Jersey Shore Wildcats

Last updated

Jersey Shore Wildcats
City Wall Township, New Jersey
Founded2009
Folded2017
Home arena Jersey Shore Arena
ColorsBlack, red, white
   
Franchise history
2009–2013Trenton Habs
2013–2017Jersey Shore Wildcats

The Jersey Shore Wildcats were a Tier III Junior "A" ice hockey team from Trenton, New Jersey.

Contents

History

The team was founded in 2009 as the Trenton Habs and joined the International Junior Hockey League (IJHL) for the 2008–09 season as an associate member, playing a season of exhibition games against IJHL teams as well as participating in league showcase and national championship tournament. The team joined the IJHL as a full member for the 2010–11 season in the IJHL's Jr. Super Elite League. [1] The Habs finished the 2009–10 season winning the IJHL Super Elite National Championship. [2] In the summer of 2012, the IJHL folded causing the Habs and many former teams of the IJHL Super Elite Division to form the Northern States Hockey League (NSHL) under the AAU. [3] [4]

In May 2013, it was announced that the organization joined forces with the Wichita Falls Wildcats of the North American Hockey League to give players more opportunities and exposure and renamed the team the Jersey Shore Wildcats. [5]

The Jersey Shore Wildcats were a Tier III Junior "A" ice hockey team from Wall Township, New Jersey. They were a members of the International Junior Hockey League, Northern States Hockey League, North American 3 Eastern Hockey League, and the North American 3 Hockey League.

In 2014, the NSHL left AAU sanctioning with the intention of joining USA Hockey. The Tier II North American Hockey League (NAHL) then took over operations during the 2014–15 season and changed the name of the league to the North American 3 Eastern Hockey League (NA3EHL). Prior to the 2016–17 season, the Wildcats became part of the North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL) when it absorbed the NA3EHL.

In 2017, their NAHL affiliate, the Wichita Falls Wildcats, folded during the offseason. The Jersey Shore Wildcats continued into the 2017–18 NA3HL season, but games were cancelled in mid-November 2017. By December, the team was removed from the league due to apparently owing the league compensation even though the team was in second place in their division at the time. [6] The organization continued to operate teams at the youth level.

Season-by-season records

SeasonGPWLOTLPtsGFGAPIMRegular Season FinishPlayoffs
Northern States Hockey League
2012–134224162501631213rd of 7, NSHLLost Quarterfinal game vs. Eastern Kodiaks
Jersey Shore Wildcats
2013–144019183411291345th of 9, NSHLWon Round 1 series, 2–1 vs. Junior Mariners
Won Semifinal game vs. AHI Fighting Spirit
Won League Championship game vs. Wilkes-Barre Miners
League Champions
North American 3 Eastern Hockey League
2014–1541401080217798431st of 5, Western Div.
1st of 10, NA3EHL
Won Div. Semifinals, 2–1 vs. Roc City Royals
Won Div. Finals, 2–0 vs. Wilkes-Barre Miners
Won League Championships, 2–1 vs. New Hampshire Fighting Spirit
League Champions
2015–16443770742581119731st of 6, Western Div.
1st of 13, NA3EHL
Won Div. Semifinals, 2–0 vs. Lockport Express
Won Div. Finals, 2–1 vs. New York Aviators
Won League Championships, 2–0 vs. Cape Cod Islanders
League Champions
North American 3 Hockey League
2016–174726201531651657752nd of 6, Northeast Div.
20th of 48, NA3HL
Won Div. Semifinals, 2–0 vs. Syracuse Stampede
Lost Div. Finals, 0–2 vs. Binghamton Jr. Senators
2017–18221570309868335Removed from league midseason

United Hockey Union Nationals

AAU Sanctioned Junior A National Championship
In 2013 & 2014, the MWJHL, NSHL, & WSHL advanced two teams each.

YearRound RobinRecord
Ranking
SemifinalChampionship
2014 L, El Paso Rhinos (WSHL) 1–3
L, AHI Fighting Spirit (NSHL) 1–5
L, Traverse City Hounds (MWJHL) 3–6
0–3–0
6th of 6
Did not advance

References

  1. "International Junior Hockey League powered by GOALLINE.ca". Archived from the original on March 17, 2012. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
  2. Stein, Steve (May 2, 2013). "Trenton Habs Capture Super Elite National Title". Junior Hockey Magazine. Archived from the original on July 11, 2012. Retrieved June 1, 2014.
  3. "NSHL ANNOUNCES 2012-13 SEASON SCHEDULE". NSHL. July 11, 2012. Retrieved June 1, 2014.
  4. "AAU sanctions Northern States Junior Hockey League". Junior Hockey News. June 5, 2012. Retrieved June 1, 2014.
  5. "Trenton Habs to Become Jersey Shore Wildcats". NSHL. May 2, 2013. Archived from the original on June 2, 2014. Retrieved June 1, 2014.
  6. "The Death Pool – Special Report – NA3HL Loses Jersey Shore Willdcats". The Junior Hockey News. December 5, 2017.