'Narchs News

Monarchs clinch first ever birth to National Championships!!!

The New Hampshire Junior Monarchs of the Empire Junior Hockey League have clinched a birth to the 2007 National Championships held in Grand Rapids, Michigan from March 28th-April 2nd. The Monarchs will represent the EmJHL as the #2 seed, after losing a tough battle to the Boston Jr. Bruins in the League Championship. The 'Narchs cap off yet another successful season with a 46-10-2-1 overall record, good enough for the second best winning percentage in the Empire League. Fundraising efforts are in place call Ryan Frew 603-270-1018 for details.

New Hampshire will face the #2 Nationally ranked Phoenix Polar Bears in the first night of play on Thursday evening at 7:15pm. They move on to play the #4 ranked Minnesota Ice Hawks on Friday and wrap up the round robin portion of play with either Toledo or Dubuque of the Central States Junior Hockey League, both who carry top 10 National rankings. The Monarchs will enter the National tournament much as they did the final two weekends of league play as the underdog ranked 12th out of the 12 teams who have qualified for the National Championships. They hope to still have some magic left in the tank after pulling off back to back thrilling weekends of hockey that have landed them in the National Championships.

New Hampshire started their journey with a first round sweep of the Salem Ice Dogs two games to none. This set up a Division Final that was the same as the year before pitting the 'Narchs against their border rivals the New England Huskies. The Huskies had won the regular season series three games to one, but the Monarchs would not be denied in their home building and they swept the Huskies in just two games. The first game was won in thrilling fashion when it was decided in the 4th round of the shootout by Playoff hero Joe Rackett. Game 2 brought a fast paced back and forth game that ended with the Monarchs on top 5-2. At the League final New Hampshire pulled off a game one upset over the Pittsburgh Junior Penguins, only to lose game two to the Bruins 8-3. It looked as though their playoff run was over until an inspired Monarchs team showed up to play the New York Applecore on Sunday for a winner-takes-all game to decide who would play in the league finals. A four goal performance by Jay Pietrasiak, left the Monarchs tied 4-4 with 2 minutes to play when Joe Rackett answered the playoff call once again netting the game winner with 1:24 left in regulation. The Monarchs played the Bruins in the League final and qualified for the National Championship Tournament.