Boston Junior Bruins

Boston Junior Bruins
City	Marlborough, Massachusetts
League	United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL) National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC)
Conference	New England
Division	Central
Founded	1991
Home arena	New England Sports Center
Colors	Black, gold and white
General manager	Peter Masters
Head coach	Peter Masters (Premier)
Franchise history
Original Club
1991–2024	Boston Junior Bruins
2024–present	West Chester Wolves
Current Club
2013–present	Boston Junior Bruins

The Boston Junior Bruins are an American junior ice hockey organization playing in Marlborough, Massachusetts. They currently field three junior and a number of youth teams in the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL).

History

The Boston Junior Bruins were founded in 1991 as an independent junior team. The Junior Bruins played prep schools and local junior teams, and competed in major tournaments throughout North America before joining the Tier III Junior A Eastern Junior Hockey League (EJHL) in 1999.

During their first three EJHL seasons, Head Coach Peter Masters and his staff led the team to fourth, third, and second-place finishes overall in the twelve-team league. In 2000–01 the team finished the regular season with a 45-15-1 overall record as the EJHL Northern Division Champions.

To better develop talent for their Junior A program, the Junior Bruins fielded a number of youth hockey teams as well as two Tier III Junior B teams in the Empire Junior Hockey League (EmJHL) and Continental Hockey Association (renamed to Eastern States Hockey League in 2011) (CHA/ESHL).

During the 2012–13 season, Junior Bruins and other EJHL teams announced the formation of a new league called the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL). The new league would go on to absorb the former EmJHL and the recently announced Eastern Elite Hockey League (a new league consisting mostly of the former EJHL South) to create several junior and youth divisions within the USPHL. The former Junior A team would play in the USPHL Premier Division and its former Junior B team would play in the USPHL Empire Division (later named USP3). The Junior Bruins would also field a team in the USPHL Elite Division.

In 2017, the leagues underwent another realignment and the USPHL added the National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC) as their top division. The NCDC was intended to become a Tier II league but was denied sanctioning by USA Hockey. ^[1] The USPHL went forward without sanctioning for its junior leagues in the 2017–18 season and all of the Bruins' team were promoted the NCDC, Premier and Elite Divisions from the Premier, Elite and USP3 Divisions respectively.

In April 2024, the Junior Bruins sold their Tier II club to the West Chester Wolves, who had been approved as an expansion franchise about a week earlier. ^[2] The remainder of the organization's programs continued and, one year later, the Premier Division (Tier III) club was promoted to Tier II status and joined the National Collegiate Development Conference. ^[3]

Team members and regular season

Velan Nandhakumaran plays for Boston Junior Bruins

The Junior Bruins hold tryouts in April and final camp in late July. The Junior Bruins team is typically composed of 12 to 13 forwards, 6 to 7 defensemen, and 2 goalies on the active roster. All players are between the ages of 16 and 20. The season starts the day after Labor Day and playoffs finish during the third week of March each year. The team typically practices 3 to 4 times per week.

The schedule includes 45 EJHL regular season schedule games plus three rounds of playoffs. From year to year the Junior Bruins normally play one or both of the US National teams (USA Hockey's National Team Development Program) ^[4] in an exhibition game along with some scrimmages versus local prep schools and participate in 4-6 major recruiting showcase/tournaments.

Charitable involvement

The Bay State Hockey Foundation (BSHF) is the non-profit arm of the Junior Bruins Organization. Founded in 2005, the mission of the BSHF is to provide " ... children and young adults with lower extremity paralysis and other disabilities the opportunity to participate in the sport of sled ice hockey ... " Equipment and participation are free for qualified individuals. ^[5]

Season-by-season records

Original primary club

Season	GP	W	L	T	OTL	GF	GA	Pts	Regular Season Finish	Playoffs
Eastern Junior Hockey League
1999–2000	40	22	18	0	—	175	157	44	5th EJHL
2000–01	38	30	7	0	1	—	—	61	2nd EJHL	Won Quarterfinal game, 4–2 vs. Capital District Selects Won Semifinal game, 5–3 vs. New England Jr. Coyotes Lost Championship game, 3–5 vs. Walpole Stars [6]
2001–02	38	26	11	0	1	173	103	53	3rd EJHL	Lost Quarterfinal game, 2–5 vs. Walpole Stars [7]
2002–03	38	28	6	4	0	180	90	60	1st EJHL North	Won Quarterfinals vs. Capital District Selects Lost Semifinal game, 2–5 vs. Walpole Stars [8]
2003–04	38	32	3	2	0	180	73	66	1st EJHL North	Won Quarterfinals vs. Walpole Stars Won Semifinal game, 3–2 vs. New England Jr. Coyotes Lost Championship game, 3–6 vs. New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs [9]
2004–05	51	36	8	6	1	200	102	79	1st EJHL North	Won Quarterfinals, 1–0–1 vs. New England Jr. Falcons Won Semifinal game, 2–0 vs. Walpole Stars [10] Won Championship game vs. New Hampshire Junior Monarchs League Champions
2005–06	45	34	8	1	2	177	111	71	2nd EJHL North	Won Quarterfinals, 2–0 vs. Bridgewater Bandits Won Semifinal game, 3–1 vs. New England Jr. Falcons [11] Lost Championship game, 5–6 OT vs. New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs [12]
2006–07	45	30	11	3	1	170	116	64	2nd EJHL North	Won Quarterfinals vs. New York Apple Core Lost Semifinals vs. Bay State Breakers
2007–08	45	29	10	5	1	162	102	64	3rd EJHL North	Won Quarterfinals vs. Bridgewater Bandits Lost Semifinals vs. New Hampshire Junior Monarchs
2008–09	45	32	9	3	1	183	101	68	2nd EJHL North	Lost Quarterfinals vs. Bay State Breakers
2009–10	45	30	11	5	0	166	109	64	2nd North 4th EJHL	Won Quarterfinals, 2–0 vs. Bay State Breakers Lost Semifinals, vs. New Hampshire Junior Monarchs
2010–11	45	38	6	1	0	215	118	79	2nd North 3rd EJHL	Won Quarterfinals, 2–1 vs. Springfield Pics Lost Semifinals, 0–2 vs. New Hampshire Junior Monarchs
2011–12	45	37	7	—	1	239	135	75	1st EJHL	Won Quarterfinals, 2–0 vs. New England Jr. Huskies Lost Semifinals, 0–2 vs. Jersey Hitmen
2012–13	45	32	10	—	3	155	113	67	1st North 2nd EJHL	Lost Quarterfinals, 0–2 vs. Bay State Breakers
United States Premier Hockey League
2013–14	48	36	8	—	4	184	103	75	1st of 9, USPHL-Premier	Won Quarterfinals, 2–0 vs. Portland Jr. Pirates Won Semifinals, 2–0 vs. Islanders Hockey Club Won Finals, 2–0 vs. Jersey Hitmen League Champions
2014–15	48	38	8	—	4	207	122	80	2nd of 11, USPHL-Premier	Lost Quarterfinals, 1–2 vs. South Shore Kings
2015–16	44	33	9	—	2	195	104	68	3rd of 12, USPHL-Premier	Won Quarterfinals, 2–0 vs. Philadelphia Junior Flyers Lost Semifinals, 0–2 vs. Jersey Hitmen
2016–17	45	33	12	—	0	170	102	66	3rd of 10, USPHL-Premier	Won Quarterfinals, 2–0 vs. South Shore Kings Won Semifinals, 2–1 vs. Syracuse Stars Lost Finals, 0–2 vs. Islanders Hockey Club
Advance to NCDC Division
2017–18	50	36	13	—	3	186	129	75	2nd of 11, NCDC	Won Quarterfinals, 2–1 vs. Syracuse Stars Lost Semifinals, 1–2 vs. Jersey Hitmen
2018–19	50	32	15	—	3	200	139	67	2nd of 12, NCDC	Won Quarterfinals, 2–0 vs. Boston Bandits Won Semifinals, 2–1 vs. Northern Cyclones Won Finals, 2–1 vs. Connecticut Jr. Rangers League Champions
2019–20	50	39	8	—	3	208	129	81	2nd of 13, NCDC	Playoffs cancelled
2020–21	42	30	9	—	3	160	99	63	1st of 7, North 3rd of 13, NCDC	Won First Round, 2–1 vs. Boston Advantage Won Second Round, 2–0 vs. Islanders Hockey Club Lost Semifinal game, 2–10 vs. New Jersey Rockets
2021–22	48	28	15	3	2	159	138	61	2nd of 7, North 4th of 13, NCDC	Won Div. Semifinal, 2–1 vs. Twin City Thunder Won Div. Final, 2-1 vs. New Hampshire Junior Monarchs Lost League Final, 0-2 vs. New Jersey Hitmen
2022–23	50	22	25	-	3	151	169	44	6th of 7, North 11th of 14, NCDC	Did not Qualify for post season play
2023–24	52	25	23	3	1	158	196	54	4th of 6, New England 9th of 18, NCDC	Won Playin Game, 5-2 Northern Cyclones Lost Div Semifinals, 0-2 Islanders Hockey Club

USA Hockey Tier III Jr National Championships

Round robin play in pool with top 4 teams advancing to semi-final.

Year	Round Robin	Record	Standing	SemiFinal	Championship Game
2014 [13]	W, New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs (EHL) 5-3 W, Helena Bighorns (AWHL) 6-0 W, Marquette Royales (MnJHL) 11-1	3-0-0	1st of 4 Red Pool	W, Springfield Pics (USPHL Elite) 6-0	W, North Iowa Bulls (NA3HL) 4-1 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

Coach

Head coach Peter Masters functions as both head coach for the EJHL team and manager for all Junior Bruins activities. His responsibilities include program and organization development, direction of skill sessions and summer camps for youth hockey players and the Annual Junior Bruins Shootout Tournament in the fall and Beantown Classic Tournament in August.

Peter Masters, 2001 EJHL Coach of the Year, graduated from Boston College in 1997. While at Boston College, Masters played defense for the BC Eagles under coaches Steve Cedorchuk and Jerry York, and was recognized in 1997 as one of eight defensemen nationwide picked as Hobey Baker Award pre-season 'players to watch'. ^[14]

Alumni

Since 1992 the Junior Bruins have placed over 100 players in college hockey and since 2001 more than 35 have been recruited to Division I college teams. ^[15]

Notable former Junior level Bruins players include:
Brendan Buckley (AHL) ^[16]
Bobby Butler (NHL)
Jack Eichel (NHL) ^[17]
Conor Garland (NHL)
Steve Moses (NHL)
Frank Vatrano (NHL)

Notable Youth level Bruins:
Sean Haggerty (NHL) ^{[18] [19]}
Blake Sloan (NHL) ^[20]
Rudi Ying (KHL)

Notes and references

1. "DAILY DISH: USA HOCKEY ANNUAL CONGRESS". JuniorHockey.com. June 6, 2017. Archived from the original on July 9, 2017. Retrieved September 11, 2017.
2. "Boston Junior Bruins Transfer NCDC Franchise to West Chester Wolves". United States Premier Hockey League. April 1, 2024. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
3. "NCDC Announces Four Teams Joining for 2025-26". USPHL. February 6, 2025. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
4. "USA Hockey NTDP Website". Archived from the original on February 17, 2009.
5. "Bay State Hockey Foundation web page". Archived from the original on January 13, 2010. Retrieved September 21, 2009.
6. "Amateur Hockey News". the Inside Word. March 28, 2001. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
7. "Amateur Hockey News". the Inside Word. March 28, 2002. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
8. "| Amateur Hockey News | March 28, 2003". the Inside Word. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
9. "Feisty Forward for Golden Knights". the Inside Word. March 28, 2004. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
10. "EJHL Playoffs". the Inside Word. March 14, 2005. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
11. "EJHL Semifinals Tonight | Amateur Hockey News | March 20, 2006".
12. "New Hampshire Junior Monarchs".
13. "2014 Tier III Nat. Championships". USA Hockey. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
14. "Junior Bruins Website Coach Bio". Archived from the original on December 11, 2008.
15. "EJHL 2006 College Signings". ww16.easternjunior.com. Archived from the original on February 10, 2009.
16. "Sportsnet.ca". www.sportsnet.ca. Archived from the original on October 17, 2008.
17. "Jack Eichel at eliteprospects.com". www.eliteprospects.com. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
18. "Legends of Hockey" . Retrieved October 4, 2023.
19. Hockey's Future 1997-1998 Sleeper Article
20. "Legends of Hockey" . Retrieved October 4, 2023.

External links

• Boston Junior Bruins Website
• USPHL Website