Springfield Pics

Last updated
Springfield Pics
Springfield PICS Logo.jpg
City West Springfield, Massachusetts
League USPHL
Founded1993
Home arena Olympia Ice Center
ColorsBlue, white
General managerRobert Bonneau
Head coachRobert Bonneau
Website www.springfieldjrpics.com
Franchise history
1993–1995Springfield Olympics [1]
1995–1997New England Jr. Whalers
1997–2004New England Jr. Coyotes
2004–2009New England Jr. Falcons
2009–presentSpringfield Pics

The Springfield Pics are an American junior ice hockey organization playing in West Springfield, Massachusetts at the Olympia Ice Center. They field two Tier III teams and a number of Youth teams.

Contents

History

The franchise was founded as the Springfield Olympics (or Pics for short) as charter member of the Tier III Junior A Eastern Junior Hockey League (EJHL) in 1993. [1] The team would relocate across the Massachusetts-Connecticut border to Enfield, Connecticut in 1995 and were renamed the New England Jr. Whalers named after the local National Hockey League team in Hartford. After the Hartford Whalers moved to Carolina in 1997, the franchise was renamed the New England Jr. Coyotes and later the Jr. Falcons after the local Springfield Falcons of the American Hockey League. During this time, the organization also fielded a team in the Tier III Empire Junior B Hockey League (EmJHL) (later the Empire Junior Hockey League).

In the 2009 off-season, the Jr. Falcons EJHL and EmJHL teams merged with the Springfield Pics of the Continental Hockey Association (CHA) and the Bay State Bucs Midget team, members of the NEMHL. [2] This led the now merged Pics organization to field teams in the EJHL, EmJHL, and CHA.

USPHL Premier Division

In 2013, many Tier III junior hockey leagues were re-organized in the northeastern United States and the Springfield Pics became founding members of the new United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL). Their former Junior A team (USA Hockey dropped Junior A and B designations in 2011) which had participated in the EJHL joined the USPHL Elite Division for the 2013–14 season. In their first year in the USPHL-Elite League the Pics finished second and then went on to win the playoffs. The playoff win propelled the team to the 2014 USA Hockey Tier III Junior Nationals where they won their pool before losing the semifinal game to the eventual National Champions, the Boston Jr. Bruins. [3] The Elite Division team was promoted to the Premier Division prior to the 2014–15 season.

USHPL USP3 Division

Their former Junior B team from the EmJHL joined the USPHL Empire Division for the 2013–14 season. In 2015, the Empire Division became the USP3 Division.

Former Junior B ESHL team

Their second Junior B team last competed in the Eastern States Hockey League (formerly the CHA). Following the 2013 re-organization, this team was eliminated in favor of Under 18 and Under 16 teams which play in corresponding USPHL leagues.

Season-by-season records

SeasonGPWLTOTLPtsGFGARegular Season FinishPlayoffs
New England Jr. Falcons
2004–0550182372451601595th of 7, South
10th of 13, EJHL		Won Play-in game, 3–0 vs. Green Mountain Glades
Lost Quarterfinals, 0–1–1 vs. Boston Jr. Bruins [4]
2005–0645221652511751751st of 7, South
T-4th of 14, EJHL		Won Quarterfinals, 2–0 vs. Valley Jr. Warriors
Lost Semifinal game, 1–3 vs. Boston Jr. Bruins [5]
2006–0745162243391451805th of 7, South
11th of 14, EJHL		Did not qualify
2007–0844122453321251737th of 7, South
12th of 14, EJHL		Did not qualify
2008–0945162234391281495th of 7, South
10th of 14, EJHL		Did not qualify
Springfield Pics
2009–1045162342381501795th of 7, South
10th of 14, EJHL		Did not qualify
2010–1145251622541821564th of 7, South
6th of 14, EJHL		Won First Round, 2–0 vs. Rochester Stars
Lost Quarterfinals, 1–2 vs. Boston Jr. Bruins
2011–1245202302421661755th of 7, South
10th of 14, EJHL		Lost First Round, 0–2 vs. Green Mountain Glades
2012–13452417—4521371184th of 7, South
8th of 14, EJHL		Lost First Round, 0–2 vs. New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs [6]
2013–1440326—266212922nd of 10, North
2nd of 18, USPHL Elite		Won First Round, 2–0 vs. New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs-Elite
Won Quarterfinals, 2–0 vs. Bay State Breakers-Elite
2–0–1 in Round Robin
(W, 5–0 vs. Hampton Roads Whalers; T, 4–4 vs. Jersey Hitmen; W, 5–0 vs. Florida Eels)
Won Championship game, 3–2 vs. Jersey Hitmen-Elite
Elite Division Champions
2014–1550937—42210523911th of 11,
USPHL Premier		Did not qualify
2015–16441130—32512318711th of 12,
USPHL Premier		Did not qualify
2016–17451922—4421381747th of 10,
USPHL Premier		Won Play-in Game, 4–0 vs. Okanagan Eagles
Won Quarterfinals, 2–0 vs. Jersey Hitmen
Lost Semifinals, 0–2 vs. Islanders Hockey Club
2017–18442518—1511491447th of 9, North Div.
20th of 44, USPHL Premier		Lost First Round, 1–2 vs. Islanders Hockey Club-Premier
2018–19442417—3511391052nd of 7, North East Div.
25th of 52, USPHL Premier		First Round bye
Lost Nationals qualifiers, 0–2 vs. Syracuse Stars-Premier
2019–20442914—1591671082nd of 6, North East Div.
17th of 52, USPHL Premier		First Round bye
Won Nationals qualifiers, 2–0 vs. Connecticut Jr. Rangers-Premier
0–1–0 USPHL-Premier Nationals round-robin Pool B
(L, 1–5 vs. Vengeance; vs. Rush; vs. Havoc)
Tournament cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2020–21442318—3491301274th of 9, New England Div.
31st of 62, USPHL Premier		Lost First Round series, 1–2 vs. Bridgewater Bandits
2021–22442517—2521351255th of 9, New England Div.
28th of 64, USPHL Premier		Lost First Round series, 1–2 vs. Boston Jr. Bruins
2022–23442319—2481441505th of 9, New England Div.
36th of 69, USPHL Premier		Lost First Round series, 0–2 vs. Bridgewater Bandits
2023–24442121—2441491565th of 7, New England Div.
36th of 61, USPHL Premier		Lost Div. Quarterfinals, 0–2 vs. Gatineau Universel

USA Hockey Tier III National Championships

Round robin play in pool with top 4 teams advancing to semifinal.

YearRound RobinRecordStandingSemifinalChampionship Game
2014 [3] L, Northern Cyclones (EHL) 3-4
W, Flint Jr. Generals (NA3HL) 6-0
W, Bellingham Blazers (NPHL) 8-2		2-0-11st of 4
Pool B (White)		L, Boston Jr. Bruins (USPHL-Premier) 6-0—

Related Research Articles

The Eastern Junior Hockey League (EJHL) was a USA Hockey-sanctioned Tier III Junior A ice hockey league. Founded in 1993 by Dan Esdale, the EJHL had fourteen teams from across the Northeastern United States. The EJHL champion then competed for the National Championship against the champions of the other Tier III leagues and a host city. The New Jersey Hitmen were the final EJHL Champions after the 2012–13 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pittsburgh Vengeance</span> Ice hockey team in Harmar Township, Pennsylvania

The Pittsburgh Vengeance are a non-sanctioned junior ice hockey team and are members of the Great Lakes Conference in the United States Premier Hockey League's Premier Division. The team plays at the Alpha Ice Complex in Harmar Township, Pennsylvania, a township outside of Pittsburgh. In addition to the junior team, the organization also fields teams at the former Tier III Junior B/C levels and various youth levels of play. From 1997 until 2012, the team was known as the Pittsburgh Jr. Penguins.

<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">El Paso Rhinos</span> Ice hockey team in El Paso, Texas

The El Paso Rhinos are a junior ice hockey organization based in El Paso, Texas. Their home games are played at the County Events Center located within the El Paso County Coliseum complex. The Rhinos are members of the Tier II junior North American Hockey League (NAHL) after adding the team as an expansion franchise in 2021. The organization also has a Tier III team that was originally a member of the Amateur Athletic Union-sanctioned Western States Hockey League from 2006 to 2020 before joining the North American 3 Hockey League for the 2020–21 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">EJHL South</span>

The EJHL South was an American Tier III Junior ice hockey league sanctioned by USA Hockey. The league had eight teams located in Florida, North Carolina, Virginia and Georgia. With the elimination by USA Hockey of the Junior A, B and C labels, at the start of the 2011–12 season, the SEJHL was to become the Southern Atlantic Hockey League. This progression was approved by USA Hockey as the SAHL was preparing to compete at the top level of Tier III Junior hockey. However, unprecedented developments allowed the SAHL to be included in a partnership with the Eastern Junior Hockey League and to operate under the infrastructure and guidance of the EJHL as an affiliate member organization. The EJHL agreed to govern the league for a minimum of three seasons and the league would be called the "EJHL South" as an affiliate operation of the EJHL.

The New York Apple Core are a Tier III Junior A ice hockey team from Brewster, New York, playing in the Eastern Hockey League. The team plays home games at the Brewster Ice Arena. The Apple Core organization is based out of Long Beach, New York, on Long Island, however, their top level junior team has played in Brewster since the start of the 2011–12 season.

The Boston Junior Bruins are an American junior ice hockey organization playing in Marlborough, Massachusetts. They currently field three junior and a number of youth teams in the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL).

<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">South Shore Kings</span> Ice hockey team in Foxboro, Massachusetts

The South Shore Kings are a Tier III Junior A ice hockey team playing in the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL). The team plays at the Foxboro Sports Center located in Foxboro, Massachusetts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bridgewater Bandits</span> Ice hockey team in Bridgewater, Massachusetts

The Bridgewater Bandits, also called the Boston Bandits, are a junior ice hockey organization from Bridgewater, Massachusetts, in the United States, with teams playing in the United States Premier Hockey League. The organization plays home games at the Bridgewater Ice Arena.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Islanders Hockey Club</span> Ice hockey team in Tyngsborough, Massachusetts

The Islanders Hockey Club are an American junior ice hockey organization from Tyngsborough, Massachusetts. They field teams in the United States Premier Hockey League National Collegiate Development Conference, Premier Division, and Elite Division, as well as in youth and girls leagues.

<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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philadelphia Revolution</span> Ice hockey team in Warwick Township, Pennsylvania

The Philadelphia Revolution were a Tier III Junior A ice hockey team in the Eastern Hockey League. The team played home games at Revolution Ice Gardens in Warwick Township, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Empire Junior Hockey League</span>

The Empire Junior Hockey League (EmJHL) was a USA Hockey-sanctioned Tier III junior ice hockey league. The league was classified as Tier III Junior B until the 2011–12 season when USA Hockey combined the Tier III Junior A and Junior B classifications.

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">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">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.

The Rochester Jr. Americans are a Tier II Junior ice hockey team from Rochester, New York. Junior team returned to Rochester with the North American Hockey League accepting the location as an expansion franchise starting in the 2023-24 season.

The Palm Beach Hawks were an American ice hockey organization playing in Lake Worth, Florida. They fielded two Tier III teams and a number of youth teams.

References

  1. 1 2 "New England Jr. Falcons Statistics and History". HockeyDB. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
  2. ↑ Press release announcing merger http://www.springfieldjrpics.com/juniormerger.html
  3. 1 2 "2014 Tier III Nationals". USA Hockey. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
  4. ↑ "EJHL Playoffs, Updated Daily | Amateur Hockey News | March 14, 2005".
  5. ↑ "EJHL Semifinals Tonight | Amateur Hockey News | March 20, 2006".
  6. ↑ "New York Apple Core EJHL Tier II". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-08-25.
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.