The  2012 - 2013 season will bring many changes to the Islanders Hockey Club as well as to

 

Junior Hockey in the area. Over the past few months the Islanders took part in

 

discussions with other EJ League partners as well as other programs in the East to

 

discuss ways to increase options for player development. These Organizations

 

understand the changing landscape of junior hockey and want to be sure that they are

 

providing the best programs available in the area to continue to strive for its goal of

 

developing top student athletes.

 

To start, there has been some movement with the EJ teams; the Green Mtn. Glades

 

have relocated to Portland, ME and will be the Portland Jr. Pirates, the CD Selects

 

(Albany) have been sold and moved to Norwalk, CT. They will be known as the

 

NorwalkOilers. Applecore relocated and will find their home in Westchester, NY and

 

the New England Huskies have transformed into the Islanders Hockey Club.

 

Yesterday the Islanders and as well as Junior Bruins (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) announced the formation of the United

 

States Elite Hockey League (“USEHL”). The inaugural USEHL season for this U18

 

midget team 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 is the first Midget AAA league of its kind that will

 

be based in the East. The formation of the USEHL gives opportunity for these

 

organizations to establish strong affiliate teams in a highly competitive and

 

development-oriented league atmosphere.

 

 

 

Going forward the Empire teams will be an older squad; typically for the 17-19 year

 

old who is looking to move to the EJHL team in the future or who is getting ready for

 

the move to College hockey. The Empire League as well as the U18 USEHL team will

 

both be feeder teams to the EJHL team. The ESHL team will be for the 18-20 year old

 

player who is looking for some added exposure to increase chances of playing college

 

hockey the following season.

 

 

 

The Islanders will also be adding a Split Season U19 team. This team will allow the

 

player looking to play fall hockey at a higher level than the local youth organizations.

 

This team will participate in numerous top local showcases such as the Beantown Fall

 

Classic and Valley Warriors Invitational. It will provide the player with a high level of

 

competition and exposure with out giving up high school hockey. as well as build in

 

quality games against top competition in the area.

 

 

 

Islanders 2012-2013 Season Teams

 

EJHL

 

U18

 

Empire

 

ESHL

 

U19 Jr. team (split season)

 

U16