Eastern Professional Hockey League (2008)
Encyclopedia
The Eastern Professional Hockey League (EPHL) was a low-level professional ice hockey
league. The league was developed by Curtis Russell, Tim Kolpien, Igor Mrotchek, and Jim Riggs, the former commissioner of the Mid-Atlantic Hockey League
in 2007.
In October 2008, weeks before the first games were scheduled, two franchises (the Rome, New York
-based Copper City Chiefs and the Exeter, New Hampshire
-based New Hampshire Freeze) were replaced by the Hudson Valley Bears, based in Poughkeepsie and Newburgh, New York.
The league played the 2008-09 season. All four teams which began the season completed the season with the Brooklyn Aces winning the regular season title. The Aces lost a three game championship series to the Jersey Rockhoppers, two games to one. Average league attendance was 821.
The Hyannis Storm were announced and set to begin play in 2009. Dan Adams, the chief investor of the Storm, said he would not be moving forward with bringing the team to the Hyannis Youth and Community Center
that year.
On April 10, 2009, Curtis Russell
became President for Eastern Professional Hockey League after Tim Kolpien resigned.
The Eastern Professional Hockey League did not return for a second season. Mad Hatters principal owner and former EPHL president Tim Kolpien all but acknowledged the minor ice hockey league no longer exists."Frustrating to say, but no consensus or agreement has been reached," Kolpien said by e-mail. "But given where we are on the calendar, I don't see any way the Mad Hatters or EPHL can play in 2009-10.
The league website, www.ephl.com, currently has a message indicating that the league will return in 2010.
.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
league. The league was developed by Curtis Russell, Tim Kolpien, Igor Mrotchek, and Jim Riggs, the former commissioner of the Mid-Atlantic Hockey League
Mid-Atlantic Hockey League
The Mid-Atlantic Hockey League was a minor professional ice hockey league in the Mid-Atlantic and Great Lakes regions of the United States. The league began play in November 2007...
in 2007.
League history
Jim Riggs was hired to become the commissioner of the EPHL after being the commissioner of three leagues that folded.In October 2008, weeks before the first games were scheduled, two franchises (the Rome, New York
Rome, New York
Rome is a city in Oneida County, New York, United States. It is located in north-central or "upstate" New York. The population was 44,797 at the 2010 census. It is in New York's 24th congressional district. In 1758, British forces began construction of Fort Stanwix at this strategic location, but...
-based Copper City Chiefs and the Exeter, New Hampshire
Exeter, New Hampshire
Exeter is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The town's population was 14,306 at the 2010 census. Exeter was the county seat until 1997, when county offices were moved to neighboring Brentwood...
-based New Hampshire Freeze) were replaced by the Hudson Valley Bears, based in Poughkeepsie and Newburgh, New York.
The league played the 2008-09 season. All four teams which began the season completed the season with the Brooklyn Aces winning the regular season title. The Aces lost a three game championship series to the Jersey Rockhoppers, two games to one. Average league attendance was 821.
The Hyannis Storm were announced and set to begin play in 2009. Dan Adams, the chief investor of the Storm, said he would not be moving forward with bringing the team to the Hyannis Youth and Community Center
Hyannis Youth and Community Center
The Hyannis Youth and Community Center is an ice skating rink in the town of Barnstable, Massachusetts. It consists of two rinks, one being named after the late Joseph P. Kennedy Jr., who was killed when his B-24 Liberator exploded during a bombing mission...
that year.
On April 10, 2009, Curtis Russell
Curtis Russell
Curtis Russell is the President of the Eastern Professional Hockey League and current owner of the Hudson Valley Bears, Jersey Rockhoppers, and investor / minority owner of Danbury Mad Hatters, a post he has held since their inception....
became President for Eastern Professional Hockey League after Tim Kolpien resigned.
The Eastern Professional Hockey League did not return for a second season. Mad Hatters principal owner and former EPHL president Tim Kolpien all but acknowledged the minor ice hockey league no longer exists."Frustrating to say, but no consensus or agreement has been reached," Kolpien said by e-mail. "But given where we are on the calendar, I don't see any way the Mad Hatters or EPHL can play in 2009-10.
The league website, www.ephl.com, currently has a message indicating that the league will return in 2010.
Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | GF | GA | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brooklyn Aces Brooklyn Aces The Brooklyn Aces are a defunct minor professional ice hockey team that played the 2008-09 season in the Eastern Professional Hockey League. They played their home games at the 2,500 seat Aviator Arena.... |
50 | 35 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 278 | 157 | 76 |
| Jersey Rockhoppers Jersey Rockhoppers The Jersey Rockhoppers were a professional ice hockey team based in West Orange, New Jersey, in the United States. They played the 2008-2009 season as members of the Eastern Professional Hockey League and played at the 2,500 seat Richard J. Codey Arena.... |
50 | 32 | 16 | 1 | 1 | 243 | 198 | 66 |
| Danbury Mad Hatters Danbury Mad Hatters The Danbury Mad Hatters were a professional ice hockey team based in Danbury, Connecticut at the 2,100-seat Danbury Ice Arena. The Mad Hatters were a member of the Eastern Professional Hockey League.... |
50 | 30 | 18 | 0 | 2 | 222 | 171 | 62 |
| Hudson Valley Bears Hudson Valley Bears The Hudson Valley Bears were an ice hockey team in the Eastern Professional Hockey League. They split their home games between the Mid-Hudson Civic Center in Poughkeepsie, New York and the in Newburgh, New York.-2008-2009:... |
50 | 3 | 45 | 1 | 1 | 145 | 362 | 8 |
Teams
The league had four teams located in the Northeast portion of the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
| Team | City | Arena (Capacity) | Avg. Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brooklyn Aces Brooklyn Aces The Brooklyn Aces are a defunct minor professional ice hockey team that played the 2008-09 season in the Eastern Professional Hockey League. They played their home games at the 2,500 seat Aviator Arena.... |
Brooklyn Brooklyn Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated... , New York New York New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east... |
Aviator Arena Aviator Sports and Recreation Aviator Sports and Events Center is a concession for the National Park Service operating in New York City’s historic first municipal airport, Floyd Bennett Field, which opened its hangars in 1931 and was decommissioned in 1972. Floyd Bennett Field in Southeast Brooklyn is now part of the 4th most... (2,500) |
1,098 |
| Danbury Mad Hatters Danbury Mad Hatters The Danbury Mad Hatters were a professional ice hockey team based in Danbury, Connecticut at the 2,100-seat Danbury Ice Arena. The Mad Hatters were a member of the Eastern Professional Hockey League.... |
Danbury, Connecticut Danbury, Connecticut Danbury is a city in northern Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. It had population at the 2010 census of 80,893. Danbury is the fourth largest city in Fairfield County and is the seventh largest city in Connecticut.... |
Danbury Ice Arena Danbury Ice Arena The Danbury Arena is a 2,212-seat multi-purpose arena in Danbury, Connecticut. It was built in 1999 and renovated and expanded in 2004. The Danbury Arena was the former home of the Danbury Trashers of the United Hockey League from 2004-2006, and the New England Stars of the North Eastern Hockey... (2,344) |
984 |
| Hudson Valley Bears Hudson Valley Bears The Hudson Valley Bears were an ice hockey team in the Eastern Professional Hockey League. They split their home games between the Mid-Hudson Civic Center in Poughkeepsie, New York and the in Newburgh, New York.-2008-2009:... |
Poughkeepsie, New York | Mid-Hudson Civic Center Mid-Hudson Civic Center The Mid-Hudson Civic Center is a venue in Poughkeepsie, NY, USA consisting of Mair Hall and the McCann Ice Arena . It was built in the 1970s as part of the general attempt at rehabilitation of the central district of the City of Poughkeepsie... (650) Ice Time Sports Complex (400) |
235 |
| Jersey Rockhoppers Jersey Rockhoppers The Jersey Rockhoppers were a professional ice hockey team based in West Orange, New Jersey, in the United States. They played the 2008-2009 season as members of the Eastern Professional Hockey League and played at the 2,500 seat Richard J. Codey Arena.... |
West Orange, New Jersey West Orange, New Jersey West Orange is a township in central Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 46,207... |
Richard J. Codey Arena Richard J. Codey Arena The Richard J. Codey Arena at South Mountain is an ice hockey and ice skating arena in West Orange, New Jersey. The arena is named for former Governor of New Jersey Richard Codey... (2,500) |
935 |
Champions by year
2008-09- Jersey Rockhoppers: On March 28, 2009, the Jersey Rockhoppers won the first EPHL Championship with a 4-1 victory over the Brooklyn Aces at the Aviator Arena in Brooklyn, New York. Jersey prevailed in Game 3 of the Finals, winning two straight after dropping the series opener.Awards
- 2008-09 MVP Nick NiedertNick NiedertNick Niedert is an American professional ice hockey goaltender formerly of the Jersey Rockhoppers in the Eastern Professional Hockey League . He most recently played for the Flint Generals of the International Hockey League . In 2008 Niedert was invited to the ECHL's Reading Royals' training camp...
, G Jersey - 2008-09 Rookie of the Year C.J. Tozzo, F Brooklyn
- 2008-09 Defensemen of the Year Nick Grove, Jersey and Chris ClarkChris Clark (ice hockey b. 1987)Chris Clark is an American professional ice hockey player. He is currently playing for the Wheeling Nailers in the ECHL.-External links:...
Hudson Valley, co-winners - 2008-09 Finals MVP Chris FerazzoliChris FerazzoliChris Ferazzoli is an American professional ice hockey player. He is currently playing with the Brooklyn Aviators in the Federal Hockey League. He is also known as snipidy sniper and ran u of del. he is currently 5'4-Awards and honours:...
, F Jersey