Vermont Lumberjacks

Last updated
Vermont Lumberjacks
Vermont Lumberjacks logo.png
City Burlington, Vermont
League Eastern Hockey League
DivisionNorth
Founded2003
Home arena Leddy Arena
ColorsRed, green, and white
Owner(s)Maurice Rosales
General managerMaurice Rosales
Head coachSeth Gustin (EHL)
Jack Lowry (Premier)
Franchise history
2003–2014Washington Junior Nationals
2014–presentVermont Lumberjacks

The Vermont Lumberjacks are a USA Hockey-sanctioned Tier III Junior A ice hockey organization from Burlington, Vermont.

Contents

The players, ages 16–20, carry amateur status under Junior A guidelines and hope to earn a spot on higher levels of junior hockey in the United States and Canada, Canadian Major Junior, Collegiate, and eventually professional teams. [1] [2]

History

In 2003, the Washington Jr. Nationals from Arlington, Virginia, became a charter member of the new Tier III Junior A Atlantic Junior Hockey League (AJHL). They originally played at the Bowie Ice Arena in Bowie, Maryland, from 2003 to 2005 before moving splitting time with The Gardens Ice House in Laurel, Maryland, in 2006. With the opening of the new Washington Capitals practice facility at the 1,200-seat Kettler Capitals Iceplex, the Jr. Nationals moved across the Potomac River, splitting time between The Gardens Ice House and their new venue in 2006–07 until becoming full-time tenants in Arlington for the 2007–08 season. The team moved back to The Gardens Ice House in 2010. [3] [4] The team also played single games at the Ashburn Ice House in the 2008–09 and 2009–10 season as a way to reach out to area youth hockey organizations.

In 2013, Tier III junior hockey went through a large reorganization that led to the dissolution of the Eastern Junior Hockey League (EJHL) and six former EJHL teams joining the AJHL. The AJHL was then re-branded as the Eastern Hockey League (EHL).

Following the 2013–14 season, the Jr. Nationals were relocated to Burlington, Vermont, and renamed the Vermont Lumberjacks, bringing junior hockey back to the state of Vermont two years after the Green Mountain Glades departed following the 2011–12 season.

In 2015, the EHL added a lower level Tier III division (formerly called Tier III Junior B by USA Hockey) called the EHL-Elite Division. This led to the current EHL teams to be placed in the EHL-Premier Division and the Lumberjacks moving their Junior B team from the Metropolitan Junior Hockey League to the Elite Division. In 2017, the EHL re-branded its divisions, dropping the Premier name from their top division and renamed the Elite Division to Premier.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Lumberjacks relocated halfway through the 2020–21 season to have home games at Waterville Valley Ice Arena in Waterville Valley, New Hampshire, as the Lumberjacks Hockey Club. [5]

Season-by-season records

SeasonGPWLTOTLPtsGFGARegular Season FinishPlayoffs
Washington Jr. Nationals
Atlantic Junior Hockey League
2003–04No information3rd of 6, AJHLWon Semifinal game, 3–1 vs. New York Bobcats
Won Championship game, 7–2 vs. Philadelphia Little Flyers
League Champions [6]
2004–0541142502301161633rd of 4, South
6th of 8, AJHL
2005–0642172302361462009th of 11, AJHL
2006–0744231803491751683rd of 6, South
5th of 12, AJHL
2007–0844221903471661784th of 5, South
8th of 11, AJHL
2008–0942171906401351455th of 6, South
9th of 12, AJHL
2009–1042172203371481764th of 6, South
8th of 12, AJHL
2010–11446380012982866th of 6, South
12th of 12, AJHL
2011–12443382197422712th of 12, AJHL
2012–134473322188818312th of 12, AJHLDid not qualify
Eastern Hockey League
2013–144453711121211466th of 6, South Div.
17th of 17, EHL
Lost Play-in game, 2–8 vs. New Jersey Junior Titans
Vermont Lumberjacks
2014–154416244361071543rd of 4, North Div.
15th of 19, EHL
Lost Round 1, 0–2 vs. Walpole Express
2015–164117222361131307th of 9, North Conf.
14th of 18, EHL-Premier
Lost First Round, 0–2 vs. New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs
2016–174822188521581403rd of 4, New England
6th of 9, North Conf.
10th of 17, EHL-Premier
Lost First Round, 1–2 vs. Boston Junior Rangers
2017–185024242501631622nd of 4, New England
5th of 8, North Conf.
9th of 16, EHL
Lost First Round, 0–2 vs. East Coast Wizards
2018–194528143592111412nd of 5, North Div.
3rd of 10, New England Conf.
5th of 18, EHL
Won First Round, 2–0 vs. Connecticut RoughRiders
Lost Second Round, 1–2 vs. East Coast Wizards
2019–204634111692091313rd of 11, New England Conf.
4th of 19, EHL
Won First Round, 2–0 vs. Seacoast Spartans
Playoffs cancelled
2020–213517171351331423rd of 4, North Div.
12th of 17, EHL
Won Div. Semifinals, 2–0 vs. New England Wolves
Won Div. Finals, 2–0 vs. Seacoast Spartans
1–2–0 EHL Frozen Finals round-robin
(W, 5–3 vs. Jr. Rangers; L, 3–9 vs. Avalanche; L, 5–6 vs. 87's)
2021–224621205471681523rd of 4, North Div.
10th of 17, EHL
Lost Div. Semifinals, 0-2 vs. New England Wolves
2022–234625201511581364th of 4, North Div.
11th of 19, EHL
Lost Div. Semifinals, 0-2 vs. New Hampshire Avalanche
2023–244620251411261685th of 5, North Div.
16th of 23, EHL
Did Not Qualify

Alumni

The Jr. Nationals/Lumberjacks have produced a number of alumni playing in higher levels of junior hockey, NCAA Division I, Division III, ACHA college and professional programs. [7]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastern Hockey League (2013–)</span> American Tier III Junior ice hockey league

The Eastern Hockey League (EHL) is an American Tier III 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 (AtJHL) welcomed six new members from the old Eastern Junior Hockey League and the AtJHL re-branded itself under the EHL banner

<span class="mw-page-title-main">EJHL South</span>

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Hampshire Junior Monarchs</span> Ice hockey team in Hooksett, New Hampshire

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).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bridgewater Bandits</span> Ice hockey team in Bridgewater, 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Connecticut Chiefs</span> Ice hockey team in Simsbury, Connecticut

The Connecticut Nor'easter are a Junior Tier III ice hockey team from Simsbury, Connecticut, playing in the Eastern Hockey League (EHL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philadelphia Revolution</span> Ice hockey team in Warwick Township, Pennsylvania

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Springfield Pics</span> Ice hockey team in West Springfield, Massachusetts

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Empire Junior Hockey League</span>

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 Metropolitan Junior Hockey League was an American Tier III Junior ice hockey league with teams throughout the eastern United States. The MJHL was part of the Atlantic Metropolitan Hockey League organization. Founded in 1966 by New York Rangers GM, Emile Francis, the Metropolitan Junior Hockey League played its 50th season in 2015–16. Prior to its 51st season, the league's operations were taken over by the North American Hockey League and it was renamed to North American 3 Atlantic Hockey League (NA3AHL) for the 2016–17 season. In 2017, the remaining teams joined the Eastern Hockey League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Portland Jr. Pirates</span> Ice hockey team in Saco, Maine

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 Express Hockey Club is a junior, youth, and girls hockey organization based in Walpole, Massachusetts. They have had more than 70 commitments since 2017, and that includes multiple division 1 college committees. The teams play their home games at the Rodman Arena, located just 2 miles from Gillette Stadium. As of 2022 they have changed their name to Express Hockey Club

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hartford Jr. Wolfpack</span> Ice hockey team in Cromwell, Connecticut

The Hartford Jr. Wolfpack were a junior ice hockey team that most recently played in the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL). The team played their home games at the Champions Skating Center located in Cromwell, Connecticut. From 2003 to 2017, the Jr. Wolfpack were members of the Eastern Hockey League (EHL) and its predecessor, the Atlantic Junior Hockey League (AJHL), while sanctioned as a Tier III junior team by USA Hockey before it joined the unsanctioned USPHL. The team was removed from the USPHL schedule at the beginning of the 2019–20 season.

The New England Wolves are a Tier III junior ice hockey team playing in the Eastern Hockey League (EHL). The team plays their home games at the Merrill Fay Arena, located in Laconia, New Hampshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New York Bobcats</span> Ice hockey team in Dix Hills, New York

The New York Bobcats were a USA Hockey-sanctioned Tier III junior ice hockey organization from Dix Hills, New York, at the Dix Hills Ice Arena. The team was most recently a member of the Eastern Hockey League in the 2017–18 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rockets Hockey Club</span> Ice hockey team in Bridgewater, New Jersey

The Rockets Hockey Club, or New Jersey Rockets, are a junior ice hockey organization from Bridgewater, New Jersey. They play in the National Collegiate Development Conference, Premier Division, and Elite Division of the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL) at the Prudential Center, also home to the New Jersey Devils of the NHL. The organization's top Junior team played in the Atlantic Junior Hockey League (AJHL) from 2004 until it became the Eastern Hockey League (EHL) in 2013. In 2017, the Rockets' organization joined the USPHL. The players, ages 16–20, carry amateur status under Junior A guidelines and hope to earn a spot on higher levels of junior hockey in the United States and Canada, Canadian major junior, collegiate, and eventually professional teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philadelphia Little Flyers</span> Ice hockey team in Aston, Pennsylvania

The Philadelphia Little Flyers are a USA Hockey-sanctioned Tier III junior ice hockey team from Aston, Pennsylvania. They play in the South Conference of the Eastern Hockey League (EHL) at the IceWorks Skating Complex

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philadelphia Junior Flyers</span> Ice hockey team in Flemington, Pennsylvania

The new Jersey Jr Bears are a USA Hockey-sanctioned Tier III Junior A ice hockey team from Flemington, Pennsylvania. They play in the South Conference of the Eastern Hockey League (EHL). For the 2024-35 season the Bears are adding a team to the Premier (EHLP).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights</span> Ice hockey team in Pittston, Pennsylvania

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 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.

References

  1. Nelson, Jeff (2009-03-12). "Washington Area High School Hockey Players Are Sometimes Torn Between Junior Nationals, High School Teams". washingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2010-06-09.
  2. Carrera, Katie (2009-04-09). "Dreams Come Closer – D.C. Area's Hockey Players Have More Alternatives On Their Way to College". washingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2010-06-09.
  3. "Washington Capitals – Team – Washington Capitals – Team". Capitals.nhl.com. 2007-05-18. Retrieved 2010-06-09.
  4. "USA Junior Hockey Magazine May". Juniorhockeymagazine.com. Retrieved 2010-06-09.
  5. "Around the #EShow - First Half Recap". YouTube. January 4, 2021. Archived from the original on 2021-12-15.
  6. "Jr. Nationals". 2004-04-14. Archived from the original on 2004-04-14. Retrieved 2018-03-29.
  7. "Atlantic Junior Hockey League". Atlantichockey.org. Retrieved 2010-06-09.