The Junior Hockey Podcast

On this week's episode of the #EShow, we wrap-up the Central Division with an 'EHL Original 6' franchise, the Connecticut RoughRiders. Jake Basile chats with both Eric Lind and Steven Brown, as they gear up for their 11th season in the league. No other pair of coaches have worked side-by-side for the same organization for all 11 seasons since the league was formed back in 2013. Lind and Brown have worked to develop their own model of consistency over the years, averaging just over nine commitments per season. Throughout this week's episode, the duo discusses the culture they've built over the past decade, and what's allowed them to sustain their success, year after year. Twitter – @EHL_Hockey Facebook – Eastern Hockey League Instagram – @easternhockeyleague

On this week's episode of the #EShow, we wrap-up the North Division with the Seacoast Spartans. Jake Basile chats with Brett Tryder, looking back on the best season in franchise history for Seacoast. Tryder reflects on what made last year's group so successful, and talks about what it's like trying to replace both the league MVP and the league's leading scorer. In the ever-difficult North Division, Tryder hopes that his 2023-24 team can ride the momentum created by the Spartans from this past season. Twitter – @EHL_Hockey Facebook – Eastern Hockey League Instagram – @easternhockeyleague

On this week's episode of the #EShow, we highlight the fourth and final new EHL team for the upcoming 2023-24 season, the Boston Jr. Terriers. Jake Basile chats with Cody Gonyeau, as he prepares his organization for their inaugural season of junior hockey. Jumping into the East Division, Gonyeau knows the challenging opponents his team will face right from the get go. However, the Terriers bench boss has been working heavily on the recruiting trails ever since the team was announced this past winter, and he's feeling anxious but also confident as we get closer to the first puck drop of the year. Twitter – @EHL_Hockey Facebook – Eastern Hockey League Instagram – @easternhockeyleague

On this week's episode of the #EShow, we feature the newest team in the Central Division, the Providence Hockey Club. Jake Basile chats with Jeff Perreault as he gears up to lead Providence through their inaugural season in the junior ranks. After spending the 2022-23 season with the Philadelphia Hockey Club, and previous years in the USPHL, Perreault brings a wealth of junior hockey experience to the league's newest program. Jumping into the Central Division, Perreault knows the favorite at the top, and hopes his team can be the first to knock off the Railers Jr. Hockey Club up in Worcester.

On this week's episode of the #EShow, we feature one of the newest members of the EHL, the Pennsylvania Huntsmen. Jake Basile chats with Matt Reid, as the Huntsmen gear up for their first season at the Junior A level. Pennsylvania's introduction to junior hockey came at the EHLP level this past season, as they advanced all the way to the Mid-Atlantic Division finals against the New Jersey 87's. It was a great inaugural campaign for the Huntsmen, and a great first taste of what junior hockey is all about. Now, looking forward to the addition of Reid, the Huntsmen are eager to get the 2023-24 season started, and see how far their program can continue to grow.

On this week's episode of the #EShow, we head North to Laconia, New Hampshire, and highlight the New England Wolves. Jake Basile chats with Tim Kunes, as the former National Champion at Boston College, prepares for another season at the helm in arguably the toughest division in the league. Working alongside Wolves' General Manager and EHLP Head Coach, Andrew Trimble, Kunes has helped the Wolves take a major step forward each and every season since the duo purchased the program back in 2018. Now, looking ahead to the upcoming 2023-24 campaign, the Wolves' sights are set on Providence, Rhode Island, as both Trimble and Kunes are hungry to make it back to the Frozen Finals.

On this week's episode of the #EShow, we head back to the East Division, and highlight the Seahawks Hockey Club. Heading into the program's 7th season in the league, Bill Zaniboni sits down with Jake Basile to discuss what his organization has established in a little over half a decade. Looking back on this past year in particular, and outside of the 21 victories their EHL team racked up, it was another consistent year in terms of NCAA Commitments for the Seahawks. With 10 additional advancements, Zaniboni has helped 66 players make their NCAA Commitment to date, and history tells us that total will likely increase up to at least 75 during the upcoming 2023-24 season.

On this week's episode of the #EShow, we welcome back the Bridgewater Bandits to the EHL and EHLP. Jake Basile chats with Scott Drevitch, as the Bandits make their return to the league, after departing following the conclusion of the 2016-17 season. Drevitch highlights the feelings Bridgewater has towards returning to the EHL and EHLP, and discusses how anxious they are to get started. Having established a strong culture over the years, Drevitch is happy to have his program back in the spot where they first created their original identity. Opening day for the Bandits' EHL team is set for September 21st on the road against the Express, while the EHLP team will host the Lumberjacks for a pair of games on the 15th and 16th.

On this week's episode of the #EShow, we feature a program that is racking up their total number of appearances at the Frozen Finals, the Railers Jr. Hockey Club. Jake Basile chats with Sean Bertoni, as the Head Coach and GM looks back on last season, but also ahead with his sights set on redemption this upcoming year. Both teams, EHL and EHLP, made their 2nd Frozen Finals appearances this past March, and the sting of how each season ended, has given Bertoni, his staff, and the rest of the Railers extra motivation this off-season. Tack on last year's 11 NCAA Commitments, and on top of the success in the win column, Bertoni and the Railers have already helped 35 players advance to the next level, in just four seasons in the league. The Railers have developed their own model, and they're chugging along.

On this week's episode of the #EShow, we feature the first of two new programs in the South Division, the New Jersey Bears. Located in Flemington, NJ, the Bears have purchased and relocated the Protec Jr. Ducks franchise this off-season. Jake Basile chats with Jason Kilcoyne, as the former Assistant Coach of the 2016-17 EHL Champions, the Philadelphia Jr. Flyers, discusses his return to the league, as the man at the helm for the Bears. Kilcoyne is hopeful that New Jersey can pick up where Protec left off, which ended by finishing in 1st place in the South Division at the end of this past regular season.

On this week's episode of the #EShow, we shift our way back to the East Division, and highlight the Express Hockey Club. Jake Basile chats with Nic Cota, as the former defenseman for the Express looks back on his first season as the Head Coach down in Walpole. While the 2022-23 campaign unfortunately ended for Cota's team in triple overtime of game #3 in the East Division Final, he's still beyond proud of what his group accomplished along the way. With 10 players departing for nine different schools this fall, Cotra puts extra stock in that success from this past season, as ultimately reaching the NCAA level is the goal of every junior hockey player.

On this week's episode of the #EShow, we feature the only EHL program that has appeared in all five editions of the Frozen Finals, the New Hampshire Avalanche. Jake Basile chats with Chris Cerrella, as the Head Coach and General Manager of the Avs reflects on another record-setting season for his program. While Cerrella has helped over 160 players make that NCAA Commitment while playing in the EHL, that impressive total includes over 100 players since he helped launch the Avalanche program, a milestone marker that he surpassed this past season as part of the 16 new players that have chosen their next step. Simply put, the Avalanche sit towards the top of teams in all of junior hockey, averaging over 17 per season.

On this week's episode of the #EShow, we work our way back to the Central Division, and highlight the Hockey Club of Rhode Island. Jake Basile chats with James Mello, as HCRI turns the page towards their second season in the EHL. The inaugural campaign for the league's first-ever franchise in Rhode Island went as well as they could have hoped for, as the team finished in 2nd place in their division. Now as the program looks ahead towards this upcoming season, Mello is proud to have the foundation established for their franchise. The challenge coming up however, will be to take another step forward, as they hit the recruiting roads harder than ever this off-season.

On this week's episode of the #EShow, we head back south and feature the Philadelphia Little Flyers. Jake Basile chats with Mark Catron, following another solid season in the league, highlighted by the EHL team's second consecutive appearance at the Frozen Finals. At the top level, Philadelphia has reached the finals in four of the five years of the event, while their EHLP team has made two appearances of their own. You can label Philadelphia as 'Frequent Flyers' of the annual Road to Providence. Catron reflects on this past season, as well as the excitement he has over the core group of players that are returning to the program this upcoming year.

On this week's episode of the #EShow, we shift back to the East Division and highlight the East Coast Wizards. Jake Basile chats with Kory Falite ahead of his 8th season with the program, and his 4th year as the Head Coach. Falite reflects on what was another solid season this past year, including helping advance nine players onto NCAA Division II and III schools for the third straight campaign. The Wizards are proud of the consistency they've established, while continuing to develop their players for the next level. An icing on the cake this upcoming year for Falite, would be for the Wizards to find their way out of their tough division and advance back to Providence for the first time since 2019.

On this week's episode of the #EShow, we highlight the program with the longest history in junior hockey, the New York Apple Core. Jake Basile connects with Lenny Caglianone following his first season coaching in the EHL. Caglianone is a former player in the league, as he served as a captain on the blue line for the New Jersey Rockets back in the inaugural season of the EHL. The native of New Jersey is proud that his career in the sport brought him back to the league, as he now looks to build off of what his team accomplished in his first campaign as a coach. With the addition of the Providence Hockey Club to the Central Division, Caglianone knows the battle to make it to the Frozen Finals is only getting tougher.

TJHP EP210 – In this week’s episode of The Junior Hockey Podcast, co-hosts Isaac and Rod break it all down. They start by discussing Isaac going to Seattle for the playoffs along with USHL Playoffs, Travel and the Draft. They also discuss the NAHL playoffs along with there team of the week. Another great episode with great topics, so make sure you keep sending in any questions that you would like to be discussed on the podcast and as always, thank you for listening! Follow on Twitter: TJHP – @JRHockeyPodcast Isaac – @isaac_smoldon Rod – @lytpracing We hope that you guys enjoy this episode. We will continue to improve in all aspects, so if you guys have any questions, comments, or concerns feel free to DM us on twitter @JRHockeyPodcast or Email us: thejuniorhockeypodcast@gmail.com.

On this week's episode of the #EShow, we head back to the South Division and feature Team Maryland. Heading into their 6th season in the EHL, Team Maryland was one game away from reaching the Frozen Finals for the first time in franchise history this past March. Jake Basile chats with Josh Fusco about the 2022-23 season, and the run his team went on down the stretch. Backed by one of the best goaltending duos in the league, this past season can be labeled as the best year to date for the program, albeit while battling it out in arguably the toughest division in the league. Fusco reflects on how proud he is of his players, and how the South won't be getting any easier anytime soon.

On this week's episode of the #EShow we feature an 'Original 6' franchise in the Valley Jr. Warriors. Jake Basile chats with Ryan McGrath as he prepares his EHL team for their move up to the North Division. McGrath and Sean Collins, the new Head Coach for the Warriors' EHLP team, are busy preparing for the upcoming 2023-24 season, with a strong number of returning players coming back to the program for another year of development. This fall will mark the start of McGrath's 5th season in Haverhill, coming off of a year that saw his captain commit to Endicott College, an NCAA Division III program that just advanced all the way to the Frozen Four this past March.

On this week's episode of the #EShow we work our way north and feature the Vermont Lumberjacks. Jake Basile chats with Seth Gustin ahead of his third season with the program and second year at the helm of the EHL team. The Lumberjacks are coming off another solid season at both levels, having advanced some of their players onto top programs in NCAA Division III hockey. Looking ahead to the 2023-24 campaign, Gustin is hoping Vermont can duplicate what they did back in the 2020-21 season and bring both teams all the way to the Frozen Finals.