| Boston Junior Bruins | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City | Marlborough, Massachusetts |
| League | USPHL |
| Founded | 1999 |
| Home arena | New England Sports Center |
| Colors | Black, gold and white |
| General manager | Peter Masters |
| Head coach | Peter Masters (Premier) |
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).
Junior hockey is the pinnacle of the skill development program of USA Hockey. The program is available to high school students and graduates seeking a greater challenge than that available through their prep school, high school, or club team. The principal purpose of the Junior Bruins development program is to prepare the athlete for career advancement; either a collegiate program or professional opportunity. [1]
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. [2] 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.
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) [3] in an exhibition game along with some scrimmages versus local prep schools and participate in 4-6 major recruiting showcase/tournaments.
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. [4]
| 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 [5] | |
| 2001–02 | 38 | 26 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 173 | 103 | 53 | 3rd EJHL | Lost Quarterfinal game, 2–5 vs. Walpole Stars [6] | |
| 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 [7] | |
| 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 [8] | |
| 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 [9] 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 [10] Lost Championship game, 5–6 OT vs. New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs [11] | |
| 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 Flyers Junior 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< | |
| Transferred NCDC Division to WEST CHESTER WOLVES RETAIN Premier Div Team | |||||||||||
| 2024–25 | - | - | - | — | - | - | - | - | >>> of 6 New England ?? of 64, Premier | tbd | |
Round robin play in pool with top 4 teams advancing to semi-final.
| Year | Round Robin | Record | Standing | SemiFinal | Championship Game |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 [12] | 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 |
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'. [13]
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. [14]
Notable former Junior level Bruins players include:
Brendan Buckley (AHL) [15]
Bobby Butler (NHL)
Jack Eichel (NHL) [16]
Conor Garland (NHL)
Steve Moses (NHL)
Frank Vatrano (NHL)
Notable Youth level Bruins:
Sean Haggerty (NHL) [17] [18]
Blake Sloan (NHL) [19]
Rudi Ying (KHL)
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link){{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)The Eastern Junior Hockey League (EJHL) was a USA Hockey-sanctioned Tier III Junior A ice hockey league. Founded in 1993 by Dan Esdale, the EJHL had fourteen teams from across the Northeastern United States. The EJHL champion then competed for the National Championship against the champions of the other Tier III leagues and a host city. The New Jersey Hitmen were the final EJHL Champions after the 2012–13 season.
The Eastern Hockey League (EHL) is an American junior ice hockey league with teams in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic United States. The EHL was officially announced on June 6, 2013, after the Atlantic Junior Hockey League welcomed six new members from the old Eastern Junior Hockey League and the AJHL re-branded itself under the EHL banner
The EJHL South was an American Tier III Junior ice hockey league sanctioned by USA Hockey. The league had eight teams located in Florida, North Carolina, Virginia and Georgia. With the elimination by USA Hockey of the Junior A, B and C labels, at the start of the 2011–12 season, the SEJHL was to become the Southern Atlantic Hockey League. This progression was approved by USA Hockey as the SAHL was preparing to compete at the top level of Tier III Junior hockey. However, unprecedented developments allowed the SAHL to be included in a partnership with the Eastern Junior Hockey League and to operate under the infrastructure and guidance of the EJHL as an affiliate member organization. The EJHL agreed to govern the league for a minimum of three seasons and the league would be called the "EJHL South" as an affiliate operation of the EJHL.
The New York Apple Core are a Tier III Junior A ice hockey team from Brewster, New York, playing in the Eastern Hockey League. The team plays home games at the Brewster Ice Arena. The Apple Core organization is based out of Long Beach, New York, on Long Island, however, their top level junior team has played in Brewster since the start of the 2011–12 season.
The New Hampshire Junior Monarchs were a junior and youth ice hockey organization from Hooksett, New Hampshire, with teams in the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL). Its highest level junior team played in the USPHL's National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC).
The South Shore Kings are a Tier III Junior A ice hockey team playing in the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL). The team plays at the Foxboro Sports Center located in Foxboro, Massachusetts.
The Bridgewater Bandits, also called the Boston Bandits, are a junior ice hockey organization from Bridgewater, Massachusetts, in the United States, with teams playing in the United States Premier Hockey League. The organization plays home games at the Bridgewater Ice Arena.
The Islanders Hockey Club are an American junior ice hockey organization from Tyngsborough, Massachusetts. They field teams in the United States Premier Hockey League National Collegiate Development Conference, Premier Division, and Elite Division, as well as in youth and girls leagues.
The Philadelphia Revolution were a Tier III Junior A ice hockey team in the Eastern Hockey League. The team played home games at Revolution Ice Gardens, in Warwick Township, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia. The team continues to play for Philadelphia furthermore, currently the team is registered under the Tier 1 Hockey Federation, an AAA league.
The Springfield Pics are an American junior ice hockey organization playing in West Springfield, Massachusetts at the Olympia Ice Center. They field two Tier III teams and a number of Youth teams.
The Empire Junior Hockey League (EmJHL) was a USA Hockey-sanctioned Tier III junior ice hockey league. The league was classified as Tier III Junior B until the 2011–12 season when USA Hockey combined the Tier III Junior A and Junior B classifications.
The Minnesota Mullets are a Tier III junior ice hockey team located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Mullets play in the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL) Premier Division. From 1993 to 2015, the team played in the former Minnesota Junior Hockey League (MnJHL). For most of the franchise's existence, it was known as the Lakers and played in various cities in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area.
The Blaine Energy were a Tier III Junior A ice hockey team playing in the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL)-Elite Division. The team played their home games at the 1,200-seat Fogerty Arena located in Blaine, Minnesota.
The River Falls Renegades was a Tier III junior ice hockey team that played first in the Minnesota Junior Hockey League (MnJHL) and then the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL). The team was not listed among the USPHL membership in 2017–18.
The Eugene Generals are a USA Hockey-sanctioned Tier III junior ice hockey team. The team plays their home games at 2,700-seat the Rink Exchange in the Lane Events Center in Eugene, Oregon. The team announced it is on hiatus for the 2019–20 season.
The Portland Jr. Pirates were a Tier III Jr. A ice hockey team that played their home games at the MHG Ice Centre in Saco, Maine. The organization continues to host youth hockey programs in the Massachusetts Premier Development Hockey League.
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights are a junior ice hockey organization from Pittston, Pennsylvania. In 2015, the Knights' junior hockey organization purchased the dormant Dawson Creek Rage franchise in the Tier II North American Hockey League (NAHL) and placed their Tier III franchise in the Eastern Hockey League into dormancy. The organization has reactivated and deactivated their Tier III level teams at various times, but plans to launch teams in the United States Premier Hockey League's Premier and Elite Divisions, non-USA Hockey sanctioned leagues that operate similar to the Tier III level. The organization also has several youth ice hockey teams in its development program.
The United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL) is an American ice hockey league. Founded in 2012, the USPHL has grown to over 60 organizations from across the United States fielding teams in the National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC), Premier, Elite, EHF, 18U, 16U, 15U, and High Performance youth divisions.
The Rochester Jr. Americans are a Tier II Junior ice hockey team from Rochester, New York. Junior team returned to Rochester with the North American Hockey League accepting the location as an expansion franchise starting in the 2023-24 season.
The Palm Beach Hawks were an American ice hockey organization playing in Lake Worth, Florida. They fielded two Tier III teams and a number of youth teams.