Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights

Last updated
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights
WBSKnights.png
City Pittston, Pennsylvania
League United States Premier Hockey League
Founded2005 (organization)
Home arena Revolution Ice Centre
ColorsNavy and white
  
General managerRay Welsh [1]
Franchise history
AJHL/EHL franchise
2005–2010Binghamton Jr. Senators
2010–2015
2017–2019		Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights
NAHL franchise
2010–2012 Dawson Creek Rage
2015–2020Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights
2020–present Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks
USPHL franchise
2021–presentWilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights are a junior ice hockey organization from Pittston, Pennsylvania. [2] 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.

Contents

The players, ages 16–20, carry amateur status and hope to earn a spot on higher level of junior hockey teams in the United States and Canada, Canadian Major Junior teams, collegiate teams, and eventually professional teams.

History

AJHL/EHL years (2010–2015)

From 2005 to 2010, the Tier III franchise was operated by an organization in Binghamton, New York, as the Binghamton Jr. Senators at the Chenango Ice Rink in the Atlantic Junior Hockey League (AJHL). In 2010, the franchise was transferred to an organization to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights that had been operating as a youth organization formed in 2005. After relocating, the organization also began a team at the Junior B level in the Metropolitan Junior Hockey League as well as youth hockey select teams at the Midget U18, Midget 16U, Bantam, Peewee, and Squirt and Mite levels. Along with Revolution Ice Centre in Pittston, Pennsylvania, the Knights also practiced at Revolution Training Centre in Dunmore, Pennsylvania. The training center has two skating surfaces: one synthetic ice and the other is an 85 x 45 ice surface. [3]

The Knights won the AJHL Championship during the 2012–13 season in the best of three series against the Northern Cyclones and earned the AJHL President's Cup. The Knights lost the first game of the series 0–2 but came back to win the final two games. During the last game, the Cyclones had a 2–1 lead, but Knights forward Matt Cessna tied the game at 2–2 with 22 seconds remaining in the third period. With four minutes remaining in the first overtime, Cessna also scored the game-winner and was named the Most Valuable Player of the playoff championship series. The Knights' 2012–13 AJHL championship team featured team captain Jack Ceglarski (grandson of Len Ceglarski) and defenceman Oscar Nyquist (brother of Gustav Nyquist). [4] [5]

In 2013, Tier III junior hockey leagues underwent a large reorganization and the AJHL re-branded as the Eastern Hockey League (EHL).

NAHL years (2015–2020)

On May 1, 2015, it was announced that the Knights had purchased the dormant Dawson Creek Rage franchise in the North American Hockey League and began play as a Tier II team in the 2015–16 NAHL season [6] while also dropping their Tier III teams. The organization would re-add Tier III teams in the EHL in 2017. In 2019, the Tier III team left the EHL and joined the NAHL's Tier III league, the North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL), [7] but were removed from the league prior to playing a game.

On May 11, 2020, the Knights announced they had sold their franchise rights to an organization in Danbury, Connecticut, and became the Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks. [8]

USPHL (2021–present)

In February 2021, the Knights announced they would be reactivating their junior teams in the Premier and Elite Divisions of the United States Premier Hockey League, an independently sanctioned league, in the 2021–22 season. [1] During their first season in the USPHL, they announced they would be adding a tuition-free National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC) team, the USPHL's equivalent of a Tier II league, for the 2022–23 season. [9]

Season-by-season records

SeasonGPWLOTLSOLPtsGFGAFinishPlayoffs
Eastern Hockey League (Tier III)
2013–1444191681471211114th, Central Div.
8th of 17, EHL		Won Round 1, 2–0 vs. Philadelphia Junior Flyers
Lost quarterfinals, 0–2 vs. Northern Cyclones
2014–1544281420581551262nd, Central Div.
6th of 19, EHL		Won Round 1, 2–1 vs. Boston Bandits
Lost quarterfinals, 0–2 vs. Northern Cyclones
2017–185024251—491701803rd of 4, Mid-Atlantic Div.
5th of 8, South Conf.
9th of 16, EHL		Lost First Round, 1–2 vs. New York Apple Core
2018–194427134—581671162nd of 3, North Div.
3rd of 8, Mid-Atlantic Conf.
6th of 18, EHL		Won First Round, 2–0 vs. New York Apple Core
Won Second Round, 2–1 vs. New Jersey 87's
0–3–0 in Frozen Finals round-robin
(L, 0–4 vs. Avalanche; L, 2–7 vs. Wizards; L, 1–6 vs. Little Flyers)
SeasonGPWLOTLPtsGFGAFinishPlayoffs
NAHL (Tier II)
2015–1660222810541502324th of 4, East Div.
20th of 22, NAHL		Lost div. semi-finals, 0–3 vs. Aston Rebels
2016–176030255651931904th of 5, East Div.
12th of 24, NAHL		Lost div. semi-finals, 0–3 vs. Aston Rebels
2017–186030246661751963rd of 5, East Div.
12th of 23, NAHL		Won Div. Semifinals, 3–2 vs. New Jersey Titans
Won Div. Finals, 3–0 vs. Philadelphia Rebels
Lost Robertson Cup Semifinals, 0–2 vs. Shreveport Mudbugs
2018–196026295571531755th of 6, East Div.
18th of 24, NAHL		did not qualify
2019–205326225571651813rd of 7, East Div.
14th of 26, NAHL		Season cancelled
USPHL (Premier Div)
2021–2244393280228891st of 5, Atlantic Div.
1st of 64, Premier		Won Div. Semifinals, 2-0 vs. Buffalo Stampede
Won Div. Finals, 2-0 Utica Comets
Pool A 3-0-0 1st
(W, 3-2 Islanders Hockey Club)(W, 3-0 Florida Junior Blades)(W, 3-1 Metro Jets)
Won quarterfinal Gm, 2-1 Minnesota Blue Ox
Lost semifinal Gm, 1-8 Metro Jets
USPHL (NCDC Div)
2022–235017288391381907th of 7, South Div.
13th of 14, NCDC		Did not qualify for Post Season Play
2023–245220257471271776th of 6, Atlantic Div.
15th of 18, NCDC		Did not qualify for Post Season Play

Alumni

The Knights/Jr. Senators franchise has produced a number of alumni playing in higher levels of junior hockey, NCAA Division I, Division III, ACHA college and professional programs, including: [10]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North American Hockey League</span> US Tier II junior ice hockey league

The North American Hockey League (NAHL) is one of the top junior hockey leagues in the United States and is in its 49th season of operation in 2023–24. It is the only Tier II junior league sanctioned by USA Hockey, and acts as an alternative for those who would not or did not make the roster of a team in the Major Junior Canadian Hockey League (CHL) nor Tier I United States Hockey League (USHL). The NAHL is one of the oldest junior hockey leagues in the United States and is headquartered in Addison, Texas.

Junior ice hockey is amateur-level ice hockey for 15- to 20-year-old players. National Junior teams compete annually for the IIHF World Junior Championship. The United States men's national junior ice hockey team are the defending champions from the 2024 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Western States Hockey League</span> Amateur ice hockey league

The Western States Hockey League (WSHL) was a junior ice hockey league established in 1993. It was sanctioned by the United Hockey Union, the junior hockey branch of the Amateur Athletic Union. Previously, it was sanctioned by USA Hockey from 1994 to 2011. Teams played approximately 50 games in the regular season schedule, mimicking what players would experience at the collegiate level. As of January 2022, there are no active teams in the league following the creation of the Can-Am Junior Hockey League by former WSHL teams.

<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 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

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Billings Bulls</span> Ice hockey team in Billings, Montana

The Billings Bulls were a junior ice hockey organization based in Billings, Montana. They most recently played home games at the 550-seat Centennial Ice Arena and due to the arena's small size, the Bulls frequently sold-out games. They previously played their home games in the Metrapark which had a max capacity of 9,000 for hockey games. However, a negotiating dispute with arena officials and local county commissioners resulted in the team losing its lease.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North American 3 Hockey League</span> Tier III junior ice hockey league

The North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL) is an American Tier III junior ice hockey league that consists of teams from Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Sanctioned by USA Hockey, for most of the league's existence, the winner of the NA3HL playoffs would advance to play for the Tier III National Championship, however, this has not been held since 2015.

<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">Wooster Oilers</span> Ice hockey team in Wooster, Ohio

The Wooster Oilers were a junior ice hockey team and member of the United States Premier Hockey League 'Premier' level. The Oilers play home games at the Alice Noble Ice Arena in Wooster, Ohio.

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.

<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.

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

The New York Bobcats are 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">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).

The New England Knights were a Tier III junior ice hockey team in the North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL). The team played out of Raynham IcePlex in Raynham, Massachusetts. The Knights' organization are owned by Lovell Hockey, which also operates boys' and girls' Knights youth teams as well as the Boston Advantage organization in the United States Premier Hockey League. The junior Knights team was not listed as a member of the NA3HL for the 2020–21 season, but the organization continued to host its youth teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North American 3 Eastern Hockey League</span> American hockey league

North American 3 Eastern Hockey League (NA3EHL) was a USA Hockey-sanctioned Tier III junior ice hockey league. The league had teams in the New England and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. In 2016, the league merged with the North American 3 Hockey League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States Premier Hockey League</span> American ice hockey league

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Jersey Titans (NAHL)</span> Ice hockey team in Middletown Township, New Jersey

The New Jersey Titans are a Tier II junior ice hockey team in the North American Hockey League. Based in Middletown Township, New Jersey, the Titans play home games at the Middletown Ice World.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philadelphia Rebels</span> Ice hockey team in Gloucester County, New Jersey

The Philadelphia Rebels are a Tier II junior ice hockey team playing in the North American Hockey League (NAHL). The team is based in Hollydell Ice Arena in Washington Township, Gloucester County, New Jersey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northeast Generals</span> Ice hockey team in Attleboro, Massachusetts


The Northeast Generals are a Tier II junior ice hockey team based in Attleboro, Massachusetts. The team competes in the North American Hockey League (NAHL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks</span> North American Hockey League team based in Danbury, Connecticut

The Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks are a USA Hockey-sanctioned junior ice hockey organization based in Danbury, Connecticut. The organization has junior teams in the Tier II North American Hockey League and the Tier III North American 3 Hockey League, both of which play home games at the Danbury Ice Arena.

References

  1. 1 2 "Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights To Join USPHL Premier, Elite Divisions For 2021-22". USPHL. February 24, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Revolution Ice Centre, Scranton and Pittston, PA". Archived from the original on 2010-03-06. Retrieved 2010-06-09.
  3. ↑ "Home Page". Jrknightshockey.com.
  4. ↑ "Knights Win AJHL Championship". Archived from the original on 2014-03-06. Retrieved 2014-03-06.
  5. ↑ "Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights". Eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  6. ↑ "Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights join NAHL in 2015-16 season". NAHL.com. North American Hockey League. May 1, 2015. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
  7. ↑ "NA3HL announces new markets for the 2019-20 season". NA3HL. April 17, 2019.
  8. ↑ "NAHL announces relocation of WBS Knights to Danbury, Connecticut". NAHL. May 11, 2020.
  9. ↑ "WBS Knights To Join National Collegiate Development Conference In 2022-23". USPHL. February 3, 2022.
  10. ↑ [ dead link ]
  11. ↑ "Jerry d'Amigo - 2009-10 - Men's Hockey". Rpiathletics.com.
  12. ↑ "Gianni Paolo". IMDb.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.