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HOCKEY POWERS FORM MIDGET AAA HOCKEY LEAGUE

By Islanders Staff, 04/02/12, 8:00AM EDT

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USEHL SET FOR PLAY IN 2012 - 2013

The future landscape of Midget AAA hockey in North America took a noteworthy turn today as powerful programs in the East and elsewhere aligned to form the United States Elite Hockey League (“USEHL”). The league will feature the following programs: Junior Bruins (MA), Islanders Hockey Club (Formerly Middlesex Islanders) (MA), Jersey Hitmen (NJ), South Shore Kings (MA), CT Yankees (CT), Suffolk P.A.L Ice Hockey (NY), Selects Academy @ South Kent (CT), and Hill Academy (Ontario). The inaugural USEHL season will begin this September and will feature Midget Major and Midget Minor Divisions that will play a 24 to 30 game schedule, which will include league games, showcases, and playoffs. The USEHL regular season and showcase schedule will be announced in the near future. The USEHL is considering having guest teams participate in their showcases as well. The USEHL playoffs will be held the 2nd weekend of March and will be hosted by the Jersey Hitmen.
 
The USEHL is the first Midget AAA league of its kind that will be based in the East. The formation of the USEHL marks an opportunity for these organizations to establish strong affiliate teams in a highly competitive and development-oriented league atmosphere.
 
The EJHL-based organizations (Junior Bruins, Islander Hockey Club, South Shore Kings, and Jersey Hitmen) have had success using their Empire teams as an affiliate in the past, while developing many NCAA DI-bound players. Each of these organizations is now committed to transitioning their Empire clubs into full Midget Major and Midget Minor teams.
 
The inclusion of Hill Academy and Selects Academy @ South Kent represents the USEHL’s emphasis on player development and college placement. Both Hill and Selects are newer programs that have enjoyed recent success with a number of NCAA DI commitments, while developing talented fifteen and sixteen year old players to play against top-flight Midget AAA teams in both the United States and Canada. Both programs will provide teams at both the Major and Minor levels.
 
The CT Yankees have long been one of North America's premier summer AAA tournament programs. For the last two years, they have expanded their organization through an alliance with Mid Fairfield to include full season winter teams. The CT Yankees will play out of Chelsea Piers, CT, a brand new, state-of-the-art facility, located in Stamford, CT. The wealth of talent in the CT Yankees footprint is among the best in the country.
 
Suffolk P.A.L. Ice Hockey, the feeder program for the Suffolk P.A.L Junior program, makes its’ home in the talent rich area of Long Island and has become the dominant program in that area. Their arena is located in the best possible location on Long Island, allowing them to draw players from the widest player pool on the island
 
For more information on the USEHL, please contact the league office at info@usehl.com.