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.[1] The organization's top Junior team played in the Atlantic Junior Hockey League (AJHL) from 2004[2] 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.
| Rockets Hockey Club | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City | Bridgewater, New Jersey |
| League | United States Premier Hockey League |
| Founded | 1970 |
| Home arena | Bridgewater Sports Arena |
| Colors | Silver and black |
| Owner(s) | Rockets Sports Group |
| Franchise history | |
| 1970–2019 | New Jersey Rockets |
| 2019–present | Rockets Hockey Club |
The organization previously fielded a team at the Tier III former Junior B level in the Metropolitan Junior Hockey League (MJHL) and in the EHL-Elite Division. The organization also fields a women's team in the New England Women's Junior Hockey League (NEWJHL), and youth hockey select teams at the Midget U18, Midget 16U, Bantam, Peewee, and Squirt and Mite levels and girls teams at the U14, U16, and U19 levels.[3]
Season-by-season records
edit| Season | GP | W | L | T | OTL | Pts | GF | GA | Regular Season Finish | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic Junior Hockey League | ||||||||||
| 2004–05 | 41 | 24 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 51 | 137 | 125 | 2nd of 4, South 3rd of 8, AJHL |
Won Quarterfinals vs. Portland Jr. Pirates Lost Semifinal game, 2–11 vs. New York Bobcats |
| 2005–06 | 42 | 16 | 17 | 0 | 9 | 41 | 146 | 153 | 7th of 11, AJHL | Lost Quarterfinals, 1–2 vs. Boston Bulldogs |
| 2006–07 | 44 | 23 | 18 | 0 | 3 | 49 | 198 | 173 | 4th of 6, South 6th of 12, AJHL |
|
| 2007–08 | 44 | 31 | 9 | 0 | 4 | 66 | 218 | 153 | 1st of 5, South T-1st of 11, AJHL |
|
| 2008–09 | 42 | 27 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 55 | 182 | 125 | 2nd of 6, South 4th of 12, AJHL |
|
| 2009–10 | 42 | 30 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 63 | 165 | 117 | 2nd of 6, South 4th of 12, AJHL |
|
| 2010–11 | 44 | 19 | 23 | 0 | 2 | 40 | 141 | 164 | 3rd of 6, South 8th of 12, AJHL |
|
| 2011–12 | 44 | 19 | 21 | 2 | 2 | 42 | 139 | 148 | 8th of 12, AJHL | |
| 2012–13 | 44 | 20 | 18 | 5 | 1 | 46 | 141 | 137 | 7th of 12, AJHL | Won Quarterfinals, 2–0 vs. Walpole Express Lost Semifinals, 0–2 vs. Northern Cyclones |
| Eastern Hockey League | ||||||||||
| 2013–14 | 44 | 21 | 20 | 2 | 1 | 45 | 132 | 162 | 2nd of 5, South 9th of 17, EHL |
Lost Round 1, 0–2 vs. Hartford Jr. Wolfpack |
| 2014–15 | 44 | 16 | 25 | — | 3 | 35 | 126 | 191 | 3rd of 5, South Div. 15th of 19, EHL |
Lost Round 1, 0–2 vs. New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs |
| 2015–16 | 41 | 20 | 18 | — | 3 | 43 | 163 | 162 | 7th of 9, South Conf. 12th of 18, EHL-Premier |
Lost First Round, 0–2 vs. Connecticut Oilers |
| 2016–17 | 48 | 26 | 20 | — | 2 | 54 | 167 | 141 | 4th of 4, Mid-Atlantic Div. 4th of 8, South Conf. 7th of 17, EHL-Premier |
Won First Round, 2–0 vs. Philadelphia Revolution Won Quarterfinals, 2–0 vs. Boston Junior Rangers Lost Semifinals, 0–2 vs. Philadelphia Little Flyers |
| United States NCDC League | ||||||||||
| 2017–18 | 50 | 6 | 42 | — | 2 | 14 | 96 | 253 | 11th of 11, NCDC | Did not qualify |
| 2018–19 | 50 | 19 | 24 | — | 7 | 45 | 149 | 189 | 9th of 12, NCDC | Did not qualify |
| 2019–20 | 50 | 15 | 28 | — | 7 | 37 | 160 | 204 | 12th of 13, NCDC | Did not qualify |
| 2020–21 | 44 | 35 | 5 | — | 4 | 74 | 176 | 80 | 2nd of 6, South 2nd of 13, NCDC |
First Round bye Won Second Round, 2–0 vs. P.A.L. Jr. Islanders Won Semifinal game, 10–2 vs. Boston Jr. Bruins Lost Championship game, 2–5 vs. Jersey Hitmen |
| 2021–22 | 49 | 29 | 14 | — | 6 | 64 | 185 | 156 | 2nd of 6, South 2nd of 13, NCDC |
Won Div.Semifinal, 2-0 vs. Philadelphia Hockey Club Lost Div. Finals, 1-2 vs. Jersey Hitmen |
| 2022–23 | 50 | 26 | 19 | 3 | 2 | 57 | 196 | 187 | 3rd of 7, South 7th of 13, NCDC |
Lost Div.Semifinal, 0-2 vs. P.A.L. Jr. Islanders |
| 2023–24 | 52 | 21 | 23 | 6 | 2 | 50 | 164 | 194 | 3rd of 6, Atlantic 12th of 18, NCDC |
Lost Div.Semifinal, 1-2 vs. Mercer Chiefs |
Alumni
editThe Rockets have produced a number of alumni playing in higher levels of junior hockey, NCAA Division I, Division III college and professional programs, including:[4]
- John Carlson — Washington Capitals 2008 NHL Entry Draft - Washington Capitals (NHL), Hershey Bears (AHL)
- Marc Del Gaizo — Nashville Predators 2019 NHL Entry Draft - Nashville Predators (NHL)
- David Kolomatis — Los Angeles Kings 2009 NHL Entry Draft - Manchester Monarchs (AHL)
- Brian Mullen — Winnipeg Jets 1980 NHL Entry Draft - New York Islanders (NHL)
- Jeremy Roenick — Chicago Blackhawks 1988 NHL Entry Draft - San Jose Sharks (NHL)
- Bobby Sanguinetti — New York Rangers 2006 NHL Entry Draft - New York Rangers (NHL)[5]
References
edit- ^ "Leagues of Their Own: New Jersey Rockets - over the Boards". Archived from the original on 2016-04-28. Retrieved 2015-09-03.
- ^ "EHL History". EHL. Archived from the original on 2015-08-08. Retrieved September 3, 2015.
- ^ "Home".
- ^ http://www.njrockets.com/alumni.htm
- ^ "New York Rangers Spotlight: Bobby Sanguinetti takes your questions". 4 June 2009.