Boston Jr. Rangers: Top scoring line laying on the hurt with showcase approaching

Looking back on the Boston Jr. Rangers’ last six games before the EHL Showcase in Connecticut, it would be tough to point out the immediate positives.

The team went 2-3-1 from the start of the showcase they hosted in late November/early December through Dec. 13. This week’s showcase sees them play three games between Dec. 20 through Dec. 22 at the International Skating Center of Connecticut in Simsbury, Conn.

After those games, the Rangers have a break from games until Jan. 8.

Looking into the scoresheets, the Rangers were certainly excited to go into the Connecticut weekend with their top line simply on fire.

Leading the charge are returning players captain Tyler Theodoulou (nine points in those six games) and alternate captain Alan Boozer (eight points in five games).

The ’93-born Bedford, N.H., native Theodoulou scored 28 points in 41 games in his first year with the Rangers, and he’s already more than matched that with 30 points in 26 games.

Boozer, who started the year with the Trenton Golden Hawks (Ontario Junior League), had 21 points in his first 24 games this year after scoring 28 points in 44 games in 2012-13.

“Boozer and Theodoulou have been on a tear. They play really well together. When Alan came back to the team, I knew immediately I’d be putting them back together. They played most of the season last year together,” said head coach Mario Martiniello. “It wouldn’t take long before they’d start to click.”

Their linemate is Garritt Otten, a first-year Ranger who played a few games for the Laconia Leafs in the Atlantic Junior League last year. He had 16 points in 25 games.

“Garritt is creeping up with points. He’s a real thinker out there, he sees the ice well, and both Boozer and Theodoulou bring a lot of energy,” said Martiniello.

Garrett Chardon was the Rangers’ captain last year and played for the Boston Jr. Bulldogs before that franchise was sold to the Rangers organization. He rejoined the Rangers after starting the season with the P.A.L. Junior Islanders (USPHL), and he had five points in his first eight EHL games.

“He missed being with us and he enjoyed his time with us last year,” said Martiniello. “We were thrilled to get him back. He’s one of the better defenseman in the league.”

Chardon has attracted attention from Division 1 and 3 schools, with the U.S. Military Academy (Army) being his top choice, but no decisions have been made yet.

Another new acquisition, Cole Burack, joined the Rangers prior to their Nov. 22 game. He had three wins already and four losses, one of which saw him make 62 saves in a 6-5 loss to the Northern Cyclones on Dec. 5.

“He gave up just three goals in three showcase games,” said Martiniello.

- See more at: http://www.usajuniorhockey.com/2013/12/boston-jr-rangers-top-scoring-line-laying-on-the-hurt-with-showcase-approaching/#sthash.kOYMkDRy.dpuf

EHL Loses tough one to Little Flyers

The Rangers came into the game with the Little Flyers looking to avenge an early season loss 4-0.  The First half was an up and down game with both teams getting multiple scoring chance. again the Rangers played a very strong defensive game.  While the Little flyers posted 15 shots in the half, most of them came from the outside, where Burack steered them aside.

The second period the Rangers were able to get the offensive game going.  For the first 10 minutes of the period it was all the Rangers.  At the 7 Minute mark it was the line of Theodoulou, Boozer and Otten that put the Rangers on the board with continuos pressure. It was Theodoulou that scored off some nice puck movement by the trio.

The rangers continued to control the game until the 13 minute mark off the period.  With the Flyers coming in on a 2 on 2.  With the flyers forward crashing into Burack, and no call on the play, the flyers were able to slip the puck by a sprawling Burack for the goal.

The Flyers went up on top on the power play goal at the 16 minute mark, off a questionable call to put them on the power play.  The Rangers pressured the rest of the game, but were unable to put one by the flyers goalie.

EHL Looks to Avenge Early season loss

The Jr Rangers look to avenge an early season 7-3 loss to the NH Monarchs.  The Rangers have been playing much better since that loss, and they came out looking to prove it.  However it was the Monarchs who jumped out to early lead.  Th score was 2-0 and looked the Rangers were going to take another one on the chin.

The Rangers game out in the 2nd period and finally got their game going against the Monarchs. The Rangers scored on the power play half way through the period.  Alan Boozer banged home loss pouch caused form a shot from Andrew Standish. The rangers went into the 3rd period down 2-1, but felt good about themselves.

The Rangers came out in the 3rd looking to prove they could make it game.  That is what they did.  Andrew Standish scored off a pass from Garret Otten.  Two minutes later on the power play alan boxer scored off a rebound shot from Tyler Theodoulou to make it 3-2.  The Rangers thought they had this on in the books.  It was not to be, Th monarchs scored with a minute to go to force overtime. The Rangers were able to get a point out of the game, but the monarchs scored in the extra frame. To win 4-3 in overtime.  Tyler Fay had a 50 save night.

EHL Team ties New York Bobcats

The Boston Junior Rangers came back on Saturday night to face another New York team the NY Bobcats.  The Rangers came in looking to get above 500 for first time this season.

The Rangers came out strong with a Mason Nichols scoring off a pass from Chris Hinrichs 3 minutes into the game.  The Rangers held a 1-0 lead for ten minutes than the Bobcats scored while on the Power play.  Th first ended 1-1.

The Rangers came out in the second flying.  They went back up 2-1 with power play goal form Blake Waldersen.  The New york Bobcats tied the game 7 minutes later.  The second period ended 2-2.

The 3rd period and overtime were uneventful.  Both teams exchanged opportunities.  The holies form both teams stole the show and the game ended 2-2.  Matt Beliveau had another 35 save night, and still has not lost this season.

Jr Rangers EHL win over Applecore

The Boston Junior Rangers EHL came into the game against the New York Aplecore looking to get back to 500 in the standings.  The team started out the season with and 0-4 record.

The Junior Rangers got going early in the game with a goal from Tyler Theodoulou off a nice pass from Andrew Standish.  The rangers finished the first period with 1-0 lead.

The Rangers came out in the second period looking to extend the lead.  It took the rangers only 5 minutes to get back on the board.  Garret Otten scored off a rebound off a Michael Bears shot.  TEh apple core scored 3 minutes later to make it a 2-1 game.  It was the play off goalie Matt Beliveau that kept the game 2-1 going into the 3rd.

The Applecore came out in the 3rd looking to even the game.  They did that 9 minutes in to the period.  The game was tied with under 2 minutes to go in the game when Greg Stoya sniped a shot over the Applecore goalies glove to make it 3-2.  Then with 20 seconds to go off great individual effort from Garret Otten who ended the game with an empty net goal.  Matt Beliveau was solid in net with a 39 save night.

The Boston Junior Rangers EHL Drops Game to Revolution

The EHL team travel to Philly to play the Philadelphia Revolution on Saturday night. The Junior Rangers started off slow.  And were being outshout to start the game by a 2-1 margin.  The Revolution struck 5 minute into the game with a goal on the power play.  After the goal the Rangers finally got their legs going, and finally getting on the board with a goal from Tyler Theodoulou to make it 1-1.  Theodoulou struck again with about a minute to go in the period so the Rangers could take a 2-1 lead in  to the locker room to end the 1st period.

The second period saw the Rangers having to kill multiple penalties including multiple 5 on 3s.  The penalties in the period allowed the revolution stay close. The Revolution struck with 3 minute s to go in the second to ti the game at 2-2.

The third period started off were the 2nd period ended.  The parade to the penalty box started early and often with the Junior Rangers having to kill penalties in the first 8 minutes.  However, it was the Rangers who struck first with Drew Dawson picking up a loose puck near the boards and firing a puck through the 5 hole to make it 3-2.  The lead did not last long with the penalties finally catching up to Rangers.  The Revolution scored on the powerplay to make it 3-3 and then again 3 minutes later to take the lead for good.

Jr Rangers EHL Start the Season with a 3-2 Loss

The Boston Jr Rangers EHL team start off the season with a Sunday Matinee with the Connecticut Wolfpack at home in Tewksbury.  It was not the game that the team was expecting to have.

The Jr Rangers started the game off with a tough first period giving up 22 shots to the Wolf Pack.  The Jr Rangers did start the scoring the firsts goal with a beautiful rush up the left side by Drew Dawson. He blew around the defense of CT and scored walking in alone.  The rest of the period was not as good for the Jr Rangers. They took 6 minutes in penalties.  The Wolfpack scored on the first one with a shot from the point and then scoring on the rebound.

Then a few minutes later the Wolfpack scored on centering pass from the corner that was scored on the back door.

The Jr Rangers tied the game in the third off a shorthanded goal from Michael Beers.  Beers put pressure on the defense of the Wolfpack that turned it over to Beers, and he raced in on a breakaway putting the puck under the cross bar.

The game did not remain tied for long as the Wolfpack scored on a rush were the Jr rangers defense lost track of a Wolfpack forward going to the net scoring a n empty net goal.

"We need to do a better job in front of our goal," said coach Mario Martiniello, "all three goals were scored in the slot area."

The Junior Rangers look to get in the win column on Wednesday when they host the Cyclones at 1pm at Breakaway

A conduit to the college game

Boston Junior Rangers provide straight shot to hockey hotbed
By Joshua Boyd, courtesy of USAJUNIORHOCKEY.com

Just about a mile from the Boston Junior Rangers’ home office in Tewksbury, Mass., lies the on-ramp to Interstate 93. That highway extends another 22 miles into downtown Boston. An Original Six city, it is one of the hockey hotbeds of America.

That, and its general vicinity includes most of the Hockey East Association Division 1 schools, as well as Harvard University, Bentley University and a wide array of Division 3 colleges offering men’s hockey.

So, when the Junior Rangers offer a “Road to College Hockey,” they essentially mean a left, a right and you’re there.

The Junior Rangers’ teams in the new Eastern Hockey League (EHL) and the Metropolitan Junior Hockey League (or MET) represent the top of a long hockey development ladder that starts with Mites. The youth organization has been around since 2007. After just one year as a junior organization, however, the Junior Rangers already sent 12 players to the college game, including two to Division 1 – Sam Bernard (Sacred Heart) and Chris Paulin (Niagara).

“We’re proud of what we have here. There’s a lot of work involved, a lot more that goes on behind the scenes than people may see when they see you on the bench or at practice,” said Mario Martiniello, general manager, head coach of the Jr. Rangers’ EHL team and part owner of the organization.

“I like working with the players at this level. They really try to push their careers forward,” said Martiniello, a former coach of the Valley Jr. Warriors and long- time area high school coach. “Most kids playing junior hockey strive to play at the collegiate level.”

Logan Brown committed to the State University of New York at Potsdam and he can’t imagine how he could have gotten there without the Rangers’ help.

“They did a lot. They called and put in a good word for me, they pushed pretty hard,” said Brown. “Mario was on the phone with [Potsdam coach Chris Bernard] and made it all go through really easily.”

“A lot of the college coaches are guys who have been around a long time,” said Martiniello. “I’ve had a relationship with many of them in the past, so I was not too surprised at how we did with our placements.” Kevin Airoldi committed to Babson to play lacrosse, but wanted to get back to hockey. He played a season for the Junior Rangers and is now committed to Stonehill for hockey.

Reentering the junior hockey world, Martiniello was able to see firsthand the benefits – young men furthering their knowledge of the game and taking that knowledge to the next, higher level – and the challenges.

“Entering Year 2 here, the biggest thing being involved with junior hockey has taught me is player management,” said Martiniello. “Back in the mid-to late-‘90s, when I was with the Jr. Warriors, you didn’t have all the social media stuff. A lot of it now is teaching kids how to present themselves to colleges and keep their noses clean.”

“You need to make them understand that something that’s a joke on Twitter or Facebook might get out there and negatively affect them in the eyes of a college coach,” said Martiniello. “On-ice, the game hasn’t really changed that much, so what is new for me is managing players off the ice.”

That said, it generally went smooth in Year 1 for the Rangers, which also happened to be the final season of the Atlantic Junior Hockey League. The Rangers finished fifth overall in the AJHL at 22-11-9-2, but were eliminated in two straight games by the eventual champion Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights to close their season.

“I think we had a very good season for our first year. We were able to surprise some people who may have thought we’d struggle out of the gate,” said Martiniello.

“Thanks to the help of coaches Chris Hills and Rich DeCaprio, we were able to put a competitive product on the ice. After looking at things we need to address, we struggled in the goal-scoring department, but we did very well in net and defensively.” In the MET, the Rangers won the Fracis Division in their inaugural season, going 32-10-0-3 and reaching all the way into the Keegan Cup Final. There, they fell to the New Jersey Rockets, but sent a message that the Rangers are here to stay and a force to be reckoned with.

Setting up the Ranger station

The Junior Rangers’ history runs intermingled with their top-of-the-line facility in Tewksbury, Breakaway Ice Center.

The Rangers were founded in 2007 while Breakaway was still under construction, mainly icing summer tournament teams right off the bat. Martiniello’s Superskills Hockey, a skill development company, built the first ink in 2004. In 2008, with the construction of the second sheet, the Rangers brought Martiniello aboard as a partner, in addition to his hockey operations duties. Martiniello maintains Superskills Hockey company as a separate entity from the Junior Rangers.

Once the two sheets at Breakaway were installed and up and running, the Rangers put together a full slate of youth hockey teams.

“At the youth level, we still run Mite through Midget, totaling 18 boys teams. We also have a girls program running from U10 through U19,” said Martiniello. “The next real step that we didn’t have to round out our program was a junior program.”

During the 2011-12 season, the Boston Junior Bulldogs were as much of a force as ever in the AJHL. However, longtime Bulldogs owner/general manager/head coach Mike Addesa was open to the idea of selling his junior empire. “There was a point at which we had talked with [Addesa] about the possibility of obtaining or starting up a junior program,” said Martiniello. “After a time, he was up for the idea and we started talking again and we went from there to negotiating a sale, purchasing the team from Mike last spring [of 2012].”

Now that they had the junior team, the Junior Rangers needed to bring players in.

The facility they call home was a big help in recruiting. Along with two NHL regulation size rinks and two locker rooms for the exclusive use of each of the junior teams on the premises, Breakaway Ice Center also includes a 7,000-square foot workout facility, Xcelerated Performance. XP prides itself on being the first gym in the Boston area with a skating treadmill, where players can work on their stride in place.

“A lot of teams have a weight training facility in their rink, but not a lot of teams have what we have. Pat Gigante owns and operates XP and he gives us a home right outside of our locker room,” said Martiniello. “The junior kids are constantly in there warming up before games. Pat sets them up with a routine. It’s another way for players to bond off the ice and out of the locker room.

“There’s really nothing we can’t cover in XP. There’s a shooting area on synthetic ice, a mini-track if kids want to do sprints and a basketball net for kids to loosen up,” said Martiniello.

“[Gigante] is always willing to help us out. I didn’t even have to go to a physical therapist for a shoulder problem because he knew what he was doing with it,” added Greg Stoya, the leading scorer for last year’s MET Rangers. He will likely move up to the EHL after a 56-point season last year. “Breakaway always has the ice for us. Rangers players have as much time as wewant,” Stoya said. “Last year, you [could pick out] the players who took advantage of that and those who didn’t. They make it easy for everyone who wants it, and hopefully, this year, everyone wants it.”

“It’s a great rink with good amenities to help you fulfill your goals,” added Tyler Theodoulou, a returning player for Martiniello’s top team and the incoming captain for 2013-14.

Guidance to the top

The Rangers work, work and work again on their game from August through March (not including the many summer tournaments they take part in).

“During the season, we run two days a week off-ice – Tuesdays and Thursdays – and we have practices on ice Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday,” said Martiniello.

“If we have film work to do, we do that on Wednesday after practice. Friday is a light skate if we don’t have a game. “We have two hours of ice a day, and we’ll judge whether we’ll use it all or not, so if we only practice for an hour, that extra hour is open to players to work on their own individual skills,” he added.

The Rangers’ plan during the season certainly helped Theodoulou to pick up his game quite a bit.

“I played for the Bulldogs and Coach Addesa told me the Rangers would be a good place to play high-level junior hockey,” Theodoulou said. “Mario is a coach that is hard on you, but he’s looking to push you to continue to get better.

“One of the things I learned was that I was a good skater, but I never used it as fully as I could,” he added. “Coach [Martiniello] taught me how to drive the net and really use my feet. I went from third line at the start of the year to the first line and scoring more points by the end.”

“He’s ready to fill that [captaincy] role for us,” said Martiniello, of Theodoulou.

“He got to this point by working hard. Talent and skill are great, but if you don’t work hard, talent and skill can lose out. Tyler has both, and I couldn’t ask for a better kid to lead our team.”

Along with his experience coaching the Valley Jr. Warriors, Martiniello had years of experience teaching power skating through Superskills, and he also led high schools to state and regional championships in New Hampshire (Salem) and Massachusetts (Andover), respectively. He has worked as a scout in pro hockey and is a USA Hockey-certified Master Level Coach.

“Coach was able to sit down with me and point out the parts of my game I was able to improve upon to be a better team guy,” said Brown. Chris Hills, the EHL and MET assistant, has been an assistant coach at several different levels – from college hockey (Manhattanville, Framingham State) to high school (Acton-Boxborough, Mass.) to girls youth hockey (Assabet Valley, a regular national champion). DeCaprio, a high school star with Chelmsford (Mass.) High School and a Division 1 player for Niagara University, was the head coach of the Bulldogs’ M ET League team before the sale.

“When the sale took place, Rich and I met and I had a good feeling and that really turned into a good relationship,” said Martiniello. “Last year, Rich took our M ET League team to the finals and was one win away from the Nationals.”

“When the Bulldogs traded over to the Rangers, Coach DeCaprio remained so I felt comfortable,” said Stoya. “I had a bad leg break and the Rangers knew about that and were willing to take me to see how I would do with my skating. I came back and had a good year with the MET team.”

“He scored close to 40 goals with the MET team last year,” said Martiniello, of Stoya. “He’s really matured as a player and understood what it takes to play at the next level. I’m expecting a great season. His knock last year was his skating and that has improved dramatically, so I’m excited.”

There’s a lot to be excited about. There are 18 teams in the new EHL (and 27 in the expanded MET), so that means a lot of teams for a player to test himself against.

“I’m excited about it,” Stoya said. “It’ll be a lot more good competition in my final year.”

- See more at: http://www.usajuniorhockey.com/2013/08/a-conduit-to-the-college-game/#sthash.esmYmnVd.dpuf

EHL Partners With Educate Athletes For Full Suite Of Educational

BOSTON, Mass. – Continuing its groundbreaking progress in USA Hockey’s Tier III Junior classification, the Eastern Hockey League (EHL) is the first USA Hockey-sanctioned league to formally partner with a professional educational system to help guide student-athletes and parents in their journey toward college hockey.

The EHL and Educate Athletes have come together to ensure that any parent or player looking at a Junior hockey situation can be assured that all 18 Eastern Hockey League teams have professional guidance and educational options, in addition to information on NCAA eligibility.

Educate Athletes is an online education provider built on a leadership network of elite athletes and professionals dedicated to promoting innovative learning for critical thinking students.

Educate Athletes is operated by Sean O’Brien, who is a former NCAA Division I student-athlete who played nine years of professional hockey after graduating from Princeton University.  O’Brien’s experience as a former Ivy League student and hockey player, in addition to his professional expertise on the NCAA eligibility process, makes him a valuable resource for EHL student-athletes.

“In its first season as a newly formed League, the EHL has made a strong statement about the importance of education in junior hockey by providing additional academic resources with Educate Athletes,” said O’Brien.  “The League’s dedication to the program demonstrates important leadership by improving academic standards for all of its members.  We’re looking forward to collaborating with all of the coaches in the EHL to help find the best NCAA approved academic plan for every individual player.”

“The junior hockey experience is not just about hockey,” said EHL Director of Hockey Operations, Mark Kumpel.  “The EHL prides itself on offering a complete, comprehensive life experience to its athletes.  Our alliance with Educate Athletes gives our programs unmatched expertise helping student-athletes gain admission to colleges where they can excel in both hockey and academics.  The college admissions environment is constantly shifting and can be difficult to understand completely. Our familiarity with programs at every level is a significant advantage for the young men we work with.”

Announcing The Eastern Hockey League

BOSTON, Mass. – The new top junior league on the east coast is the Eastern Hockey League (EHL), which is comprised of 18 top-level organizations dedicated to the goal of college advancement. EHL teams are fully committing to the USAH Hockey Junior Model and all EHL organizations have a rich history of producing tomorrow’s NCAA and NHL stars. 

The EHL operating standards will mirror many USA Hockey Tier II standards and will guarantee that each player is given the best opportunity to receive maximum exposure to NCAA and NHL scouts. The strategic location of each organization will allow the EHL teams to keep player tuition down, minimize travel and allow scouts to attend regular season games in addition to the league showcase games. 

Former NHLer and U.S. Olympian Mark Kumpel, who spent the past five years coaching and managing a successful Junior hockey team, will serve as the EHL’s Director of Hockey Operations. “This group of coaches and owners are the best in Junior hockey,” said Kumpel. “The coaching staff of the EHL rivals that of any junior league in the country.” Current EHL head coaches include former college and professional players (see team web sites for individual bios). 

For players and parents looking for clarity and solid information about the Junior hockey experience, these 18 East Coast organizations are excited to form the EHL with the intention of producing college-bound hockey players and providing high standards of operation to assure a quality player environment. Simply put – a better league with higher standards and a player-focused environment. 

The EHL has implemented league-wide standards including player contracts that mandate numerous player experience criteria at no extra cost above the player tuition. Additionally, EHL member organizations have created a league-wide ed

ucation service that will help players and parents find quality ways to continue their education, as well as helping them navigate their way through the process of becoming a NCAA varsity student-athlete. 

The 18 EHL organizations combined for more than 120 NCAA commitments during the 2012-13 season and have a proven track record of preparing young hockey players for college hockey and beyond. All of the EHL member organizations are dedicated to increasing the number of college commitments each year as the league strives to achieve its stated purpose to advancing players to their ultimate goal of higher level hockey. 

The EHL aims to improve the college advancement process by fully committing to the USA Hockey Junior model as originally outlined by USA Hockey. The EHL will utilize the USA Hockey Junior Rulebook in its entirety, including equipment rules and playing rules. The USA Hockey Annual Guide states that the goals of Junior hockey are skill development, quality coaching, social maturity, educational advancement, recruiting exposure, advanced competition and the protection of amateur status. By following the national governing body’s plan the EHL will be bringing some clarity to the Junior hockey landscape by executing USAH’s methods of operating college developmental programs

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