The Rockets Hockey Club, are a Tier II junior ice hockey team from Bridgewater, New Jersey. The Rockets play their home games at the Bridgewater Sports Arena.
| Rockets Hockey Club | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City | Bridgewater, New Jersey |
| League | United States Premier Hockey League National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC) |
| Conference | Atlantic |
| Founded | 2004 |
| Home arena | Bridgewater Sports Arena |
| Colors | Red, black and silver |
| Owner | Rockets Sports Group |
| Affiliates | Rockets Hockey Club (Tier III) |
| Franchise history | |
| 2017–2019 | New Jersey Rockets |
| 2019–present | Rockets Hockey Club |
History
editThe New Jersey Rockets youth hockey organization was formed in 1970 to serve as a local developmental program. The club later reached an arrangement with the New Jersey Devils of the NHL for the use of the Meadowlands Arena and later the Prudential Center.[1] In the early part of the 21st century, the Rockets expanded their footprint with the addition of a junior franchises to both the Metropolitan Junior Hockey League and the Atlantic Junior Hockey League (AJHL).[2] This team was a founding member of the AJHL was it was organized in 2004. When the AJHL merged with the Eastern Junior Hockey League in 2013, the Rockets then became founding members of the successor league, the Eastern Hockey League. In 2016, the MJHL franchise withdrew and joined the EHL's Elite (lower) division. One year later, New Jersey left the EHL and joined the rival United States Premier Hockey League with their upper club joining the National Collegiate Development Conference (Tier II) and the lower club becoming members of the Premier Division (Tier III). That same year, a third franchise was created and joined the USPHL's Elite Division. The entire organization rebranded as the Rockets Hockey Club in 2019.
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 | OTL | SOL | Pts | GF | GA | Regular season finish | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Won Div. Semifinal series, 2–0 (P.A.L. Jr. Islanders) Won Semifinal, 10–2 (Boston Junior Bruins) Lost Championship, 2–5 (Jersey Hitmen) |
| 2021–22 | 49 | 29 | 14 | 6 | — | 64 | 185 | 156 | 2nd of 6, South 2nd of 13, NCDC | Won Div. Semifinal series, 2–0 (Philadelphia Hockey Club) Lost Div. Finals series, 1–2 (Jersey Hitmen) |
| 2022–23 | 50 | 26 | 19 | 3 | 2 | 57 | 196 | 187 | 3rd of 7, South 7th of 13, NCDC | Lost Div. Semifinal series, 0–2 (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 series, 1–2 (Mercer Chiefs) |
| 2024–25 | 54 | 26 | 23 | 4 | 1 | 57 | 162 | 161 | 4th of 7, Atlantic 12th of 22, NCDC | Won Play in Series, 2–0 (West Chester Wolves) Lost Div. Semifinal series, 0–3 (P.A.L. Jr. Islanders) |
| 2025–26 | 54 | 39 | 22 | 3 | 0 | 67 | 162 | 126 | 3rd of 7, Atlantic 13th of 33, NCDC | Lost Div. Semifinal series, 1–3 (Jersey Hitmen) |
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]
Former logos
edit
former logo
References
edit- ↑ "Leagues of Their Own: New Jersey Rockets - over the Boards". Archived from the original on April 28, 2016. Retrieved September 3, 2015.
- ↑ "EHL History". EHL. Archived from the original on August 8, 2015. Retrieved September 3, 2015.
- ↑ "Home".
- ↑ "Alumni". Archived from the original on February 19, 2006. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
- ↑ "New York Rangers Spotlight: Bobby Sanguinetti takes your questions". June 4, 2009.