney; e-mail: [email protected]
Secretary: Jim Prior; e-mail: [email protected]
NORTH DIVISION
GREEN MOUNTAIN GLADES
87 Main Street, Essex Jct., VT 05494
ph. 802-922-9967
GM: Dennis Himes Coach: Chris Line
www.vtglades.com
JUNIOR BRUINS
121 Donald Lynch Blvd., Marlborough, MA 01752
ph. 508-820-1600 fax. 508-820-1643
Coach/GM: Peter Masters
www.bostonjuniorbruins.com
NEW ENGLAND JR. HUSKIES
P.O. Box 405, Tyngsboro, MA 01879
ph. 508-561-7657 fax. 978-649-6122
Coach: Paul Jenkins
www.jrhuskies.com
NEW HAMPSHIRE JR. MONARCHS
311 West River Rd., Hooksett, NH 03106
ph. 603-270-1013 fax. 603-485-4551
Coach/GM: Sean Tremblay
www.nhjrmonarchs.com
ROCHESTER STARS
2700 Brighton Henrietta Townline Rd.,
Rochester, NY 14623
GM/Coach: Tony Maksymiu
585-426-8488
VALLEY JR. WARRIORS
7 Park Ridge Road, Haverhill, MA 01835
ph. 978-557-5518 fax. 978-557-551
Coach/GM: Andrew Heinze
www.valleyhockeyleague.com
CAPITAL DISTRICT SELECTS
19 Oakwood Blvd. Clifton Park, NY 12065
Ph. 518-421-6280; Fax: 518-371-3795
Owner: Jim Salfi • e-mail: [email protected]
www.cdselects.com
SOUTH DIVISION
PHILADELPHIA REVOLUTION
The Rink@Warwick
1621 Mearns Road, Warminster, PA 18974
Coach/ GM: Vince Malts • ph. 215-290-1712
Dir. of Operations: Geoff Marottolo
[email protected]
www.philadelphiarevolution.net
BRIDGEWATER BANDITS
P.O. Box 336, Bridgewater, MA 02324
ph. 508-279-0600 ext 111
fax.508-697-6804
GM/Coach: Mike Doneghey
e-mail:
[email protected]
BAY STATE BREAKERS
P.O. Box 150 Rockland, MA 02370
ph. 781-878-7500 fax. 781-792-2950
Coach/GM: David McCauley
e-mail:[email protected]
www.jrbreakers.com
SPRINGFIELD PICS
125 Capital Drive
W. Springfield, MA 01089
GM/Coach: Pat Tabb
ph. 413-351-6633
[email protected]
JERSEY HITMEN
10 Nevins Road, Wayne, NJ 07470
ph. 973-628-1500 x113
www.jerseyhitmen.net
GM/Head Coach: Toby Harris
Ph. 732-904-8000
NEW YORK APPLE CORE
P.O. Box 39, Atlantic Beach, NY 11509
ph. 646-533 -1055
Henry Lazar: GM/ Head Coach Apple Core Junior A
Eastern Jr. ‘A’ Hockey League CHA Management Group:
e-mail: [email protected] • www.applecorejunior.com
SOUTH SHORE KINGS
10 E. Belcher Rd., Foxboro, MA 02035
ph. 508-698-0505 fax. 508-698-3535
GM: Rich Touzos
AGM/Coach: Scott Harlow
Ph:508-698-0505 x 205
February 2011 • 7
cAPItAL DIstRIct seLects
www.cdselects.com
Jr. A Selects rally behind Robbins, Cavallini
By Joshua Boyd
If you want a telling statistic to explain
how important Brian robbins is to the
Capital District Selects, look no further
than saves made.
Robbins made 1,184 saves through 30
games. That was exactly 401 saves more
than the second-place goaltender in the
saves statistic, Springfield’s Courtney
Lockwood, after Jan. 16.
Through sheer volume of shots,
it’s easier to appreciate the 1991-born
Robbins’ .884 save percentage as quite
good, even if it places him 20th in that
category.
“Brian is playing outstanding,” said
Selects general manager and Jr. A head
coach Jim salfi of his All-Star goalie from
Scotrun, Pa. “He put on an unbelievable
show against the Boston Jr. Bruins [on
Jan. 16, 56 saves on 60 shots]. I couldn’t
believe the saves he was making, some
which were point-blank. We were in that
game to the end only because of him.”
Salfi still finds it hard to believe
that Robbins hasn’t been given the
opportunity to choose his Division 1
college destination. Last year, Robbins
finished with a .920 save percentage after
making 1,352 saves (leading the league
in that category in 2009-10 as well). As
you can figure out by now, the Selects
have had a young, inexperienced defense
corps for two years in a row.
“The shots are really tough. He’s
making a lot of great saves,” said Salfi.
“Somewhere down the line, something
will break for him. He’s already getting
calls from Canadian junior teams, they
all want him up there. I think he’s ready
for college. Someone will grab him. He’s
a great kid with a great attitude.”
During the Jan. 17 Eastern Junior
Hockey League All-Star Game, Robbins
gave up only one goal in his portion of the
game, one which ended in a 7-5 win for
his North team. Salfi compares Robbins
favorably to former Selects goalie david
Leggio, now playing for the Portland
Pirates, the top minor league affiliate of
the Buffalo Sabres.
“They’re both fierce competitors.
Brian is quiet, does his job, works hard,
never wants to take a day off,” said Salfi.
“He’s just a dedicated guy. He and Zack
Cavallini are our two sure-fire Division 1
guys at this point.”
Cavallini, son of former NHL player
Paul Cavallini, is considered by Salfi to
be a great stickhandler with great speed
who is good in battles for the puck.
“You can’t teach skills like he has,”
said Salfi. “You see guys committing
who are sophomores in high school, but
this guy played juniors in Canada and
he’s now in the EJHL. He kills penalties,
he’s our top scorer. When we play the top
teams, he’s not out of place on the ice.”
Zack Cavallini had 21 points
through 30 games, including 13 goals,
representing 17 percent of his team’s
total output of 77 through 30 games.
“Even if coaches don’t think he’s
ready for next year, this is a player who
has great bloodlines – his father Paul
and uncle gino Cavallini both played in
the NHL – and he’s a good student who
wants to be a doctor,” said Salfi. “He’s
still growing, and his dad was about 6
feet, and his uncle Gino was over 6 feet
and well over 200 pounds. Zack’s mother
was a Canadian Olympian as well. Look
at the genes and athletic ability.
“I’ve been around the game a long
time. I don’t know what [coaches] look
at sometimes,” Salfi added. “It’s just like
with Leggio – I kept telling people he’s a
Division 1 goalie.”
Leggio ended up winning the ECAC
Hockey Goalie of the Year Award with
Clarkson University in 2006-07 before
turning pro in 2008.
Late additions: Two newer members
of the Selects have done well for the
team since joining after the start of the
season.
derrek schartz is a 1992-born player
out of Plano, Texas, who joined the
Selects in December.
“He got accepted early-decision to
Tufts University, so he’ll join our two
other guys at Tufts right now [Evan story
and igor fedorov],” said Salfi. “With
his kind of grades, he was going to be
a NESCAC or Ivy League student, and
he’s getting better and better [hockeywise], as well.”
Schartz had three assists in his nine
games, while 1991-born Californian
Kyle herring had two assists against
Springfield in his second game on Jan.
11.
“Kyle was on our Jr. B team in the
Empire League,” said Salfi. “He is a very
aggressive kid and he’s on a learning
curve right now. He’s a physical player.
We gave him a shot, he played pretty
well and we’ll keep him up with the Jr.
A team.”
capital District selects Directory
General Manager/Jr. A Head Coach
Jim Salfi
Ph. 518-71-795/518-421-6280
Fax: 518-459-1707
The Neely SK8 Challenge
Presented by Liberty Mutual
February & March 2011
Join the Boston Bruins Foundation and The Cam Neely Foundation for Cancer Care for The Neely
SK8 Challenge this February and March at rinks across Mass. The event will raise funds for
children battling cancer and their families. Last year we raised over $130,000 and have been able
to help many pediatric cancer patients. Visit The Cam Neely Foundation website for more details.
Skaters of all ages and levels are welcome to skate in this skate-a-thon and can register to skate
on multiple days and times at any of the 5 FMC Arena rinks involved.
For a complete list of rinks and times, visit any of these sites:
www.NeelySK8.com
www.BostonBruins.com
www.CamNeelyFoundation.org
The highest individual fundraiser at each rink will win an autographed Neely jersey and the highest
overall fundraisers will get to meet Cam Neely at the SK8 Winner’s Night at a Bruin’s game and
win other great items! Every skater will receive a Neely SK8 Challenge T-Shirt with their $8
registration fee as well as the chance to win other fun raffle items and handouts at each SK8!
Create your own individual fundraising page and start collecting pledges now
at www.NeelySK8.com.
8 • February 2011
Michigan’s Top Prospects Tournament offers more exposure
By Brian Mc donough
The North American Hockey League
(NAHL) will showcase its second Top
Prospects Tournament of the season,
sponsored by SBK Hockey, this month at
the Ice Cube in Ann Arbor, Mich.
At the event, which will be held from
Feb. 20-22, four teams - Team Central,
Team North, Team South and Team West
(see roster below) - will play a three-game
round robin.
The league’s previous three Ann Arbor
events have been proven winners, as close
to 100 student-athletes who competed
in those tournaments punched tickets to
Division 1 schools after competing in the
showcases.
“This is a unique opportunity for the
participating players and scouts alike, and
one we’re excited to have on our events
menu,” said NAHL commissioner Mark
frankenfeld. “Because of our growth,
there’s a lot more talent coming through
the league and it’s another commitment
from our ownership groups to optimize the
exposure of our players.”
There’s no better place to host a Top
Prospects event than Ann Arbor, which is
easily accessible to Detroit and situated
in the heart of the Central Collegiate
Hockey Association (CCHA), a Division
1 conference that boasts dozens of former
NAHL players.
Bismarck Bobcats head coach Layne
sedevie will serve as the head coach for
Team Central, with Coulee Region Chill
head coach garrett strot serving as the
assistant coach.
Topeka RoadRunners head coach
scott Langer will lead Team South, with
Texas Tornado head coach tony Curtale
assisting.
Fairbanks Ice Dogs head coach Josh
hauge will be the head coach of Team
West, with Alaska Avalanche head coach
Brian huebel assisting. St. Louis Bandits
head coach Jeff Brown will serve as the
head coach of Team North, with Janesville
Jets head coach dane Litke serving as the
assistant coach.
In conjunction with the Top Prospects
Tournament, all North American Prospects
Hockey League (NAPHL) teams - Midget
Major, Midget Minor and Bantam Major
- will compete in the Championship
Tournament Series for the right to be
crowned league champions. That event
will run from Feb. 18-21 at the Troy Sports
Center in Troy, Mich., with the three
division championship games being played
at the Ice Cube.
The North American 3 Hockey League
(NA3HL) will also have representation
at the Top Prospects Tournament, as two
NA3HL All-Star teams will compete
against each other at the event. The NA3HL
will also extend invitations to other USA
Hockey-sanctioned Tier-3 Jr. A leagues to
participate with All-Star teams.
naPhL:
Capitals’
anas
to
Quinnipiac
While the NAHL tender signing period
is in full swing - close to 20 North American
Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL)
players have inked with teams heading into
February - more players are deciding on
Division 1 colleges.
The latest is DC Capitals 18U forward
sam anas, who last month committed to
Quinnipiac University (Atlantic Hockey).
“Everything was great during my visit
[in December] – the rink, the facility,
the campus,” said Anas. “I really like the
school and can’t wait to play there.”
Anas is the second Capitals 18U player
to commit to a Division 1 school this
season, joining defenseman dylan Maller,
who announced his intentions to attend
and play hockey at the University of New
Hampshire (Hockey East), in October.
In addition to Anas and Maller,
three players who have competed in the
NAPHL this season and last have made
commitments to Division 1 schools: former
Capitals forwards Casey thrush (New
Hampshire) and Maxim gaudreault (New
Hampshire) and former St. Louis Selects
defenseman Kyle sucher (Bowling Green
State University).
na3hL: Kretz steps up on Pens’ blue
line
Mike Kretz came in as a raw rookie
last year for the Pittsburgh Jr. Penguins
and played steady defense en route to a 15point campaign.
This season, Kretz is a year older, a
year wiser and a player booming with
confidence as he’s already lapped his point
total of a year ago and has become a leader
on the back end for Pittsburgh.
Ask Kretz where the confidence has
come from and he says it’s simply the
difference of one year.
“This year, I have gotten used to the
speed of the game at this level,” said Kretz.
“I have a lot more confidence with the puck
and I’ve been making better plays. I’m
getting a lot of points this year because I
have a lot more confidence.“I still consider
myself a defensive defenseman, though.
Our power play has been doing well this
year and that’s where the majority of my
points come from.”
nAHL top Prospects tournament, Ann Arbor, Mich., Feb. 20-22
Pos.
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
D
D
D
D
D
D
G
G
Pos.
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
D
D
D
D
D
D
G
G
team Central
name
nahL team
Birth year
hometown
Charlie Adams
Austin
1992
White Bear Lake, MN
Emerson Auvenshine
Bismarck
1990
Easton Rapids, MI
Brent Bain
Alexandria
1990
Toledo, OH
Lucas Dillon
Coulee Region
1990
Thief River Falls, MN
Samuel Dougherty
Bismarck
1990
Green Bay, WI
Louis Educate
Aberdeen
1990
Libertyville, IL
Zac Frischmon
Coulee Region
1990
Blaine, MN
Connor Gaarder
Coulee Region
1991
Edina, MN
Matthew Gates
Bismarck
1990
Palantine, IL
Andy Singerhouse
Owatonna
1990
Hudson, WI
Nick Widing
Owatonna
1991
Somerset, WI
Steve Zierke
Alexandria
1990
Brooklyn Park, MN
Eric Drapluk
Coulee Region
1992
Pembroke Pines, FL
Marian Fiala
Owatonna
1990
Bratislava, Slovakia
Christian Folin
Austin
1991
Gothenburg, Sweden
Tom Rizzardo
Bismarck
1990
Highland Village, TX
Mitch Sand
Port Huron
1991
Andover, MN
Nils-Erik Soderlund
Port Huron
1990
San Diego, CA
Frederick Leisner
Aberdeen
1992
Garland, TX
Jake Williams
Alexandria
1990
Montreal, Que.
head Coach: Layne Sedevie, Bismarck; assistant Coach: Garrett Strot, Coulee Region
team north
name
nahL team
Birth year
hometown
Steven Brancheau
Motor City
1990
River Rouge, MI
Scott Henegar
Michigan
1990
Trenton, MI
Justin Hoomaian
Michigan
1990
Novi, MI
Derek Jacobson
Janesville
1990
Sioux City, IA
R.J. Kleiman
Motor City
1990
DeWitt, MI
Connor McBride
Janesville
1991
Hartland, WI
Ethan Nauman
Springfield
1991
Mosinee, WI
Tim Opie
Traverse City
1990
Troy, MI
Evan Stibbard
St. Louis
1990
Windsor, Ont.
Mike Szmatula
Traverse City
1992
Commerce Township, MI
Taylor Wolfe
Springfield
1991
Eden Prairie, MN
Cody Wydo
Motor City
1991
Wyandotte, MI
Alex Brooks
Janesville
1991
Grand Rapids, MI
Nick Carey
St. Louis
1990
Wildwood, MO
Blake Edwards
St. Louis
1990
Columbus, OH
Grant Gettinger
St. Louis
1990
North Olmsted, OH
Ryan Trenz
Michigan
1991
St. Louis, MO
Travis White
Traverse City
1990
Sterling Heights, MI
Matt Green
St. Louis
1990
Williamsville, NY
David Jacobson
Janesville
1990
Janesville, WI
head Coach: Jeff Brown, St. Louis; assistant Coach: Dane Litke, Janesville
Are you interested in seeing your
organization in
USA Jr. Hockey magazine
as a preferred program?
See the list of
preferred programs on page 10, and
call publisher Rich De Lisle
at 781-934-5888 to see how easy it
is to become a preferred program.
February 2011 • 9
team West
Pos.
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
D
D
D
D
D
D
G
G
name
nahL team
Birth year
hometown
Austin Cihak
Chicago
1990
Roselle, IL
Matt Friese
Alaska
1992
Wasilla, AK
Gabe Gervais
Chicago
1990
Windsor, Ont.
Willie Hess
Fresno
1990
Lino Lakes, MN
Blake Huppert
Alaska
1990
Wasilla, AK
Brett Lubanski
Kenai River
1991
Farmington Hills, MI
Dakota Mason
Dawson Creek
1992
Edmonton, Alb.
Matt Millis
Fairbanks
1990
Black River Falls, WI
Matt Thompson
Kenai River
1991
Anchorage, AK
D.J. Vandercook
Wenatchee
1990
Farmington Hills, MI
Zach Vierling
Fairbanks
1990
Coon Rapids, MN
Tyler Voigt
Fairbanks
1991
Rochester, MN
Hunter Brown
Wenatchee Wild
1990
Huntsville, AL
Sean O’Rourke
Fairbanks
1991
Alto Loma, CA
Jeff Pauluk
Fresno
1992
Bloomington, MN
Chris Rumble
Wenatchee
1990
Chesapeake, VA
Dan Senkbeil
Alaska
1991
Fremont, CA
Ryan Walker
Kenai River
1992
Southfield, MI
Landon Peterson
Alaska
1990
Oregon, WI
Andrew Walsh
Dawson Creek
1990
Dawson Creek, B.C.
head Coach: Josh Hauge, Fairbanks; assistant Coach: Brian Huebel, Alaska
Pos.
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
D
D
D
D
D
D
G
G
Player
nahL team
Birth year
hometown
Mike Benedict
Corpus Christi
1991
Eden, N.Y.
Adam Chapie
New Mexico
1991
Oxford, MI
Brian Christie
Topeka
1992
West Chester, PA
Cody Freeman
Amarillo
1991
Toronto, Ont.
Justin Hussar
Topeka
1992
Lancaster, N.Y.
Dakota Klecha
Wichita Falls
1991
Taylor, MI
Jackson Leef
Texas
1992
Fort Wayne, IN
Nathan Milam
Topeka
1990
Westland, MI
Mac Olson
Wichita Falls
1991
Grosse Pointe, MI
Jack Prince
Texas
1991
United Kingdom
Nate Sliwinski
Texas
1990
Castle Rock, CO
Beau Walker
Corpus Christi
1992
West Richland, WA
Trevor Campbell
Topeka
1990
Kansas City, MO
Wally Cossette
Springfield
1990
Maple Grove, MN
Ralfs Freibergs
Texas
1991
Riga, Latvia
Derek Hills
Amarillo
1990
Campbell River, B.C.
Chris Leone
Wichita Falls
1991
Dearborn Heights, MI
Jake Webber
New Mexico
1992
Centennial, CO
Steve Bolton
Amarillo
1990
Las Vegas, NV
Eric Rohrkemper
Topeka
1991
Grosse Pointe Woods, MI
head Coach: Scott Langer, Topeka; assistant Coach: Tony Curtale, Texas
team south
10 • February 2011
The following Junior Hockey organizations are
recognized by the USA Junior Hockey Magazine as
outstanding programs that go above and beyond to
promote their players to college hockey teams:
soUtH sHoRe KInGs
10 E. Belcher Road, Foxboro, MA 0205
Ph. 508-698-050 • Cell 401-465-1474 • Fax 508-698-55
Asst. GM: Scott Harlow
www.southshorekings.com
PHILADeLPHIA ReVoLUtIon
The Rink@Warwick
1621 Mearns Road, Warminster, PA 18974
Coach/GM: Vince Malts • ph. 215-290-1712
Dir. of operations: Geoff Marottolo
[email protected] • www.philadelphiarevolution.net
WILKes-BARRe / scRAnton KnIGHts
Pittston, PA - Revolution Ice Centre
owner - Louis DeNaples
President/GM - Paul Maciejewski - 716-98-551
[email protected]
Head Coach - Anthony DiPalma - [email protected]
www.jrknightshockey.com
Boston BULLDoGs
Salem ICEnter, Salem, NH
Coach/GM: Mike Addesa - 60-522-81
[email protected]
Coach/Asst. GM: Frank Golden - 978-869-6919
[email protected]
www.bostonjuniorbulldogs.com
PoRTLAND JR. PIRATES
Saco, ME, MHG Ice Centre
Co-owners: Mark Anthoine/Ron Cain
Head Coach: Brad Church Ph. 207-282-8484
MAss MAPLe LeAFs
P.o. Box 014, Acushnet, MA. 0274
Ph. 508-971-0808 • Fax 508-992-8590
GM / owner: Tony DeSilva
E-mail: [email protected] • www.massmapleleafs.com
Boston JR. BLAcKHAWKs
Rich Salsman, General Manager
ph. 781-245-90
www.bostonjrblackhawks.com
Boston sHAMRocKs U19 WoMen
Ristuccia Arena, 190 Main St., Wilmington, MA
ph. 781-88-052 • fax 978-657-8642
GM: Bob Rotondo
Head Coach: Josh Hechter
Assistant coaches: Samantha Faber/Lindsay Berman
www.bostonshamrocks.net
teXAs JR. BRAHMAs
8851 Ice House Drive, North Richland Hills, TX 76180
Jeremy Law, Head Coach
ph. 817-675-1116
neW enGLAnD HUsKIes
P.o. Box 405, Middlesex Road ,Tyngsboro, MA 01879
ph. 508-561-7657 • Fax 978-649-6122
GM/Coach: Paul Jenkins
E-mail: [email protected] • www.jrhuskies.com
BAy stAte BReAKeRs
P.o. Box 150 Rockland, MA 0270
ph. 781-878-7500 ext. 14 fax 781-792-2950
GM/Head Coach: David McCauley
e-mail: [email protected] •
www.jrbreakers.com
cAPItAL DIstRIct seLects
19 oakwood Blvd. Clifton Park, NY 12065
Ph. 518-421-6280; Fax: 518-71-795
owner: Jim Salfi • e-mail: [email protected]
www.cdselects.com
connectIcUt JR. WoLFPAcK
Champions Arena,Cromwell, CT
owner: Bob Crawford - 860-62-7147
President: Dan McCarthy - 20-627-9769
Head Coach/GM: Chris Cerrella - 561-797-8769
www.jrwolfpack.com
noRtHeRn cycLones
Cyclones Arena, Hudson, NH
owner/GM/ Head Coach: Bill Flanagan
owner/Coach: Wes Dolloff - 609-475-111
owner - Joe Flanagan
neW yoRK APPLe coRe
P.o. Box 9, Atlantic Beach, NY 11509
ph. 646-5 -1055
FLoRIDA eeLs
Skatium, Ft. Myers, FL
President/Head Coach:
Frank Scarpaci 941-400-902
GM: Ed Dillenschneider 86-51-6612
www.floridaeels.org
neW JeRsey JUnIoR tItAns
Wall Sports Arena, Farmingdale, NJ
President: George Haviland
GM/Head Coach: Dustin Depalma
72-872-05
eL PAso RHInos
4100 E. Paisano, El Paso, TX
Head Coach/GM: Cory Herman
E-mail:[email protected]
www.elpasorhinos.com
February 2011 • 11
MAss MAPLe LeAFs
Junior Women’s Hockey League
www.massmapleleafs.com
Leafs continue to roll despite injuries
The Massachusetts Maple Leafs were
on top with a 19-2-2 record in the Eastern Conference of the Continental Hockey Association, as of Jan. 26.
The Leafs have overcome all kinds
of obstacles thus far this season, including major injuries and a winless month
of September to hold a 34-25-8 overall
record approaching February.
Broken wrists, hands, ribs and torn
MCLs are among the injuries that some
of the players have had to overcome.
The Leafs even won the Paul Coffey
Tournament with a 6-0 record despite
missing key players.
“This team has been through a lot of
adversity and obstacles and has cleared
them all,” said general manager/head
coach tony desilva.
The Leafs have a very big last month
of their regular season as they attempt to
go to Nationals for a sixth consecutive
year.
The Leafs had 15 remaining league
games and six games in hand versus
the Boston Jr. Bruins and three games
in hand versus the Bay State Breakers.
Although they trailed both in points, the
Leafs did hold the best winning percentage in the Eastern Conference (.870).
The Leafs had six players with over
50 points and another three with over 30
in all games.
The Leafs were led by Jarred Mi-
trano with 79 points, Benny Brouillard
(77), Patrick avery (70), C.J. Cordeiro
(67), ryan Merz (63) and andrew Mathieu (55). rob Berg scored 43 overall
points and led CHA defensemen with 29
points.
Boyd Zinger led the Leafs with eight
league wins to go along with his 15 overall, a 3.12 goals-against average and a
.900 save percentage.
The Leafs are still looking to round
out their playoff roster with a couple of
forwards and a defenseman. For more information on the Leafs, please go to their
website at www.massmapleleafs.com, or
contact general manager Tony DeSilva
at 508-971-0808 or via e-mail at [email protected].
seeing (all-)stars: The Leafs were
well-represented at the Jan. 17 CHA AllStar Game in Hooksett, N.H. There were
a total of eight Leafs selected to participate in the game and also had one alternate forward (ryan Merz) as well as
DeSilva being named head coach of the
Eastern Conference. The East lost 6-5 in
the shootout.
Mitrano scored a goal in the game and
another in the shootout, Avery scored a
goal, and Cordeiro, Brouillard, Burnham
and Mathieu had assists. Berg had an assist and a shootout goal and Zinger saw
time in the net.
Boston JR. BLAcKHAWKs
www.bostonjrblackhawks.com
All-Star Blackhawks are all aces at Showcase
By Joshua Boyd
As the International Junior Hockey
League welcomed college coaches and
fans to Hyannis over the Jan. 15-16
weekend, the Boston Jr. Blackhawks put
on a great show.
Perhaps the most notable area where
the Blackhawks prospered was in the
All-Star Game where several Hawks had
fine performances in the New England
Division’s 7-3 win over the Mid-Atlantic
Division.
Vadim Kravchenko’s name was all
over the scoresheet, with the 50-goal
scorer putting up three assists for the New
England team.
Kravchenko’s
linemate
sergey
Voronin registered an assist, while tim
Wlodkowski put in a fine effort in the
game.
On the back end of the ice, the
Blackhawks were also represented by
captain Mike hoy and goalie sam Bass.
Bass allowed only one goal in his time in
net, and Hoy played well on defense for
Team New England.
The Blackhawks themselves, as a team,
saw the whole map at the showcase. They
lost one close game tied another in an
offensive show, and enjoyed a sound win.
The win came over the New Jersey
Storm, a 6-0 tally for the Saugus, Mass.based Blackhawks, with goalie John slavic
in net. The team also tied the South Jersey
Raptors, 5-5 (with alexei schmidt in net),
and lost a 2-1 game to the Philadelphia
Jackals.
Forwards Joe Pannullo and artem
Kotov each had two-goal games at the
Showcase, while defenseman Marek
Kepals scored two goals at the Showcase.
Other goal-scorers for the Blackhawks
included alexander Klochkov, John
angelisco and Egor Bulanikov.
Also playing well at forward were
gord stilwell, Craig nielsen, Eugene
schegolev, Josh Brown, Brett Welton
and rob Wood.
a look down the road: The Blackhawks
neared the end of January at third place in
the tough New England Division.
While the team had almost 20 points on
the fourth-place team, the Eastern Kodiaks
(28 points vs. the Blackhawks’ 45), there
was still a lot of ground to cover if they
hoped to be in the top two places in the
league.
The New England Stars were somewhat
within reach at 52 points, and the Cape
Cod Cubs, the host team for the IJHL
Showcase, were looking to solidify their
New England Division championship in
this second half of the season.
The Blackhawks have a game in hand
on the Stars and two on the Cubs. The
Feb. 4-5 weekend will feature a homeand-home series against the Cubs, and the
very next weekend, the Blackhawks see
the Stars in a crucial home-and-home for
both teams.
Boston
sHAMRocKs
www.bostonshamrocks.net
Shamrocks turn on offense in non-league action
Upon the Boston Shamrocks’ return
to action from holiday break on Dec.
26, the team immediately headed to
Connecticut for the prestigious Polar
Bears Tournament.
Along the way, the team narrowly
beat a massive Nor’Easter that dumped
upwards of 18 inches of snow on the New
England region.
The wild weather suited the Shamrocks
just fine, as they continued their winning
ways, picking up a 5-1 win over the
Seacoast Lightning of New Hampshire.
dylan-Mae Caron led the way with two
goals, while Dakota Woodworth, hailey
Barbieri and Kate Kohl added to the
tally.
Unfortunately, the Shamrocks’ twogame win streak (dating back to a nonleague win over the Northwood School
earlier in December) came to an end the
following day. The girls in green dropped
games to the Assabet Patriots (tournament
finalists) and the Buffalo Bisons.
The short losing streak was soon
corrected, however, as they topped the Bay
State Breakers, 2-1, to finish the tourney.
Jenna redford opened the scoring, and a
late goal by Caron secured the win.
new year’s in Vermont: Following a
day of rest, the Shamrocks headed north
to Stowe, Vt., for the North American
Hockey Academy (NAHA) New Year’s
Tournament. The year closed out with
another win, as the Shamrocks bested
the New Jersey Colonials U19s in a hardfought affair. Redford scored the only
goal of the shootout, and Madi Litchfield
turned aside 24 shots and all three shootout
attempts to garner the shutout.
On New Year’s Day, the N.J. Colonials
U16s fell to the Shamrocks on goals by
Emily raber and a clutch power play goal
by Caron. Later that day, the Shamrocks
held sway over the Alaska All-Stars, but
could not find the back of the net, and
were denied a fourth straight victory,
losing 1-0. In the tourney’s third place
game on Sunday, Jan. 2, the Shamrocks
met the New Jersey Colonials U16s for
the second time.
Two early goals were waved off on
quick whistles, and the Colonials built
momentum off that to score three of their
own. Newcomer hadley desMeules got
the Shamrocks on the board, but they
could not close the gap further.
A mid-January weekend at the
University of Connecticut saw the
Shamrocks continue to struggle in Junior
Women’s Hockey League play, as they
dropped games to NAHA, the National
Sports Academy, the Washington Pride
and the Colorado Selects. The latter was a
close 2-1 defeat.
The final league weekend will feature
games against the Major Junior West
Division in Winnipeg, Man., over the Feb.
11-13 weekend.
BAy stAte BReAKeRs
connectIcUt JR. WoLFPAcK
www.jrbreakers.com
www.jrwolfpack.com
Breakers’ win over Hitmen highlight of season Pack’s path to college hockey continues
By Joshua Boyd
If you happen to be looking at the
Eastern Junior Hockey League standings
in the presence of david McCauley,
don’t be surprised if he leans over and
says one thing:
“You see that one loss for the Jersey
Hitmen? Yeah, that was us.”
Ten days later, the Bay State Breakers general manager and Jr. A head coach
was still thrilled about the defeat of the
unquestioned powerhouse of the EJHL.
As of Jan. 26, Bay State (20-11-3-1)
was second to the Hitmen in the Southern Division (by 21 points). However,
with the Hitmen sporting a 32-1-1-0 record, the Breakers were proud to be the
first to solve toby harris’ team.
“It was obviously great beating the
Hitmen, but every win in this league is
great,” said McCauley, of the 5-4 win
over Jersey on Jan. 16. “It gives our guys
confidence going into the playoffs in a
few months, knowing that, if we play
well, we can beat anyone.”
One day after the Hitmen showed their
might by beating the Breakers, 9-3, the
teams reconvened at Rockland (Mass.)
Arena on a gorgeous Sunday morning.
Just 4:24 into the game, tim Clifton put
the Hitmen up 1-0 on a power play goal.
The Breakers did not lose their poise,
but instead rebounded with two first period goals by d.J. nykaza and James
Murphy for a 2-1 Bay State lead after
20 minutes.
Again, the Hitmen worked quickly and
tied the game 2-2 off a Peter ryan goal.
Just 28 seconds later, however, Bay State
answered courtesy of Kyle McCafferty.
About seven and a half minutes later,
Matt Vidal gave the Breakers a little bit
of padding in the form of a 4-2 lead.
The teams tightened up the D in the
third, allowing a combined 21 shots (Bay
State had 21 shots in the second alone).
Getting desperate, Bay State pulled goalie Josh hillegas and tried for the gametying goal, but Breakers forward and
Colgate recruit Brendan Corcoran was
able to feed t.J. o’Brien for an emptynetter.
Even that didn’t seal the deal, as the
Hitmen kept Hillegas out and ian Coleman made it 5-4 with 45 seconds in
regulation to make McCauley and Co.
sweat. However, the Breakers held on
for the win, thanks in large part to Kyle
Macdonald’s 31 saves in net.
“There are a few teams in the league
that can win a championship this year and
we are one of them,” McCauley said.
The Connecticut Jr. Wolfpack continue to see their players commit to the
college hockey level.
So far this season, they have seen
players from their organization receive
the opportunity at the next level, such as
Mike novella (UConn, Atlantic Hockey,
Division 1), nick dinicola (Yale, ECAC,
D-1) and Luke Curadi (RPI, ECAC, D1).
They also recently committed two
players to the State University of New
York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC),
“arguably the top D-3 conference in the
country,” said Pack head coach Chris
Cerrella.
Forward Elijah Cohen will head to
Buffalo State and Cohen will join former
Wolfpack players John Corrigan, Mike
Connolly and Bill strakosch. Corrigan
played in all of Buffalo State’s first 18
games this year as a freshman defenseman.
Veteran netminder Bryan haude will
head to Geneseo for the 2011-12 season.
The Junior Wolfpack has become a
breeding ground for aspiring studentathletes and they are sold on the Pack’s
philosophy: college hockey commitments equal wins.
The organization continues to be one
of the top Tier-3 Jr. A teams on the East
Coast for college placement and continues to attract players from all over the
country.
“There are not a ton of programs out
there like ours,” said team president dan
McCarthy. “We develop our players and
move them on – we are not big on holding on to players until their last season
of juniors.
“If we feel a player is ready, we help
that player move to the next level,” McCarthy added. “We have sent an average
of 12 players a season over the last three
years. We feel we have one of the most
successful programs on the East Coast.”
In Cerrella’s six seasons with the Pack,
he has developed more than 65 college
hockey players.
“Every coach has their groove and
mine has been finding places for all my
players to go,” said Cerrella. “I do not
just worry about the guy with the most
points, I try and find a home for everyone. We have a great program here with
lots of tradition. Players know if they
come here and do well they will move
on.”
The Junior Wolfpack are expecting
several more college commitments over
the next few weeks. Please go to the website www.ctwolfpack.com for all the exciting news.
PHILADeLPHIA ReVoLUtIon
www.philadelphiarevolution.net
Revolution promotions pay big dividends
The Philadelphia Revolution have
already surpassed their point total of last
season.
The Revolution finished with 20
points last year. This year, however,
the Revs already had 23 points with 12
games remaining in the season.
Changes and contributions from many
players have made a difference for the
Revolution.
Revolution Empire players have
made a big contribution to the Eastern
Jr. A team. troy Vance, Ben Pulley and
thomas Whitley, all of whom started
the season off with the Empire Revs,
have all laced them up for the Eastern
Junior team this year.
It took Vance a few games to adjust to
the speed of play at the EJ level, but he
matured shortly after that. Vance earned
power play time and posted three points
in 18 games on the Revolution’s blue
line, as well as 33 penalty minutes.
Pulley posted two goals in 11 games
for the Revs. Pulley had a sensational
Dec. 18-19 weekend, scoring a timely
goal in both Saturday and Sunday’s tilts
vs. the Bridgewater Bandits.
Whitley participated in three games
for the Revs. He added an assist in his
second game up with the Jr. A squad on
Dec. 19 vs. Bridgewater.
Kenney simon has been leading the
way for the Revolution up front since
returning from a leg injury suffered in
preseason play. Simon started his return
off with a five-game point streak.
He posted a line of seven goals, eight
assists and 15 points through 15 games
played. His point-per-game average led
the team as of late January.
Philadelphia’s defensive core is
beginning to take form. The addition
of Will rayner has been very helpful.
Rayner, a Sacred Heart University
recruit, brings a huge physical presence
to the blue line as well as offense.
garret Clemment recently came
back after missing most of the season
with a broken leg. He is expected to
do great things on the blue line for the
Revolution.
dan Cornell, who has also missed the
past couple months with a broken leg,
will be returning in early February. His
grit and tenacity has been missed, and the
Revolution can’t wait to have him back.
The Revs were two points behind
Bridgewater, and five points behind the
Apple Core with 12 games remaining
in the season. These additions should
help the Revolution’s push to make the
playoffs.
February 2011 • 1
WesteRn stAtes
HocKey LeAGUe
Former Bear Heimel leading ‘alma mater’ well
By Brian Lester
Jeffrey heimel used to play hockey for
the Phoenix Polar Bears. So when he was
presented with an opportunity to coach the
team and serve as the general manager, he
didn’t hesitate.
“I have been involved behind the scenes
with the organization, helping recruit and
grow the team while finishing school,”
Heimel said. “I jumped at the chance when
harry Mahood asked me about the job. I
didn’t even have to think about it.”
Heimel has made the most of the
opportunity. The Polar Bears were 19-10-3
through 32 games and are a solid contender
for another WSHL championship.
“We had a slow start, going 2-5-2 in our
first nine games,” Heimel said. “Our team
has improved a lot since then and had a
good showing at the annual showcase in
Las Vegas. The leaders on our team have
really started to step up and make things
happen.”
Phoenix has been solid on both sides of
the ice, ringing up 119 goals in 32 games
while allowing 89. But the success of the
Polar Bears goes beyond scoring goals and
stopping shots.
“The strong physical play from forwards
Brandon Conrad, travis ringeman and
anthony iovino has been instrumental in
providing a balanced attack,” said Heimel.
“Ringeman was recently acquired from
Tulsa and has proven to be a great leader
on the ice in his last season of junior
hockey.”
Heimel also credits the team’s early
success to the play of goaltender Case
o’Connor, who helped carry the Polar
Bears to the Thorne Cup.
“He is a great leader and continues to
make improvements to his game,” Heimel
said. “He gives a good effort every time he
is on the ice.”
As good as Phoenix has been, however,
Heimel knows his team can always
improve.
Valencia vows to keep being tough, competitive
from his team as it heads into the remainder
By Brian Lester
Valencia won only 11 of its first 36 of the season.
“You don’t know how tough you are
games, and yet Flyers head coach Eric
LeMarque isn’t going to let the tough start until you have been in a good fight or have
to come back from something tough,”
bring his team down.
“No matter what the situation is during LeMarque said. “My team will continue to
a season, the key is keeping the players play every last second of the season to win
focused on building and using each and and improve so that we can have something
every opportunity on and off the ice positive to carry forward into next year.
to improve themselves as individuals,” I want to see discouragement, the enemy
LeMarque said. “We will continue to of any team, bounce off of us like water off
work hard and act like a first-class hockey of a duck’s back.”
The one thing the Flyers have not lacked,
team.”
The Flyers have scored 96 goals in 36 despite the ups and downs, is a work ethic.
“We have been very competitive each
games and have given up 146. There have
been good moments, however, including and every period,” LeMarque said. “You
a couple of wins over traditional league will never have any success unless you
power Phoenix early in the season and work hard. As a coach, it is my job to find
nearly beating Idaho at the Qwest Center. inspiration each day that will help propel
the team to play above its ability every
The Flyers fell 4-3 to the Steelheads.
Through it all, Valencia has persevered. time they step on the ice. Talent, with hard
Project2_Layout
6/28/10
2:35 PMless
Pagework,
1
will equal success.”
LeMarque
wouldn’t 1expect
anything
WESTERN STATES HOCKEY LEAGUE DIRECTORY
President/Commissioner: Ron White
1000 E. Cerritos Ave. Anaheim, CA 92805
ph. (562) 429-1805 x240
MID-WEST DIVISION
texas jr. brahmas
8851 Ice House Drive
North Richland Hills, TX 76180
Head Coach: Jeremy Law
ph. 817-675-1116
New mexico reNegades
801 Loma Colorado, Rio Rancho, NM 87144
Head Coach: Peter Ambroziak
ph. 505-917-0917
e-mail: [email protected] • www.nmrenegades.com
boulder bisoN
President: Dennis Hefter
ph: 303-717-1101
www.boulderbison.pucksystems.com
tulsa ramPage
6413 South Mingo, Tulsa, OK 74133
GM: Julie Wilson
Coach: Chad MacLeod
www.tulsarampage.com
el Paso rhiNos
4100 E. Paisano , El Paso, TX 79905
Head Coach/GM Cory Herman
WESTERN DIVISION
PhoeNix Polar bears
2001 W. Alameda Dr. Chandler, AZ 85282
ph. (480) 704-1350, • fax. (480) 706-0588
GM/Head Coach: Harry Mahood
www.phoenixpolarbears.com
bakersfield jr. coNdors
1325 Q. Bakersfield, CA 93301
ph. 916-524-8395
Head Coach: Scott Hay
idaho jr. steelheads
www.IdahoJuniorSteelheads.com
Head Coach: John Olver
ph: 515-537-0059
fresNo moNsters
Head Coach: Bryce Dale
ph: 558-352-0905
www.fresnomonsters.com
socal bombers
3975 Pixie Ave., Lakewood, CA 90712
ph. 562-429-1805 x 240 • fax. 714-333-4190
Coach: J.F. Picard
www.jrbombers.org
ValeNcia flYers
27745 N. Smyth Dr. Valencia, CA 91355
ph. 661-775-8686 x 204
GM: Scott Allegrini
www.valenciaflyers.net
saN diego jr. gulls
555 N. Tulip St.
Escondido, CA 92025
Owner/GM: Bruce Miller
www.sandiegogullshockeyclub.com
ariZoNa redhawks
15829 N. 83rd Ave., Peoria, AZ 85382
Coach: Robert Powell
Ph: 602-769-9277
www.wshl.org
yeLLoWstone QUAKe
www.yellowstonequake.com
noRtHeRn cycLones
www.northernjuniorcyclones.com
Quake break in bus with trip to NHL game Ginand a very effective addition
On Jan. 10, the Yellowstone Quake
traveled to Denver, Colo., to attend an
NHL game featuring the Detroit Red
Wings and the Colorado Avalanche.
The team rode in their newly acquired
bus on Sunday and returned to Cody
immediately following the game
Monday night. For the team members
who are from Michigan, this was their
opportunity to see their beloved Red
Wings play in person, as well as check
out their dressing room and watch the
morning practice.
Victims of circumstance: The
Northern Pacific Hockey League reversed
the outcomes of three Quake wins. Those
games featured an illegal player who
fraudulently impersonated his legal-aged
cousin in order to be eligible to play
junior hockey.
The games in which he played and
won were against Bozeman, Billings and
Missoula. Those teams will each add two
points to their standings and the Quake
will list those games as forfeits.
The Quake had no knowledge of
the player’s real identity. Once law
enforcement learned of the problem,
they notified the Quake and the player
was released and the league was made
aware of the situation.
home on the range: One of the
above-mentioned Quake players from
Michigan is Farmington Hills resident
Ethan range. Range has had a consistent
season in scoring, putting up 15 goals
and 33 points in 36 games.
Range had a fine January, scoring
six points in his first seven games that
month. This included a stretch of backto-back two-point games against Helena
(Jan. 22) and Butte (Jan. 27).
turning up the tunesi: Another
Michigan import, Brad tunesi, joined
the team for its January schedule and has
enjoyed great success. He had a stretch
of six points in three games and had eight
points through his first seven games.
Tunesi joined the team after starting
the season with the Michigan Mountain
Cats in the North American Tier-3
Hockey League (NA3HL), where he
scored one assist in five games played
between September and November.
Last season, the 5-foot-9-inch, 165pound forward played in 12 games for
the Metro Jets. He seems to have found a
good home in Cody, Wyoming.
the road ahead: The Quake have a
busy February schedule with 10 games
on the docket. The team was two points
out of the fourth and final playoff spot
in the America West Division, chasing
Bozeman.
The Feb. 11-12 weekend is key for
both teams, as they go head-to-head in a
home-and-home.
University of Texas
EY
LONGHORNS ICE HOCKEY
WWW.TEXASICEHOCKEY.COM
• Competing in the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA)
Division II-Western Region since 2000
• Offering a 25-30 Game Schedule with both a Regional and National focus, 2-3 practices per
week and off-ice conditioning / strength training with a seasoned coaching staff
• Located in Austin, Texas which is rated as one of the “Top 10 Places to Live” by U.S. News
& World Report, 2009 and it is known as the “Live Music Capital of the World”
• The University of Texas is rated among the “Top 25 Best Values in Public Colleges” by
Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine, 2010 and one of the “Top 100 World’s Best
Universities” by U.S. News & World Report, 2009
• Situated on a beautiful 350 acre Campus with “state of the art facilities”, the University
offers over 170 Undergraduate Fields of Study with 100 Official Majors through 13 different
Schools or Colleges
• The University offers financial aid and merit-based scholarships, including academic
performance, talent and competitive honors to qualified students
• The Hockey Team has been recognized as one of the best run student sports programs at the
University with a diverse group of athletes from many regions of the U.S., Canada & overseas
• Our program places emphasis on Academic Performance, Community Leadership &
Standards of Play consistent with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)
• All prospective students are encouraged to visit our website or contact the following:
Head Coach: Bob Smith, [email protected]
Asst. Coach: David McShane, [email protected]
Academic Advisor: Prof. William Doolittle, [email protected]
By Joshua Boyd
Northern Cyclones defenseman
stephen ginand certainly enjoys playing
5-on-5 hockey. But he loves playing on
the power play.
“When I got out here, I jumped right
on the power play and that’s how I’ve
gotten most of my points,” said Ginand,
who started the season with the Aberdeen
Wings of the North American Hockey
League. “It’s all about making good
decisions on the ice, tape-to-tape passes,
really connecting with the other players
out there and taking your time to make
the right play.”
In the first 15 Atlantic Junior Hockey
League games Ginand played in since
joining the Cyclones in mid-November,
he scored 19 points, including a stretch of
15 points in eight league games between
Dec. 4 and Jan. 13.
Ginand, a 1991-born Milford, Mass.,
resident, said he “needed a change” after
starting in South Dakota.
“It was not working out, but I got to
come to a good league near home, and
I’ve had some fun,” he said.
Ginand said he was actually contacted
by Cyclones general manager Brandon
Barnard, who told him the Cyclones
were looking for a defenseman. He was
very happy to take the call.
“The team’s been great. We have a
winning record, we have fun players
on the team, it’s a good rink to play in
– there’s nothing more you can ask for,”
Ginand added.
When Ginand goes out on the power
play, he often sees John Mcginnis, Mike
naso, Max Balaban, and on the point
opposite himself, Jared henderson.
“All those guys have been doing really
well,” added Ginand.
At even strength, Ginand had been
playing with Wayne ravdjee, but after
Ravdjee suffered an injury, Ginand
joined up with James ross. That may
change, too.
“[The coaches] really mix it up,” said
Ginand. “If someone’s not playing well,
[head coach Bill flanagan] will usually
change it up.”
Ginand said that, because he’s made a
league and team change this year, college
interest has fallen off a bit. Nevertheless,
he is fully confident he can play college
hockey next year.
“I really want to go to school next
year and start my life,” he said. “We’ll
see how the rest of this year goes.”
Ginand is the third member of his
family in high-level hockey. The first
was ryan ginand, who played for
Northeastern University and is now in
the minor pro ECHL. His other brother,
Phil ginand, is now with Mercyhurst
College after a stint in the USHL.
ceDAR RAPIDs RoUGHRIDeRs
www.roughridershockey.com
‘Chirping’ McGrath gets under skin
By Jeff Johnson
He wants to be like sean avery. NHL
fans know what that means.
You have a difficult time believing it
by talking to ryan Mcgrath in a conversational setting. The Cedar Rapids
RoughRiders winger is mild-mannered
and pleasant, just a good kid.
But when he laces up his skates and
the game begins, he turns into, well, a
part of the body that is usually described
by an expletive. Use your imagination.
“I think it’s just when I hit the ice, there
are no friends,” McGrath said. “You’ve
got to have grudges against people.”
So the 19-year-old O’Fallon, Mo., resident yaps to opponents. Or “chirps,” as
they say in hockey.
He doesn’t stop. Very little is off limits, but mostly it’s running commentary
about a guy’s ability.
“I don’t think it’s anything that’s appropriate for the newspaper,” McGrath
said, with a smile. “It’s just stuff that gets
under people’s skin. Tell them they’re a
bad player, stuff like that.”
Keep in mind, this chirping is coming
from the littlest guy on the ice in most
cases. McGrath checks in at a listed 5foot-7-inches and 155 pounds.
That would drive anyone nuts.
“I try to get under the players’ skin.
Get them a little mad and get them to take
penalties. Get us some power plays,” McGrath said. “I get chirped back at a lot.
Usually, it’s something about how small
I am. How I’m not the best player in the
league and stuff like that.”
He may not be the best, but McGrath
is pretty good. The rookie winger had
eight goals and 17 points in 28 games,
playing on the top forward line with Jayson Megna and Justin Kovacs.
He has grit and skating speed.
“He fits our style,” said Riders coach
Mark Carlson. “He skates, he moves
the puck, he’s got good hockey sense. He
really wants to be a player, and that’s so
important to us. We want guys that love
hockey, and this guy absolutely loves
hockey.”
And chirping.
“I think, in my first year, I’ve improved a lot, working with the team and
the coaches,” said McGrath, who plans to
return to Cedar Rapids next season. “Going into it, I didn’t know what to expect.
But I think I’ve adapted pretty well. All I
can do is continue to get better.”
rightfithockey.com
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teXAs JR. BRAHMAs
eL PAso RHInos
www.jrbrahmas.com
Law places Brahmas among
Western States League elite
Old, new alike: Ridgedell,
Wilhite crucial to Rhino success
By Brian Lester
By Michael Migdalis
Jeremy Law isn’t surprised that his
Texas Brahmas hockey team is one of
the best in the Western States Hockey
League.
Texas wrapped up January with a
22-14-4 record, good enough for third
place in the Mid-West Division, and
Law is pleased with the direction his
team is heading in.
“We are playing very well right now.
The effort is good and the team is one
of the hardest-working teams that I
have ever coached,” said Law, the head
coach of the Brahmas. “We still have
some things to clean up, but we are
starting to progress to the point where
we will be playing our best hockey at
the end of the year.”
Balanced scoring has played such a
pivotal role in the success the Brahmas
have enjoyed in their first season in the
league. Texas has six players with 10
or more goals, a big reason why the
Brahmas have one of the most potent
offenses in the league, having scored
162 goals in 40 games.
Kevin o’donnell has led the charge
for Texas, racking up 27 goals through
40 games. He also had 27 assists and
was one of nine players on the team that
had 10 or more assists. albert Bolush
scored 26 goals in 40 games and led the
team in assists with 36.
“We really have four lines and have
gotten good production out of each
one,” Law said. “Having different guys
that can step up on a given night has
been huge for us.”
As good as the Brahmas have been,
however, Law wants to see his team
take its consistency to another level.
He pointed to a game against Tulsa this
past weekend. Texas won 6-3 but it was
hardly a perfect performance.
“We played 10 minutes of the best
hockey I have seen this season and
we also played 10 minutes of the
worst hockey I have seen,” Law said.
“We have to work on cleaning up our
consistency.”
Law knows he can’t snap his finger
and make that happen. However, he
does have a plan in mind to get the team
to be more consistent as it prepares to
head into the stretch run of its season.
“We have implemented a new motto
in practice, and I believe it will help us
become more consistent,” Law said.
“We want our team to focus on its
commitment to the system and game
plan. We want them to be disciplined
and we want to see a good effort in each
game. If we out-work other teams, play
disciplined and stick to our game plan,
we are going to be successful.”
This is the time of the year when
teams begin slightly shifting their
attention toward the postseason. Law
believes his team is capable of building
momentum for a deep playoff run.
“There are a lot of ups and downs
during a season, but we feel like if we
can continue to play hard and play good
hockey, we will be ready to peak at the
right time,” Law said. “I am excited
about the fact that the postseason is
coming up real soon. I’m looking
forward to seeing what our team can
accomplish.”
The WSHL is certainly one of the
most rugged leagues in the nation
and the team that emerges from it as
champion has a chance to compete at a
high level in the national tournament.
Law said the league title is up for
grabs as there isn’t one team that is
head and shoulders above everyone
else. He sees no reason why his team
can’t be the one hoisting a Thorne Cup
trophy as WSHL champion at the end
of the year.
“The league is balanced. I don’t
think there is a powerhouse in our
league,” Law added. “Anyone can be
beaten on any given night. The key for
us is to show up every night ready to
play. If we continue to do that, we are
going to have a chance to win.”
teXAs JR. BRAHMAs
8851 Ice House Drive, North Richland Hills, TX 76180
Jeremy Law, Head Coach
ph. 817-675-1116
The Texas Jr. Brahmas still have openings on their roster
at forward and defense.
Please call Jeremy Law at 871-675-1116 if interested.
tyler ridgedell has been a standout
player in the Western States Hockey
League for four years.
Starting out his first full season of
junior hockey as a fresh faced 17-yearold kid, he played for the now-defunct
Lafayette Cajun Catahoulas.
Even then, his talent was evident.
“Tyler was a kid I had my eye on
from the first time we played against
them. He was the best player on their
team and he was just 17 years old,” said
Rhinos head coach Cory herman.
After playing through his first season
with Lafayette, the franchise moved to
Fort Worth, where Ridgedell found a
little more success.
“We were a pretty good club but we
weren’t exactly focused on making a
serious run in the playoffs,” Ridgedell
said.
“We had been trying to get Tyler for
months, but the deal always fell apart
for one reason or another,” Herman
said. “Finally, we were able to get it
done and once we finally got him here,
Tyler had to adjust his game to work
within our system and it took some
time. He was used to being the main
focus offensively and trying to do it all
himself.”
“I came onto a team that had a lot of
great players so I had to find my niche,”
said Ridgedell.
“Tyler has become a complete player.
He’s great around the net on the power
play and is always a physical force on
the ice and has no problem doing the
dirty work,” said Herman.
Coming into junior hockey can be a
big adjustment when you’re a 17-yearold kid, and, much like Ridgedell, he
had to make the adjustment. Chris
Wilhite is now making that adjustment
himself as the newest addition to the
Rhinos’ lineup. Some may recognize
Chris as the younger brother of former
Rhino great Marcus Wilhite.
Chris has been around the Rhinos
program for years, either watching his
older brother win a Thorne Cup or, as
a 15-year-old, skating in the Rhinos’
summer rookie camps.
It seemed inevitable that he might
one day don the Orange, Black and
Silver.
“Marc loved it here so much and
always talked about how it was the
best time of his life playing hockey,”
said Chris. “Coming to Marc’s Rhino
games, I remembered how awesome
the fans are and watching him play in
front of a big crowd and I wanted to be
a part of that. When the time came to
make a decision on what to do next, it
was a no-brainer for me where I wanted
to go.”
Chris, a defenseman, finally made
his way to El Paso and instantly made
an impact with a goal and two assists in
his first weekend of games.
“Chris has the same gift Marcus had,
in the way he sees the ice, he’s smart
with the puck and has a natural talent
for offense,” said Herman. “He needs
to improve in some areas but he’s going
to be a good player.”
“I’m excited for Chris,” said older
brother Marcus. “It’s great, it’s always
nice seeing your little brother transform
into being a great player and having
fun in the same sweater I got to. I know
he’s in good hands there with Coach
‘Herm.’”
As one former 17-year-old junior
hockey player plays out the last two
months of his eligibility, another starts
his.
The junior hockey experience is
nothing if not unique. Young men
from 16 to 20 years old basically get a
chance, if they’re already out of school,
to be like professional hockey players.
They approach it like it’s a job, and
their whole job is to play a game they
love.
“I wish I had played here from
the start,” said Ridgedell. “It’s a big
difference playing in a top caliber
organization – the training, the quality
of coaching, the amount of time you
get on the ice – everything about it is
so different than from when I started
juniors. But I’m happy for Chris. He’s
going to get a great start here. It’s the
best thing that’s happened to my hockey
career.”
eL PAso RHInos
4100 E. Paisano, El Paso, TX
Head Coach/GM: Cory Herman
PoRtLAnD JR. PIRAtes
jrpirates.pucksystems2.com
Pirates enjoy New Year, piling on points
By neil Becker
Consistency and confidence are the
two ingredients that Portland Pirates
head coach Brad Church mentioned
when talking about the sudden postChristmas turnaround for his team.
After winning seven of eight games
in January, Portland cut a deficit of 14
points out of a playoff spot in half. They
trailed the Connecticut Jr. Wolfpack by
only seven points heading into the last
weekend of January.
“We are now expecting to win when
we hit the ice,” Church said. “Five-onfive, we are sound defensively and we
have had a couple of younger guys, such
as tim searles and Mikhail urazov,
who have stepped up offensively and
come into their own.”
This secondary scoring was
something that was missing early on
when the team was struggling with not
only scoring but also with the players’
collective confidence level.
Going back to the last few games
before the Christmas break, Church’s
team has gone 9-3, which includes some
wins against top teams such as the North
Division-leading Walpole Express and
the Northern Cyclones.
During their January hot streak,
Portland proved to be a team full of
character and determination as they
played four road games in five nights
and won them all.
This impressive streak began on Jan.
19 against the Washington Jr. Nationals
in consecutive games. Following their
victories against Washington, it was on
to Philadelphia where Portland once
again won straight games.
“I’m very happy where the program
is at this point of time,” Church said.
“Last year, we only had 10 wins for the
season and with nine games remaining
we already have 16. Our players have
also come a long way this year.”
Church knows that, with 18 points
still at stake, the slightest hiccup can
cause Portland to miss a playoff spot.
Besides remaining consistent and
injury-free, the veteran coach just wants
his players to take care of business and
not worry about anything else.
“As a coach, I always have an eye on
how [Connecticut] is doing and who
they are playing,” Church said. “Every
game from here on in is so important
and we can’t afford to shoot ourselves
in the foot by falling in a slump.”
“We have proven that we can play the
best teams in the league and compete,”
Church said. “Everyone is healthy and
we’re ready for the stretch drive.”
neW enGLAnD HUsKIes
www.jrhuskies.com
Stay-at-home D-man Toohey finds his place
By Joshua Boyd
You may not find his name all over
the scoresheet, but at a New England Jr.
Huskies game, you’ll find defenseman
shane toohey all over the ice, doing
what he needs to do and doing it right.
He is “Mr. Steady” for Paul Jenkins’
Jr. A Huskies squad.
Toohey, a 1990-born resident of
Beaconsfield, Que., is one of only three
Huskies players (along with Mike
schlagel and richard harris) to play
in all 30 Eastern Junior Hockey League
games the Huskies played through Jan.
23.
“Shane brings his ‘A’ game. He’s
become very consistent where he
wasn’t before,” said Jenkins. “He uses
his skating, he uses his size well. He’s a
good kid who can outlet the puck very
well and does what he needs to.”
Toohey is a former captain for the St.
Paul’s School (of Concord, N.H.) prep
team. From there, he went to play for
the Quesnel Millionaires of the British
Columbia Hockey League.
“I went around, doing a few tryouts
in the USHL and NAHL, and I ended
up in Quesnel. After the preseason,
I got moved to Trenton, Ont., and I
drove across Canada to get there,” said
Toohey. “Along the way, I decided I
wanted to be in New England, so I made
some phone calls. One day, I got a text
that the Huskies needed a defenseman. I
was only in Trenton for about 48 hours
before I moved to Tyngsboro [Mass.,
home of the Huskies].”
Toohey is thrilled that he landed with
the Huskies, who were tied with the
Green Mountain Glades for the fourth
and final playoff spot in the North
Division. That is a great improvement
for a team that finished dead last in the
league in 2009-10.
“I couldn’t be happier with the team,”
said Toohey. “We have good chemistry,
it’s a good locker room. Coach Jenkins
is well known in junior hockey, and
is the best coach I’ve ever played for.
[Assistant coach] nate Bostic is at the
rink every night on the phone, telling
college coaches about all of us. It’s nice
to be in an organization like this – I care
about where I’m going, and I want the
coaches to care, too.”
Jenkins believes that Toohey should
land with a good Division 3 school.
Toohey added that wherever he can go
to continue the top-notch education he
received at St. Paul’s, he’ll be happy to
go study at, and play hockey for, that
school.
TO ADVERTISE IN USA Junior
Hockey Magazine
for as little as $199.00 a month
Call 781-934-5888
[email protected]
Boston JR. BULLDoGs
neW JeRsey tItAns
www.jrtitans.com
Braun, Jenkins are unsung heroes for Bulldogs Ramos feels right at home at Howell Ice World
By Joshua Boyd
They’ve been putting everything they
have into every minute on the ice for the
Boston Jr. Bulldogs the last two years.
However, you may be forgiven if you
haven’t noticed steve Braun and sean
Jenkins.
They’re both the inconspicuous type
of player who does everything right, but
may not fill up the scoresheet.
“They have never been afforded the
high profile of some of the other players on
our team, but they have made incredible
contributions to the numerous successes
the team has had the last two years,” said
Bulldogs general manager Mike addesa.
“Both have very good character, both
come from terrific families and they are
dedicated to their team and teammates
above all else – they are the epitome of
perfect teammates.”
The 1991-born Boston resident
Jenkins is a left winger who became a
defensive forward during his time with
the Bulldogs.
“Sean plays on a line that goes up
against the opponents’ best players,”
Addesa said. “Against an outstanding
New York Bobcats team, we asked him to
do more offensively for us and he scored
the first and the clinching goals in a 3-1
win.”
“I just try to be as defensively
responsible as possible,” added Jenkins,
who has appeared in all 31 games for the
Bulldogs this season. “In the slower prep
school game, I got more points, but Coach
Addesa figured to use my size [6-feet,
195 pounds] and utilize me as a defensive
forward, and it’s worked out well.”
Jenkins is interested in playing Division
3 college hockey at a small school in the
Boston area, one that has a very good
business program. “I’m definitely on the
market,” he said.
Braun is also a 1991-born player, and
on the blue line, he is even bigger than
Jenkins at 6-2, 205 pounds.
“Steve sees an awful lot of minutes
shorthanded against the best power play
units,” Addesa said. “The last few games
[through the middle to end of January],
he’s been incredibly consistent.”
“I’m definitely more of a penaltykilling, physical, defensive defenseman,”
said Braun, a resident of Cranbury, N.J.
He previously played in the Metropolitan
Jr. B League for the New Jersey Jr. Titans.
Braun has had contact with UMassDartmouth, Plymouth (N.H.) State and
Fitchburg (Mass.) State coaches.
“I still talk to each of those schools, so
I’m hoping to make my decision soon,”
he said.
By steve stein
david ramos couldn’t have picked a
better season to join the New Jersey Jr.
Titans team in the Metropolitan Junior
Hockey League.
The Junior Titans started practicing
and playing home games at their new
rink, Howell Ice World, last month.
Ramos lives five minutes from the
facility. Besides skating for the Junior
Titans, Ramos also works at the arena.
Titans head coach dustin dePalma
couldn’t be happier about having Ramos
on his team, and not just because the 6foot-1-inch, 170-pound center is one of
the Junior Titans’ most prolific scorers
and one of three assistant captains.
“David has experience and confidence
and he leads by example,” DePalma
said. “Plus, he’s probably the most
recognizable hockey player in Howell.
Little kids look up to him.”
Ramos gained much of his recognition
while playing for the Howell High
School hockey team as a junior and
senior. Those were the team’s first two
seasons.
Howell burst onto the prep scene
with Ramos leading the way, winning
the Shore Conference C Division
championship in 2009 and advancing to
the NJSIAA state semifinals in 2010.
After playing last season for the
Jersey Hitmen of the Empire Junior
Hockey League, whose home rink is an
hour away from Howell in Wayne, N.J.,
Ramos decided to return to the Junior
Titans program. The 1992-born player
also skated for the Junior Titans as a
bantam.
“The decision to come back to the
Junior Titans was a no-brainer, and not
just because of the new rink,” Ramos
said. “Dustin is a great coach.”
“It was a mutual decision,” DePalma
said. “We were a good fit for David.”
Ramos had 17 goals and a teamhigh 21 assists in his first 27 games
with the Junior Titans, statistics that
earned him a spot on the North team
for the Metropolitan Junior Hockey
League All-Star Game in late January
in Walpole, Mass.
DePalma thinks Ramos is on track
to play Jr. A hockey next season and
eventually college hockey. Ramos is
attending junior college and hopes
someday to be a physical education
teacher or sports therapist.
The Junior Titans were 20-5-0-2 for
42 points after 27 games, good for third
place behind co-leaders Long Island and
Suffolk in the Mullen Division. Long
Island and Suffolk each had 48 points.
FLoRIDA eeLs
www.floridaeels.org
Boyd bolts for USHL; several All-Stars for Eels
Alumni news: Matt Gilroy Alumni Player of the south shore Kings
The New York Rangers are proud to announce today that defenseman Matt Gilroy has been selected
as winner of the 2009 Lars-Erik Sjoberg Award. Since 1988, the award has been given annually to the
best rookie at Rangers Training Camp, as voted by select New York media.
Gilroy, 24, has recorded one goal and a plus-three rating in four pre-season contests. Last season, he captured the Hobey Baker Award, given to
the top player in collegiate hockey, and was named as a First Team AllAmerican.
He became the second player in Boston University history to win the Hobey
Baker Award, as Rangers’ Captain Chris Drury won the award in 1998. He
also became the first defenseman in Hockey East history to be honored as
a First Team All-Star three times.
Captain of the Hockey East regular season and playoff champion Boston
University Terriers, Gilroy registered eight goals and 29 assists for 37 Matt Gilroy, the top player in
points in 45 games. He led the Terriers to their fifth NCAA championship, college hockey last year,
assisting on the game-tying goal with 17 seconds remaining in regulation in celebrates his remarkable goal
the championship game, after entering the tournament as the #1 seeded against New Jersey during the
Rangers’ second preseason game.
team.
The senior defenseman established career-highs in games played (45), assists (29) and points (37).
In addition, the North Bellmore, New York native led all Hockey East defensemen in scoring and
ranked third among all defensemen in the nation.
The award is named in tribute to Lars-Erik Sjoberg, one of the first European players to compete
professionally in North America and captain of the Winnipeg Jets for six seasons.
He later became a European scout for eight years with the Rangers. Sjoberg played a key role in the
Rangers drafting of Swedish stars Tomas Sandstrom, Ulf Dahlen, Kjell Samuelsson, and Jan Erixon. He
passed away in 1987 and the award was created to honor his memory.
south shore Kings news: The South Shore Kings are proud to announce that two players from the
Kings were chosen by the EJHL for Players of the week. Honorable mention to last weeks winners Chris
Wagner (Offensive) and Charlie Coyle (Rookie)
Offensive Player of the week
charlie coyle (South Shore Kings)
Charlie continued to impress with another strong weekend. The Weymouth, MA, native notched a
goal and an assist in the Kings’ win over the Valley Jr. Warriors and one more assist against Huskies. He
then exploded for a goal and four assists in a win over Springfield. His 15 points put him top of the
EJHL in scoring. Charlie will attend Boston University next fall.
Defensive Player of the Week:
nolan Descoteaux (South Shore Kings)
Nolan, a 1989 birth year, demonstrated his two-way ability as one of the EJHL’s top defensemen in
his own end contributed on the scoresheet as well. In three games last weekend, Nolan propelled the
Kings to two wins and a tie, recording two goals and four assists. He is a native of Dallas, Tx, and in
his second year with the Kings.
Defenseman r.J. Boyd, who played
his entire youth and junior hockey career with the Eels, has decided to take a
different path with the remainder of the
2010-11 season.
Boyd, who was selected in the seventh round (183rd overall) by the Florida Panthers in the 2010 NHL Entry
Draft, started the year with the Sacred
Heart University Pioneers, a team in the
Atlantic Hockey Association (NCAA
Division 1).
There, the Fort Myers, Fla., resident
scored four points in 15 games. However, Boyd left the school and has since
been suiting up for the Chicago Steel of
the Tier-1 Jr. A United States Hockey
League.
Boyd played his very first game in
the USHL on New Year’s Day 2011,
scoring the Steel’s only goal in a 5-1
loss to Green Bay. The entire Steel team
has struggled this year, falling to last
place in the league and with a close to
2-1 goals against to goals for ratio.
get your show on, go play: The Eels
had plenty of All-Stars representing the
organization in both the Southeast Junior Hockey League and in the Metropolitan Junior Hockey League.
In the SEJHL, John schwarz, K.J.
Bell, Matt Czaster and Erik allard
skated with the league’s best in Atlanta,
Ga., on Jan. 16.
The 1994-born Schwarz scored five
points in six games for the SEJHL Eels,
after also playing 23 Met League games,
scoring a pair of goals.
Bell played in 14 games, scoring seven points, for the SEJHL Eels, and also
split the season with the Met League
team. The 1991-born Cape Coral, Fla.,
resident had a pair of goals in 15 games.
Czaster (six points in 21 games) and Allard (six points in 18 games) are SEJHL
regulars.
Being on the young side, 1994-born
Jon Jordan was in the MJHL Prospects
Game, which featured the best MJHL
players with birth years ranging from
1993 to 1995. Heading into the game,
Jordan was leading the Met League Eels
in scoring with 27 points in 31 games.
“Jon will have his chance to showcase his skills to the top coaches in the
U.S.,” said Eels general manager/head
coach frank scarpaci.
Jeremy Eck, the league’s leading
goalie in minutes played (1,532) and
saves (1,003), was named to the MJHL
South All-Star team, playing the best
from the North.
“Jeremy will have numerous college
scouts to speak to,” said Scarpaci. “This
is very exciting for our two boys.”
atlantic JUniOR HOcKEY
lEaGUE DiREctORY
P.o. Box 1151, Mcafee, nJ 07428
President: Glenn Hefferan- 201-745-9130 • Dir. Of PR/Media: Derrek Douglas - 973-445-1015
Dir. Of League Operations: Fred Hughes - 201-745-0030
e-mail: [email protected] • www.ajhlhockey.org
Wilkes-Barre / scranton knights
Pittston, Pa - revolution ice centre
owner - louis Denaples
President/gM - Paul Maciejewski - 716-983-5513
[email protected]
head coach - anthony DiPalma - 203-676-0622
[email protected]
Boston BUllDogs
Salem ICEnter, Salem, NH
Owner/President: Mike Addesa
[email protected]
Head Coach: Frank Golden - 978-869-6919
[email protected]
connecticUt Jr. WolFPack
Champions Arena , Cromwell, CT
Owner: Bob Crawford
President: Dan McCarthy
Head Coach/GM: Chris Cerrella - 561-797-8769
neW JerseY rockets
Berkeley Heights, NJ
Prudential Center
Owner: Debbie Vanderbeek
President: Peggy Del Mauro
GM/Head Coach: Bob Thornton - 516-816-2599
neW York JUnior BoBcats
Long Island, NY
Ice Works Syosset
Owner: Fred Schoenhut ; Pres./AC: Dan Marshall
GM: Gil Valdes - 646-286-6804
Head Coach: Ed Galiani - 631-219-9921
laconia leaFs
Laconia, NH
Laconia Ice Arena
President: Dennis Comeau
GM/ Head Coach: Will Fay - 603-581-7008
northern cYclones
Cyclones Arena , Hudson, NH
Owner/President/Head Coach: Bill Flanagan
GM: Brandon Barnard 603-475-1131
Owner/Asst. Owner: Joe Flanagan 781-953-4287
PhilaDelPhia little FlYers
Aston, PA
Aston Ice Works
Owwner/President: Rosemary Giacobbo
GM: Glenn Tendler - 215-460-0144
Head Coach: Steve Washkalavitch - 215-873-1902
PhilaDelPhia Jr. FlYers
West Chester, PA
Ice Line
Owner/President: John Graves
GM/Head Coach: Jerry Domish - 610-436-9670
PortlanD Jr. Pirates
Saco, ME
MHG Ice Centre
Co-Owners: Mark Anthoine/Ron Cain
GM/Head Coach: Brad Church - 207-210-0419
WalPole eXPress
Walpole, MA
Iorio Arena
Owner: Rob Barletta
President/GM: Tony Dalessio
Head Coach: Mark Kumpel - 207-289-0638
Washington Jr. nationals
Arlington, VA
Kettler Capitals Iceplex
Owner/President: Stephen Lary
GM: Jason Wolfe 301-452-6173
Head Coach: Troy Govig 443-867-8794 [email protected]
METROPOLITAN JR. HOCKEY LEAGUE DIRECTORY
P.O. Box 1151 McAfee, N.J. 07428
President: Glenn Hefferan
Phone: 973-823-8147 • Fax: 973-823-8215
NORTH
CENTRAL PENN PANTHERS
Lancaster, PA
Regency Sports Rink
Owner/President: Ray Ferry
GM/Head Coach: Andy Scott 717-676-0871
COnneCtiCut JR. WOLFPACK
Cromwell, Ct
Champions Skating Center
Owner: Bob Crawford
President: Dan McCarthy
Head Coach/GM: Chris Cerrella
561-797-8769
LOnG iSLAnD ROYALS
Long island, nY
ice Works
Owner/President: Richard McGuigan
GM: John Zerillo 631-487-8567
Head Coach: Ken Hoey 631-885-0497
neW JeRSeY ROCKetS
Berkeley Heights, nJ
Prudential Center
Owner/President:Peggy Del Mauro
GM/Head Coach: Bob thornton
516-816-2599
nORtHeRn CYCLOneS
Hudson, nH
Cyclones Arena
Owner/AC: Wes Dolloff
Owner/President: Bill Flanagan
Owner: Joe Flanagan
GM: Brandon Barnard 603-475-4083
Head Coach: Paul Russo 978-835-6280
neW YORK SAintS
Monsey, nY
Sport-O-Rama
GM: Gary Hess 201-310-2585
Head Coach: Robert Murdock
917-797-7844
PHiLADeLPHiA JuniOR FLYeRS
West Chester, PA
ice Line
Owner/President: John Graves
GM/Head Coach: Jerry Domish
610-436-9670
PHiLADeLPHiA LittLe FLYeRS
Aston, PA
Aston ice Works
Owner/President:
Rosemary Giacobbo
GM: Glenn tendler 215-460-0144
Head Coach: Rob Macinnis
484-321-1278
neW JeRSeY JuniOR titAnS
Farmingdale, nJ
Wall Sports Arena
Owner/President: George Haviland
GM/Head Coach: Dustin DePalma
732-547-4898
neW JeRSeY ReneGADeS
Farmingdale, nJ
Aspen ice
Owner/President: Cliff Graziano Sr.
GM/Head Coach: Cliff Graziano Jr.
973-479-2403
SuFFOLK PAL
Hauppauge, nY
the Rinx
Owner/President: tom Palamara
GM: Ron Kinnear 516-680-7642
Head Coach: Aleksey nikiforov
631-236-8190
VALLeY FORGe MinuteMen
Oaks, PA
Oaks ice
Owner/President: Jake Gevard
GM/Head Coach: ed Herneisen
610-587-6294
WALPOLe eXPReSS
Walpole, MA
iorio Arena
Owner: Rob Barletta
President/GM: tony Dalessio 339-234-2008
Head Coach: Mike tenney 617-640-9643
WiLKeS-BARRe SCRAntOn KniGHtS
Owner: Louis Denaples
President/GM: Paul Maciejewski 716-983-5513
Head Coach: Ace Roque 570-404-5529
CRAnStOn ReDS
Owner: Rob Barletta
Owner/President: tony Dalessio
Owner: Mark Kurmpel
GM/Head Coach: Dennis Doherty 617-650-1789
PORtLAnD JR. PiRAteS
Owner: Mark Anthoine
Owner: Ron Cain
GM/Head Coach: Brad Church 207-210-0419
LACOniA LeAFS
Laconia ice Arena, Laconia, nH
Owner: Winnipesaukee Skating Club
President: Dennis Comeau
GM/Head Coach: Will Fay 603-581-7008
sOUTH
eASt COASt eAGLeS
Wake Forest, nC
Factory ice House
President: Gregory Akers
GM: Gary Gouin 919-319-6588
Head Coach: Lincoln Flagg 413-530-4939
FLORiDA eeLS
Ft. Myers, FL
Skatium
Owner/President: Frank Scarpaci
GM/Head Coach:
Frank Scarpaci 941-400-9023
JuniOR BLADeS
Owner/President/GM: Ron Kinnear
Head Coach: tad O’Had 509-961-0574
PALM BeACH HAWKS
W. Palm Beach, FL
Palm Beach Skate Zone
President/GM/Head Coach: John Ambrefe
561-289-4305
HAMPtOn ROADS JR. WHALeRS
Chesapeake, VA
Chilled Ponds ice Complex
Owner/President: Patrick Cavanagh
GM/Head Coach:
tom Winkler 757-374-8417
tAMPA BAY JuniORS
Owner/President/Head Coach: Brett Strot
904-424-5616
GM: Kevin Wolter 904-476-7292
SPACe COASt HuRRiCAneS
Rockledge, FL
Space Coast iceplex
President: Rick ninko 321-504-7500
GM/Head Coach: Shawn Ray
321-504-7500
AtLAntA KniGHtS
Head Coach: Kevin Kerr
EMPIRE HOCKEY LEAGUE DIRECTORY
Commissioner: Don Kirnan,
5679 Thompson Rd., So. Dewitt, NY 13214
ph. (315) 446-1238 • e-mail: [email protected]
League Operations: George Kelly • e-mail:[email protected]
www.empirehockey.com
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Green MOUnTAIn GlAdes
87 Main Street, Essex Junction, VT 05452
ph. 802-878-3100
GM: Dennis Himes
new HAMpsHIre MOnArcHs
311 West River Rd. Hooksett, NH 03106
ph. 603-270-1018 fax 603-485-4551
Head Coach/GM: Ryan Frew
new enGlAnd HUskIes
P.O. Box 405, Middlesex Road ,Tyngsboro, MA 01879
ph. 508-561-7657 • Fax 978-649-6122
Head Coach: Tim Pelletier
VAlley JUnIOr wArrIOrs
7 Park Ridge Road, Haverhill, MA 01835
ph. 978-557-5518 X17 fax 978-557-5519
GM: Andy Heinze • e-mail: [email protected]
BAy sTATe BreAkers
P.O. Box 150 Rockland, MA 02370
ph. 781-878-7500 ext. 14 fax 781-792-2950
GM/Head Coach: David McCauley
BOsTOn JUnIOr BrUIns
P.O. Box 2100 Framingham, MA 01703-2100
ph. 508-820-1600 fax 508-820-1643
GM/Head Coach: Chris Masters
BrIdGewATer BAndITs
P.O. Box 336, Bridgewater, MA 02324
ph: 508-279-0600, ext. 111 fax. 508-697-6804
GM: Todd Stirling
cApITAl dIsTrIcT selecTs MInOr Jr. B
19 Oakwood Blvd. Clifton Park, NY 12065
Ph. 518-421-6280; Fax: 518-371-3795
Owner: Jim Salfi • e-mail: [email protected]
www.cdselects.com
sOUTH sHOre kInGs
10 E. Belcher Rd., Foxboro, MA 02035
ph. 508-698-0505 fax. 508-698-3535
Head Coach: John Gurskis
sAleM Ice dOGs
2 Buena Vista Ave. Salem, Mass 01970
ph. 978-745-3489 fax 978-744-4439
GM/Head Coach: Mark Latham • e-mail: [email protected]
sprInGFIeld pIcs
39 Hunting Lane, Agawam, MA 01001
ph. 413-786-6063 • Fax 413-786-6820
Head Coach: Patrick Tabb
WESTERN CONFERENCE
new yOrk Apple cOre
ph. 646-533 -1055
BrewsTer BUlldOGs
63 Fields Lane Brewster, NY 10509
ph. 845-279-2229 ext.10 fax 845-279-7237
Owner: Steve Santini • e-mail: [email protected]
Jersey wIldcATs
845 Berkshire Valley Rd. Wharton, NJ 07885-1525
ph. 973-214-1065 fax 973-366-8283
GM: Jim Stanlick • e-mail: [email protected]
pHIlAdelpHIA reVOlUTIOn
1621 Mearns Rd., Warminster, PA 18974
Head Coach: James Laux
Ph. 856-524-1080
Jersey HITMen
10 Nevins Road, Wayne, NJ 07470
Head Coach: Chris Barling Ph. 973-868-8755
GM: Toby Harris
www.jerseyhitmen.net
BUFFAlO sTArs
3465 Broadway
Cheektowaga, NY 14227
Office: 716-685-1122 fax 716-651-9791
Owner/GM: Peter Preteroti • e-mail: [email protected]
FrederIck Freeze
308 Cone Branch Drive, Middletown, MD 21769
ph. 301-371-8077
Owner: Mary Russell
[email protected]
www.frederickfreeze.com
MAksyMUM JUnIOr HOckey clUB
2700 Brighton-Henrietta Townline Rd. Rochester, NY 14623
ph. 585-426-8488 fax 585-426-5260
GM: Tony Maksymiu • e-mail: [email protected]
syrAcUse sTArs
5679 Thompson Rd. So. Dewitt, NY 13214
ph. 315-446-1238 fax 315-446-7363
GM: Don Kirnan • e-mail: [email protected]
pOTOMAc pATrIOTs
5180 Dale Blvd., Woodbridge, VA 22193
Ph. 703-597-7395 • Fax 703-670-9165
Head Coach/GM: R. J. Zeigler
E-mail: [email protected] • www.potomacpatriots.org
eMPIRe JUnIoR
HocKey LeAGUe
Junior Bruins chasing down another title
By neil Becker
The main goal for the Boston Jr. Bruins
hasn’t changed since training camp.
That ultimate goal of winning the
Eastern Conference is still very much in
reach. Attainment would give them home
ice in the playoffs and a berth in the Jr. B
National Championships.
“It’s going to be tight coming down the
wire,” said Jr. Bruins general manager/
head coach Chris Masters. “The margin
of error is so thin and we have a tough
schedule coming up.”
Boston, the defending conference
champion, currently finds itself tied with
the South Shore Kings and New England
Jr. Huskies for the conference lead with
45 points. Ahead of both teams for first
overall are the New York Apple Core,
who leads the league with 60 points.
“We’re not even looking at Apple
Core,” Masters said.
Looking ahead to February, Masters
noted that they have a tough stretch
coming up on the road, where they are
only 4-5. That tough stretch also includes
a test of endurance and character as they
play five games in five nights.
Masters estimated that it took about
the first two months until the rookies
adjusted to the speed and overall level of
play in junior hockey.
“Skating is the strength of the team
and we play to our strengths,” he said.
While there are several Bruins enjoying
stellar seasons, Masters mentioned
forwards Paul russell, Jack Eichel and
defenseman Kevin McKernan, Connor
doherty and Mitch Beyer among the
many who have really impressed.
“Paul is explosive offensively and
excels in all three zones,” Masters said.
“Jack has really picked it up in the middle
third of the season and he continues to
get better. Kevin, Connor and Mitch are
all having solid seasons and are all great
skaters who play well in their own zone.”
Hobbled Wildcats still sticking in playoff race
By neil Becker
Chris sannipoli just can’t seem to get
a break.
After missing all of last season due to
post-concussion syndrome, this Jersey
Wildcats defenseman finally made his
way back into the lineup in January only
to suffer a concussion a few games into
his comeback.
“I don’t know if he’ll be back this
year,” said Wildcats co-coach Justin
stanlick. “It was tough for him coming
back this year because he wasn’t used to
the game speed. If we make the playoffs,
then we might see him come back and
play.”
Jersey, which entered February
holding down the final playoff spot in
the Western Conference, were close
to getting three other key players back
from injury – forwards Jacob Lessick
and Patrick Pascarella and defenseman
austin frost.
“We’ve been riddled all season long
with injuries but it hasn’t kept us from
competing in every game and never
giving up,” Stanlick said.
Lessick, who has scored eight goals
and 13 points in 25 games, is someone
who has drawn a lot of praise from
Stanlick for his consistent play.
“I have seen all kinds of improvement
and he has really stepped up both
offensively and defensively,” Stanlick
said.
January wasn’t a kind month for
Jersey, which lost four straight games
including a 9-3 decision against first place
Apple Core. Stanlick points out that was
anyone’s game after two periods.
In that particular Jan. 23 game, Stanlick
emphasized how the Wildcats still had
a chance, trailing by only 4-2 after two
periods. The third period, however, turned
out to be a real education for Jersey as
the Wildcats yielded 26 shots on goal and
five goals in the third period.
“It was a hard-fought game and I
was really happy that we only took two
penalties,” Stanlick said. “We learned
that they thrive on mistakes and that’s
exactly what happened in the third period
and it was a good lesson for us.”
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contInentAL HocKey
AssocIAtIon
Freeze hope to break ice from blades;
Gilmore scores everywhere;
Leafs very ‘special’ all around
By Joshua Boyd
The Frederick Freeze was a very
successful organization at the Jr. C level,
reaching the Jr. C Nationals in 2010. The
Freeze made it all the way to the semifinals
in the final USA Hockey-sanctioned
championship tournament at that level.
The Freeze also iced a Jr. B team that
enjoyed moderate success in 2009-10, but
with just one team in the league this season,
the Freeze haven’t been able to carry success
over into 2010-11.
Entering their Jan. 29 weekend series
against the Suffolk PAL Ice Hockey team,
the team was struggling through a ninegame losing streak. In eight of those nine
games, the Freeze scored one goal or less.
The team has had some impressive
individual performances this year, including
that of nicholas Martin. Martin, a 1993born player on last year’s Jr. C national
semifinalists, scored 22 points in his first 17
games this year at the Jr. B level.
The Freeze also hope that having forward
Zachary Bunde back will help improve
the offense, as Bunde scored 13 points in
his first eight games with the team before
missing four contests.
Most of the Jr. B team this year consists
of players from last year’s Jr. C Nationals
team, including doug Evans, nicholas
rizzutto and James thayer. Most of last
year’s Jr. B Freeze team in the CHA moved
to the Freeze’s new team in the Empire Jr.
B League this season, so it was certainly a
jump for last year’s Jr. C team players in the
new single-tier CHA this season.
Some members of the Jr. C Freeze last
year, however, are also with the Empire team,
including david arndt, Casey donegan,
James dorrian, Bradley gratton, temur
hannan, Pierce McCaull, ian Patrican
and goalie sean thompson.
Additionally, Andrew Butler was an
Empire League All-Star after putting up 38
points in 34 CHA Jr. B games last season.
Clearly, the Freeze have established a
clear in-house advancement system that has
worked well so far. Outside of the Freeze,
former team captain Chris Bond (200708) has experienced success in the North
American Hockey League. He’s played in
77 NAHL games, scored 23 points and has
a +33 plus-minus rating during his Tier-2 Jr.
A career.
gilmore keeps giving more: The Bay
State Breakers’ leading scorer Brandon
Gilmore put up 10 points in six games
between December and January after being
held scoreless for only the second time this
season.
Gilmore also got a two-game look in the
Empire League with the Breakers there, and
he ended up scoring five points in a twogame weekend stand in mid-December.
Can a stint with the Eastern Junior Hockey
League’s Jr. A Breakers squad be far away?
isn’t that special?: The Massachusetts
Maple Leafs were all over the leaderboard
on special teams, standing at second in
power play (28.9 percent) and first in penalty
killing (89.5 percent). Jarred Mitrano led
the team and was fourth in power play goals
in the league with seven, while teammate
robert Berg was the big playmaker with
eight helpers with the man-advantage.
Along with Berg, two other Leafs
defensemen have been effective on special
teams in every one of the team’s CHA
games. Emilio Botelho six power play
points and one shorthanded assist, while
Peter Burnham had five power play points
and a shorthanded goal to his credit.
alumni shoutout: Speaking of the
Leafs, ronnie Paiva, a former player for
tony desilva’s crew is a regular for the
Becker College Hawks. Becker is a NCAA
Division 3 team playing in the ECAC
Northeast league. Paiva is now a sophomore
for Becker, and he has not missed a single
game Becker has played since the start of
the 2009-10 season, appearing in 43 career
games and registering six goals and 15
points along the way.
In 2008-09, Paiva scored 37 goals in 31
CHA games for the Leafs and was fifth in
league scoring with 63 points. A year earlier,
Paiva was on the 2007-08 Leafs team that
won the Jr. C National Championship.
Check back next month for a look at the
CHA playoffs and potential Jr. B National
Championship contestants.
CHA 2010-11 Directory
www. jrhockey.net
Andrew J. “Sarge” Richards - Commissioner
220 Church Ave. Unit 5, Gulfport, MS 39507-1201
228-236-1000
[email protected]
NEW YORK APPLE CORE
ph. 646-533 -1055
Henry Lazar: GM/ Head Coach Apple Core Junior A :
Eastern Jr. ‘A’ Hockey League CHA Management Group
Head coach: Tom Carroll 917-682-4059 [email protected]
www.applecorejunior.com
BAY STATE BREAKERS
P.O. Box 150, Rockland, MA 02370
Ph. 781-585-2111 x301 • Fax 781-792-2950
GM: David McCauley
E-mail: [email protected] • www.jrbreakers.com
BOSTON JuNiOR BRuiNS
121 Donald Lynch Blvd., Marlboro, MA 01752
Ph. and Fax 508-820-1600
GM: Mike Anderson
E-mail: [email protected] • www.bostonjuniorbruins.com
BREWSTER BuLLDOGS
63 Fields Lane, Brewster, NY 10509
Ph. 845-279-2229 x10 • Fax 508-820-1600
Owner/GM: Steve Santini
E-mail: [email protected] • http://brewster.goalline.ca
BuffALO STARS
3465 Broadway, Cheektowaga, NY 14227
Ph. 716-685-1122 • Fax 716-651-9791
Gm / Owner: Pete Preteroti
E-mail: [email protected] • www.buffalostars.com
fREDERiCK fREEzE
308 Cone Branch Dr, Middletown MD 21769
Ph. 301-371-8077
Owner: Mary Russell
E-mail: [email protected] • www.frederickfreeze.com
JERSEY WiLDCATS
845 Berkshire Valley Rd., Wharton, NJ 07885-1525
Ph. 973-214-1065 • Fax 973-366-8283
Gm /Owner: Jim Stanlick
E-mail: [email protected]• www.jerseywildcats.com
MASS MAPLE LEAfS
P.O. Box 30314, Acushnet, MA. 02743
Ph. 508-971-0808 • Fax 508-992-8590
GM / Owner: Tony DeSilva
METRO fiGhTiNG MOOSE
31 Fayette Ave., Staten Island , NY10305
Ph. 347-454-1000 • Fax 718-504-4450
GM: Bryan Farrell
E-mail: [email protected]• www.metromoose.com
NEW ENGLAND JR. huSKiES
P.O. Box 405, Tyngsboro, MA
Ph. 508-561-7657 • Fax 978-649-6122
GM: Paul Jenkins
E-mail: [email protected] • www.jrhuskies.com
NEW hAMPShiRE MONARChS
311 West River Road, Hooksett, NH 03106
Ph. 603-270-1018 • Fax (603-485-4551
GM : Ryan Frew
PhiLADELPhiA JR. BLAzERS
P.O. Box 67, Wagontown, PA 19376
Ph. 610-383-0993 • Cell 484-614-3148
GM / Owner: John Falese
PhiLADELPhiA REVOLuTiON
1621 Mearns Rd., Warminster, PA 15116
Ph. 215-669-2658
Owner: Phil Pulley
E-mail:[email protected] • www.philadelphiarevolution.org
PiTTSBuRGh JuNiOR PENGuiNS
1400 Wm. Flynn Hwy., Glenshaw, PA 15116
Ph. 412-486-0594 • Cell 412-969-5177
Owner: Kevin Morrison
E-mail: [email protected] • www.juniorpenguins.com
SPRiNGfiELD PiCS
135 Langevin St., Chicopee, MA. 01020
Ph. 413-210-0176 • Fax. 866-645-7770
Head Coach / Owner: Rob Bonneau
E-mail: [email protected] • www.springfieldjrpics.com
SOuTh ShORE KiNGS
10 E. Belcher Road, Foxboro, MA 02035
Ph. 508-698-050 • Cell 401-465-1474 • Fax 508-698-3535
GM: Steve Ouellette
E-mail: [email protected] • ww.southshorekings.com
SuffOLK JuNiORS
6 Vantage Court, Port Jefferson, NY 11777
Ph. 631-413-8224 • Fax 631-331-2523
GM/Director of Juniors: Ron Kinnear
E-mail: [email protected] • www.palicehockey.com
POTOMAC PATRiOTS
5180 Dale Blvd., Woodbridge, VA 22193
Ph. 703-597-7395 • Fax 703-670-9165
General Manager: R. J. Zeigler
E-mail: [email protected] • www.potomacpatriots.org
InteRnAtIonAL JUnIoR HocKey LeAGUe
Mathis becomes all-around player for Jackals Collins dangerous even strength, shorthanded
By steve stein
scott Mathis admits his junior hockey
career didn’t get off to a great start last
season.
“My first year was pretty rocky,” he
said.
Philadelphia Jackals coach Jimi
simmons agrees.
“Scott was rough around the edges, a
little too hot-tempered,” he said. “I had
to sit him down and let him know what is
expected in my house.”
Mathis has been rough on International
Junior Hockey League Super Elite
Division opponents this season, his final
one as a junior. The 5-foot-10-inch, 180pound forward from Morton Grove, Ill.,
was leading the Jackals in goals (17) and
assists (19) through mid-January, and he
was tied for the team lead in power-play
goals with five with Kyle Pelkey.
He also was No. 1 on the team in
penalty minutes (63), but he says he’s
working on controlling his emotions and
staying out of the box.
“Scott is a role model, an excellent
blue collar player,” Simmons said. “He
has the skills to play college or minor pro
hockey next year.”
Mathis knows why he’s turned around
his hockey life.
“It may be a cliche, but it’s true. Coach
Simmons and the organization have given
me the tools the play the game the proper
way,” he said.
The Jackals were the only team to
win all three of its games at the IJHL
Showcase held last month in Hyannis,
Mass.
They beat the Boston Jr. Blackhawks
(2-1), Mass Maple Leafs (4-3) and New
York Aviators (10-3), improving their
record to 19-12-3.
Mathis had one assist against the Jr.
Blackhawks, two goals against the Maple
Leafs, and one goal and four assists
against the Aviators. tyler Mishchenko
scored a hat trick and had two assists
against the Aviators.
Jackals goalie Jordan Marr, from
Scotland, is also having an outstanding
season. He was 14-6-2 with a 3.07 goalsagainst average and three shutouts after
23 games between the pipes.
By steve stein
Is there anything more demoralizing
to a hockey team than giving up a
shorthanded goal? Probably not.
Kevin Collins, of the Trenton Habs,
made International Junior Hockey
League Super Elite Division opponents
grimace four times during the first 31
games he played this season, scoring four
“shorties.”
It was no accident.
“We put a lot of emphasis on penalty
killing because that can win games,” said
Habs coach Eric Brule. “You can’t count
on scoring on power plays, but you can
control how you kill penalties.
“Plus, a shorthanded goal can energize
your bench, and send momentum in your
direction,” he added.
Brule said the Habs use several
penalty-killing systems.
“Like a pitcher in baseball who
doesn’t want to throw all fastballs, you
have to change it up when it comes to
killing penalties,” he said. “We’re not
revolutionizing the game here. We’re
doing things that are done at the college
and professional levels.”
The Habs were 25-8-2 and in first
place in the Mid-Atlantic Division in late
January. With 52 points, they were four
points in front of the second-place South
Jersey Raptors (22-6-4) and nine ahead
of the third-place Philadelphia Jackals
(20-13-3).
“We have a young team, virtually a
U18 team, with just one 20-year-old,”
Brule said. “But these kids are hungry to
learn, and they believe in each other and
the team’s structure.”
Collins had 20 goals and nine assists
through 31 games. He had four power
play goals in addition to his four shorthanded tallies.
Justin goldstein, a 1994-born player,
had 25 goals and 18 assists through 34
games. Brule says dillon Balsamo
(22 goals, 26 assists in 35 games) has
Division 1-type speed, and albert stock
(four goals, 20 assists in 32 games) has
been the backbone of the Habs’ defense.
INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE DIRECTORY
485 Rogers Ave., W. Springfield, MA
Commissioner: Charles Nielsen - 413-896-5812 • e-mail: [email protected]
Director of Hockey Operations: David McCarthy - 978-376-8356 • e-mail: [email protected]
NEW ENGLAND STARS
GM/Coach Dan Fontas
Ph. 603-759-6168
dfontas@the hockeyacademy.com
www.nestarshockey.com
WORCESTER WILDCATS
Coach/GM: Ken Jacobs
ph. 508-561-8525 cell
www.worcesterjuniorwildcats.com
MAINE MOOSE
President/Owner Ben Gray
ph. 207-623-0650
www.moosemainea.com
TRENTON HABS
President: Eric Brule
Senior Advisor & Legal affairs: Pat Marano
Head Coach: Oktay Aragan
ph. 215-337-9151
www.TRENTONHABS.com
FREEPORT ARROWS
www.arrowsyouthhockey.org
BOSTON JR. BLACKHAWKS
Rich Salsman,
ph. 781-245-9330
MASS MARINERS AAA HOCKEY
Lee Goodwin,
ph. 781-354-3459
fax: 781-595-3807
neW jeRSey StORM
GM / Owner: Gery Rini 813-443-9612
Head Coach: Brent Kuper 813-781-7278
PHILADELPHIA JACKALS
Jimi Simmons
Elmira Jackals, ECHL, Affiliate to NHL
Ottawa Senators and AHL Binghamton
Senators- Video Coach/Team Scout
484-571-6042
CAPE COD CUBS
Dan Hodge
ph. 781-307-7235; 508-280-2046
[email protected]
BERLIN JR. MAROONS
Russell Couture, phone: 603-752-5377
www.berlinjrmaroons.com
EASTERN KODIAKS
General Manager: Robert Harris
ph.: 781-231-0268
Head Coach: Wayne Sheehan
ph: 603-944-6155
[email protected]
NEW YORK JUNIOR AVIATORS
Head Coach: John Sacco
RightFithockey.com
LONG ISLAND WOLFPACK
Ken Uher
65 Arrandale Ave., Great Neck, NY 11023
Ph. 631-224-4536
[email protected]
www.liwolfpack.com
SOUTH JERSEY RAPTORS
Coach: Matt Lemma
601 Hollydell Drive, Sewell, NJ 08080
856-869-8192
jrraptors.net
NORTH SHORE RAIDERS
Peter Petri
www.northshoreraiders.com
WHITE MOUNTAIN WARRIORS
Coach/GM: Brett Tryder
Ph. 603-726-6364
www.wmwarriors.com
NORTHERN NEW YORK GAMBLERS
Head coach: Bill Plante
Ph. 315-769-8821; Cell: 315-250-3852
www.nnyjrgamblers.com
MASS MAple leAfS
P.O. Box 30314, Acushnet, MA. 02743
Ph. 508-971-0808 • Fax 508-992-8590
GM / Owner: Tony DeSilva
Head Coach: Kria Metea 508-292-6486
www.ijhl.us
February 2011 • 2
Crafting future junior, college hockey talent in Greater Boston
By Joshua Boyd
To forge the best junior hockey players, one has to start at the youth level.
The International Junior Youth Hockey League, based in the Greater Boston area
in Massachusetts, has combined several different aspects of junior hockey with a
youth development model that is attracting more teams each season.
“The league is expanding, with some very strong additions,” said Commissioner
David McCarthy. “All the guys in the league are very good hockey guys. Not only
are they guys who have played hockey at very high levels, but they are dedicated to
helping the kids develop.”
The IJYHL was founded three years ago by McCarthy, Rich Salsman, general
manager of league member the Boston Jr. Blackhawks, and Bob Rotondo. Rotondo is
the current owner/general manager of the incoming North Shore Shamrocks as well
as the Boston Shamrocks U19 women’s team that competes in the Junior Women’s
Hockey League.
“We formed the league around the idea of local travel, because at the time [2008],
there was the fear of $5 per gallon gas prices,” said Rotondo.
“Bob and Rich had a great vision, and they brought in Scott Crowther with the New
England Predators and Dan Fontas with the New England Stars,” said McCarthy.
The first five teams were the Predators, Stars, Blackhawks, Petri’s North Shore
Raiders and the New England Bulldogs.
“It’s tough to grow a league in today’s atmosphere,” said Petri, also a Board
Member. “We have a special situation with this group of guys that work together. We
looked at the way hockey is being taught and being played, and we all believe in the
development of players.”
The IJYHL teams operate at the mite, squirt, peewee and bantam levels, offering
all the benefits of AAA-level hockey with light travel demands. These are still part
of the mission today – in fact, right at the top of their website, ijyhl.com, they spell it
out: “AAA hockey with local travel.”
“The IJYHL hopes to instill several values to all of its member organizations and
their athletes,” says the “Mission Statement” on the league’s website. “The IJYHL
promotes positive personal characteristics in our players such as camaraderie, respect,
dedication, sportsmanship, leadership, tenacity, generosity, and integrity. We promote
respect, trust, courtesy and good sportsmanship among all of our participants,
including players, coaches, officials, volunteers, parents and fans. Our children
spend a lot of time at the hockey rink ... it is very important to create a positive and
productive learning experience on and off the ice for them.”
Rotondo said that education is of the utmost importance to the league, going in
that direction of on-and off-ice development.
“We are going to be educationally-motivated,” said Rotondo. “We’re going to have
seminars for kids who are ready to go into public or private high school, prep school
or junior high school. There will be seminars for financial planning if parents choose
About USA Junior Hockey Magazine……….
As we begin our 11th season we would like to thank the Junior Leagues,
Teams and advertisers for their continued sponsorship. Because of your ongoing
support, you have made USA Junior Hockey Magazine one of the largest nationally
circulated hockey publication in the nation with a readership of over 100,000 per
issue!
USAJHM has become the bible to Youth Hockey Players and their Parents
seeking to Play at the Next Level and for Teams recruiting top talented youth
players,
USAJHM promotes all the Junior leagues and teams in the United States.
Our magazine has a controlled national distribution to Youth Hockey Leagues
up to Junior Hockey Leagues, teams, associations, players, parents, all junior
coaches, all College Coaches both NCAA & ACHA, NHL, AHL, Minor Pro, and
scouts.
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Tournaments and Showcases.
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is ranked #1 in a GOOGLE search for Junior Hockey.
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Respect, Regards and God Bless,
the prep school route, seminars on interviewing for schools. The Shamrocks will also
utilize the in-house tutors that our women’s team works with already, if our players
are having issues in school.”
Bringing it all together
Along with the original five teams, more have joined the IJYHL for its third season,
and even more are clamoring to join for future seasons.
The Boch Blazers and the North Shore Shamrocks are active members of the
league. Next year, the South Shore Conquistadors, the Boston Stars and the Rhode
Island Hitmen will join the league. Additionally, McCarthy said that the league is
still reviewing more applications and had an early February board meeting for that
purpose.
What draws so many organizations to the upstart league?
“We just want to move each kid and prepare them for the next level of hockey,”
said McCarthy. “Move them up through each youth level and then on to junior hockey
or prep. With any sport, the cream rises to the top, and some of our kids will play
Division 1 college, some will play Division 3 college and some will play club hockey.
We want to create well-rounded hockey players on and off the ice.”
Kevin Heffernan, president of the Conquistadors, said there was so much to like
about the league, it was a no-brainer to apply for membership.
“They just keep trying to bring great programs into the league,” said Heffernan. “I
think the level of play is going to be tremendous, with so many solid programs. That
will attract a lot of talent from town teams and other programs.”
“We didn’t want to have a situation where we just expanded for the sake of
expansion,” Petri added. “You look at a new program like the Boston Stars – you’ve got
Igor Kravchuk there, who was involved with the Red Army. He’s a good hockey guy.
We don’t bring in any Tom, Dick or Harry – we’re looking for quality programs.”
The league has an organized strength and conditioning program, one that is tailored
to each player’s specific age group.
“You have to gear that differently to 7-, 8-and 9-year-olds than you would to 12-,
13-and 14-year-olds,” said McCarthy. “Mike Boyle, who works with teams all over
the world, works with most of our league teams, as well as one of the principals of
Mike Boyle Strength and Conditioning, Bob Hanson, who is also one of the principals
of the North Shore Shamrocks.”
For those players in grades 6-8, there will also be an IJYHL touring team, which
will play some prep school teams, to get a feel for the hockey at that level.
Every player will always receive individual attention within their IJYHL team.
“We develop every kid, no matter what direction he’s going in,” said McCarthy.
“We want to develop someone who will be a good person when he grows up.”
For that 1-on-1 approach the league offers, there are plenty of options. Ironically,
most are a stone’s throw from U.S. Route One. Convenience and development certainly
go hand in hand in the IJYHL.
Crafting
the future
wave of
Junior Hockey
players
in
New England
The International Junior
Youth Hockey League
features AAA hockey with
local travel in the
Greater Boston area.
Offering the following
youth levels: Mite, Squirt,
Peewee and Bantam.
find us online: iJyhL.com

eastern junior hockey league directory

Transcription

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