New Hampshire Junior Monarchs

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).

History

The franchise was a charter member of the Eastern Junior Hockey League (EJHL) in 1993. For the first two seasons, they were known as the Granite State Stars located in Dover, New Hampshire, then they moved to Biddeford, Maine and were known as the Great Northern Snow Devils. In 1999 they moved to Exeter, New Hampshire, and were known as the Exeter Snow Devils, before moving to Hooksett in 2001 and becoming the Junior Monarchs.

In 2013, Tier III junior hockey leagues underwent a large reorganization, which included the Monarchs joining the Atlantic Junior Hockey League (AtJHL). The Atlantic Junior Hockey League then re-branded itself as the Eastern Hockey League (EHL).

In December 2016, it was announced that the Monarchs were leaving the EHL for the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL) beginning in the 2017–18 season and transferring their teams to the corresponding Premier, Elite, U18, and U16 divisions.^[3] The Jr. Monarchs then added a tuition-free team in the National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC) of the USPHL beginning in 2018.^[4]

In 2023, a group of local investors purchased the Tri-Town Ice Arena and founded a new hockey organization based in the arena called the New Hampshire Mountain Kings, which displaced the Jr. Monarchs. The new organization joined the Tier II North American Hockey League and Tier III North American 3 Hockey League.^[5][6] The Jr. Monarchs subsequently ceased operations.

Coach

Sean Tremblay was the general manager and head coach of the New Hampshire Junior Monarchs from 2001 to 2012,^[7][8] and won the EJHL's 'Coach of the Year,' award in 1997, 2002, and 2006, as well as named 'Junior Coach of the Year' by Hockey Night in Boston in 2002, 2004, and 2006. In August 2006, he assisted the USA Under-17 Select Team to a Gold Medal in the Three Nations Tournament.^[9] In 2012, he left to become the head coach of the Islanders Hockey Club.^[10]

Tremblay was then replaced by Ryan Frew, head coach of the Monarchs' Junior B team in the Empire Junior Hockey League. Frew eventually led the team into the Eastern Hockey League and won a league championship in 2016. He won the NCDC Coach of the Year in 2019.^[11] Frew died from peritonitis on October 5, 2020.^[12]

Season-by-season records

USA Hockey Tier III Junior A National Championships

Round robin play in pool with top 4 teams advancing to semi-final.

* - unverified scores

** - Monarchs win one game playoff with the Boston Junior Rangers (MetJHL) and named "HOST"

Notable alumni

The Jr. Monarchs have produced a number of alumni playing in higher levels of junior hockey, NCAA Division I, Division III, and ACHA college programs^[28] including several National Hockey League draft picks.

• Greg Burke, 2006–2008: Washington Capitals, 2008, 6th round, 174th overall
• John Doherty, 2002–03: Toronto Maple Leafs, 2003, 2nd round, 57th overall
• Matt Duffy, 2003–2005: Florida Panthers, 2005, 4th round, 104th overall
• Brian Dumoulin, 2008–09: Carolina Hurricanes, 2009, 2nd round, 51st overall
• Brian Foster, 2003–2005: Florida Panthers, 2005, 5th round, 161st overall
• John Laliberte, 2001–02: Vancouver Canucks, 2002, 4th round, 114th overall
• Joe Pearce, 2001–02: Tampa Bay Lightning, 2002, 5th round, 135th overall
• Jonathan Rheault, 2003–04: Philadelphia Flyers, 2006, 5th round, 145th overall
• Andrew Thomas, 2001–2003: Washington Capitals, 2005, 4th round, 109th overall

Notes and references

1. Tri-Town Ice Arena Info Page
2. "2020-21 Staff". NH Jr. Monarchs. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
3. "USPHL Consolidating Tier III Junior Hockey in the East". USPHL. December 22, 2016.
4. "USPHL Adds the New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs to Its National Collegiate Development Conference". USPHL. November 2, 2017.
5. "Vision becomes reality: Concord's Chris Brown bringing NAHL prospects to NH". New Hampshire Union Leader. April 15, 2023.
6. "New junior hockey league team to begin play in New Hampshire this year". WMUR-TV. April 10, 2023.
7. New England Hockey Journal Article "Juniors Report April 1" dtd 1 April 2004 [1]
8. "Sean Tremblay EliteProspects profile". EliteProspects.com. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
9. Hockey's Future Article "2006 Under-17 Three Nations Tournament"
10. "Tremblay Leaving Monarchs For New Team". USHR.com. March 1, 2012.
11. "Ryan Frew named NCDC Coach Of The Year". New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs. August 18, 2019.
12. "Our Friend. Our Mentor. Our Leader. We will miss you, Ryan". New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs. October 5, 2020.
13. "EJHL Playoffs".
14. "| Amateur Hockey News | March 28, 2002".
15. "| Amateur Hockey News | March 28, 2003".
16. "Feisty Forward for Golden Knights | Amateur Hockey News | March 28, 2004".
17. "EJHL Playoffs, Updated Daily | Amateur Hockey News | March 14, 2005".
18. "EJHL Semifinals Tonight | Amateur Hockey News | March 20, 2006".
19. "New Hampshire Junior Monarchs".
20. "Twin City Thunder win round-robin, earn playoff spot". Sun Journal. March 15, 2021.
21. "2007 Tier III Junior A Nationals". Pointstreak. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
22. "2008 Tier III Junior A Nationals". Pointstreak. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
23. "2009 Tier III Junior A Nationals". Pointstreak. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
24. "2010 Tier III Junior A Nationals". Pointstreak. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
25. "2011 Tier III Junior A Nationals". Pointstreak. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
26. "2012 Tier III Nationals". Pointstreak. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
27. "2014 Tier III Nationals". USA Hockey. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
28. "Alumni/College | NH Jr. Monarchs".

External links

• Jr. Monarchs Home Page