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).
History The franchise was a charter member of the Eastern Junior Hockey League (EJHL) in 1993. For the first two seasons, they were known as the Granite State Stars located in Dover, New Hampshire, then they moved to Biddeford, Maine and were known as the Great Northern Snow Devils. In 1999 they moved to Exeter, New Hampshire, and were known as the Exeter Snow Devils, before moving to Hooksett in 2001 and becoming the Junior Monarchs.
In 2013, Tier III junior hockey leagues underwent a large reorganization, which included the Monarchs joining the Atlantic Junior Hockey League (AtJHL). The Atlantic Junior Hockey League then re-branded itself as the Eastern Hockey League (EHL).
In December 2016, it was announced that the Monarchs were leaving the EHL for the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL) beginning in the 2017–18 season and transferring their teams to the corresponding Premier, Elite, U18, and U16 divisions. The Jr. Monarchs then added a tuition-free team in the National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC) of the USPHL beginning in 2018.
In 2023, a group of local investors purchased the Tri-Town Ice Arena and founded a new hockey organization based in the arena called the New Hampshire Mountain Kings, which displaced the Jr. Monarchs. The new organization joined the Tier II North American Hockey League and Tier III North American 3 Hockey League.
Monarchs subsequently ceased operations.
Coach Sean Tremblay was the general manager and head coach of the New Hampshire Junior Monarchs from 2001 to 2012.New England Hockey Journal article "Juniors Report April 1" dtd 1 April 2004 He was named EJHL's Coach of the Year in 1997, 2002, and 2006, as well as Junior Coach of the Year by Hockey Night in Boston in 2002, 2004, and 2006. In August 2006, he assisted the USA Under-17 Select Team to a gold medal in the Three Nations Tournament.Hockey's Future Article "2006 Under-17 Three Nations Tournament" In 2012, he left to become the head coach of the Islanders Hockey Club.
Tremblay was then replaced by Ryan Frew, head coach of the Monarchs' Junior B team in the Empire Junior Hockey League. Frew eventually led the team into the Eastern Hockey League and won a league championship in 2016. He was named NCDC Coach of the Year in 2019.
Frew died from peritonitis on October 5, 2020.
Season-by-season records Season GP W L T OTL Pts GF GA Regular season finish PlayoffsGranite State Stars 1993–94 No information 1994–95 No informationGreat Northern Snow Devils 1995–96 No information 1996–97 No information 1997–98 37 22 14 1 — 45 168 136 3rd of 8, EJHL No information 1998–99 37 18 16 3 — 39 151 127 4th of 8, EJHL No informationExeter Snow Devils 1999–00 40 25 9 6 — 56 194 136 2nd of 11, EJHL No information 2000–01 No information5th EJHLLost Quarterfinal game, 4–5 vs. New England Jr. CoyotesNew Hampshire Junior Monarchs 2001–02 38 35 2 1 0 71 214 70 1st of 6, North1st of 12, EJHL Won Quarterfinal game, 8–1 vs. Capital District SelectsWon Semifinal game, 4-1 vs. Walpole StarsWon Championship game, 2–1 vs. New York Apple CoreLeague champions 2002–03 38 25 7 6 0 57 179 101 2nd of 6, North4th of 12, EJHL Lost Quarterfinals, 1–2 vs. New England Jr. Coyotes 2003–04 38 31 4 2 1 65 197 89 2nd of 6, North 2nd of 12, EJHL Won Quarterfinals vs. New York Apple CoreWon Semifinal game, 6–5 vs. Capital District Selects Won Championship game, 6–3 vs. Boston Jr. BruinsLeague champions 2004–05 52 36 9 5 2 79 217 139 2nd of 6, North2nd of 13, EJHL Won Quarterfinals, 2–0 vs. Capital District SelectsWon Semifinal game, 7–3 vs. Valley Jr. WarriorsLost Championship game vs. Boston Junior Bruins 2005–06 45 38 4 3 0 79 227 107 1st of 7, North1st of 14, EJHL Won Quarterfinals, 2–0 vs. Bay State BreakersWon Semifinal game, 4–3 (OT) vs. Walpole StarsWon Championship game, 6–5 (OT) vs. Boston Junior BruinsLeague champions 2006–07 45 38 5 1 1 78 223 116 1st of 7, North1st of 14, EJHL Won Quarterfinals, 2–0 vs. Foxboro StarsWon Semifinals, 1–0–1 vs. New England Junior HuskiesWon Finals, 2–0 vs. Bay State BreakersLeague champions 2007–08 45 32 9 2 2 68 187 97 1st of 7, North1st of 14, EJHL Won Quarterfinals, 1–1 vs. Bay State BreakersWon Semifinals, 1–1 vs. Boston Jr. BruinsLost Finals, 0–2 vs. New Jersey Hitmen 2008–09 45 35 5 4 1 75 219 119 1st of 7, North1st of 14, EJHL Won Quarterfinals, 1–1 vs. South Shore KingsWon Semifinals, 2–0 vs. Bay State BreakersLost Finals, 1–2 vs. New Jersey Hitmen 2009–10 45 36 5 4 0 76 244 108 1st of 7, North1st of 14, EJHL Won Quarterfinals, 2–0 vs. New York Apple CoreWon Semifinals, 1–0 vs. Boston Junior BruinsWon Finals, 1–0 vs. South Shore KingsLeague champions 2010–11 45 38 4 2 1 79 233 96 1st of 7, North2nd of 14, EJHL Won Quarterfinals, 2–0 vs. Valley Jr. WarriorsWon Semifinals, 2–0 vs. Boston Junior BruinsWon Finals, 2–0 vs. New Jersey HitmenLeague champions 2011–12 45 30 14 — 1 61 194 117 2nd of 7, North3rd of 14, EJHL Won Quarterfinals, 2–0 vs. Bay State BreakersWon Semifinals, 2–1 vs. South Shore KingsWon Finals, 2–0 vs. New Jersey HitmenLeague champions 2012–13 45 23 20 — 2 48 141 158 5th of 7, North9th of 14, EJHL Won First Round vs. Springfield PicsLost Quarterfinals vs. New Jersey HitmenEastern Hockey League 2013–14 44 35 8 1 0 71 182 89 1st of 5, North2nd of 17, EHL Won First Round, 2–0 vs. New Jersey TitansWon Quarterfinals, 2–0 vs. Valley Jr. WarriorsWon Semifinals, 2–1 vs. Boston BanditsLost Finals, 2–3 vs. Northern Cyclones 2014–15 44 34 7 1 2 71 159 89 1st of 5, North2nd of 19, EHL Won First Round, 2–0 vs. New Jersey RocketsWon Quarterfinals, 2–1 vs. New York BobcatsLost Semifinals, 0–2 vs. Northern Cyclones 2015–16 41 28 7 — 6 62 179 109 2nd of 9, North Conf.3rd of 18, EHL-PremierWon First Round, 2–0 vs. Vermont LumberjacksWon Second Round, 2–1 vs. Northern CyclonesWon Semifinals, 2–0 vs. Connecticut OilersWon Finals, 3–0 vs. Philadelphia Little FlyersLeague champions 2016–17 48 33 11 — 4 70 171 114 1st of 4, New England Div.1st of 9, North Conf.3rd of 17, EHL-PremierWon First Round, 2–0 vs. Boston BanditsWon Quarterfinals, 2–0 vs. Northern CyclonesLost Semifinals, 0–2 vs. Philadelphia Junior FlyersUnited States Premier Hockey League 2017–18 44 35 8 — 1 71 218 100 1st of 9, North Div.4th of 44, USPHL-PremierWon First Round, 2–0 vs. Rochester MonarchsLost Quarterfinals, 1–2 vs. Northern Cyclones-Premier 2018–19 50 27 18 — 5 59 157 147 5th of 12, NCDC Lost Quarterfinals, 0–2 vs. Islanders Hockey Club 2019–20 50 24 20 — 6 54 154 144 9th of 13, NCDC Playoffs cancelled 2020–21 34 18 14 — 2 38 111 118 3rd of 7, North6th of 13, NCDC 0–2–0 in North Div. round-robin qualifier(L, 0–2 vs. Northern Cyclones; L, 2–3 vs. Twin City Thunder) 2021–22 48 29 14 — 5 63 142 132 1st of 7, North Div.3rd of 13, NCDC Won Div. Semifinal, 2–0 vs. South Shore KingsLost Div. Finals, 1–3 vs. Boston Junior Bruins 2022–23 50 25 17 — 8 58 140 139 4th of 7, North Div.6th of 14, NCDC Lost Div. Semifinal, 1–2 vs. South Shore Kings
USA Hockey Tier III Junior A National Championships Round robin play in pool with top 4 teams advancing to semi-final. Year Round Robin Record Standing Semifinal Championship Game 2007* ——— W, Northern Cyclones (AtJHL) 9-2 W, Bay State Breakers 5-1National champions 2008 W, El Paso Rhinos (WSHL) 11-4W, Dubuque Thunderbirds (CSHL) 3-2W, Minnesota Owls (MnJHL) 8-1 3-0-0 1st of 4Div. III W, Northern Cyclones (AtJHL) 9-4 W, Jersey Hitmen (EJHL) 5-2National champions 2009 W, El Paso Rhinos (WSHL) 7-2W, New York Bobcats (AtJHL) 6-2W, Helena Bighorns (NorPac) 6-3 3-0-0 1st of 4Div. I W, Granite City Lumberjacks (MnJHL) 4-2 W, Jersey Hitmen (EJHL) 3-2National champions 2010 W, Boulder Bison (WSHL) 10-0W, Dubuque Thunderbirds (CSHL) 3-2T, Helena Bighorns (NorPac) 3-3 2-0-1 1st of 4 Div. IL, St. Louis Jr. Blues (CSHL) 1-2 — 2011 The EJHL did not send representatives to this tournament 2012 OTW, Atlanta Junior Knights (EJHL South) 2-1W, Philadelphia Revolution (EJHL) 9-3W, Mass Maple Leafs (ESHL) 9-1 3-0-01st of 4American Div. IIW, Florida Jr. Blades (EmJHL) 6-1 W, Mass Maple Leafs (ESHL) 4-1National champions 2014** L, Boston Jr. Bruins (USPHL-Premier) 3-5W, Marquette Royales (MnJHL) 7-2W, Helena Bighorns (AWHL) 5-3 2-1-0 2nd of 4Red Pool Did not qualify 2016 Tier III Nationals not held in 2016 * - unverified scores ** - Monarchs win one game playoff with the Boston Junior Rangers (MetJHL) and named "HOST"
Notable alumni The Jr. Monarchs have produced a number of alumni playing in higher levels of junior hockey, NCAA Division I, Division III, and ACHA college programs including several National Hockey League draft picks. Greg Burke, 2006–2008: Washington Capitals, 2008, 6th round, 174th overall John Doherty, 2002–03: Toronto Maple Leafs, 2003, 2nd round, 57th overall Matt Duffy, 2003–2005: Florida Panthers, 2005, 4th round, 104th overall Brian Dumoulin, 2008–09: Carolina Hurricanes, 2009, 2nd round, 51st overall Brian Foster, 2003–2005: Florida Panthers, 2005, 5th round, 161st overall John Laliberte, 2001–02: Vancouver Canucks, 2002, 4th round, 114th overall Joe Pearce, 2001–02: Tampa Bay Lightning, 2002, 5th round, 135th overall Jonathan Rheault, 2003–04: Philadelphia Flyers, 2006, 5th round, 145th overall Andrew Thomas, 2001–2003: Washington Capitals, 2005, 4th round, 109th overall
Notes and references
External links Jr. Monarchs home page