Philadelphia Flyers Junior Hockey Club Explained

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Team:Philadelphia Flyers Junior Hockey Club
City:Voorhees, New Jersey
League:USPHL Premier
Founded:2013
Arena:Flyers Skate Zone, Voorhees[1]
Colors:Orange, Black and White
Owner:Comcast Spectacor
Gm:Jared Beach
Coach:Jared Beach
Affiliates:Philadelphia Flyers (NHL)

The Philadelphia Flyers Junior Hockey Club (also known as the Philadelphia Flyers Elite or the USPHL Flyers) were a Tier III junior ice hockey team in the United States Premier Hockey League Premier Division. The franchise was originally based in Voorhees, New Jersey, at the Flyers Skate Zone. In 2017, the franchise was sold to Delaware Hockey, LLC and it became the Lightning Hockey Club with plans to play in the USPHL's 2017–18 season out of Newark, Delaware. The team was removed from the league's member list in September 2017 prior to ever playing a game.

The team was created in 2013 as one of the founding members of the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL) Premier Division, the highest level at the time for the league. It was owned and operated under the Philadelphia Flyers NHL team and parent owner Comcast Spectacor.[2]

History

The program was developed by the Philadelphia Flyers in 2013 to provide a junior-level program at the highest level of competition for aspiring hockey players in the Greater Philadelphia region.[3] After four seasons in the USPHL Premier Division, the ownership sold the USPHL Flyers to the Lightning Hockey Club. The new owners then relocated the team to Newark, Delaware, in 2017.[4] However, the team failed to make it to the start of their first season in Delaware.

In addition to entering the USPHL-Premier Division, the Flyers Skate Zone also announced that their Team Comcast 16U and 18U midget teams would participate in the USPHL 16U and 18U Divisions.[2] In 2016, Team Comcast left the USPHL for the Atlantic Youth Hockey League and were renamed Virtua Hockey.[5]

Season-by-season records

Season GP W L OTL SOL PTS GF GA PIM Regular Season Finish Playoffs
Philadelphia Flyers Junior Hockey Club
2013–14 48 28 17 1 2 59 176 141 707 4th of 9
USPHL-Premier
Lost in 1st round vs. Islanders Hockey Club
2014–15 50 32 10 0 8 72 216 153 3rd of 11
USPHL-Premier
Won Quarterfinals, 2–0 vs. Bay State Breakers
Won Semifinals, 2–0 vs. Islanders Hockey Club
Lost Finals, 0–2 vs. Jersey Hitmen
2015–16 44 24 15 5 53 158 150 6th of 12
USPHL-Premier
Lost Quarterfinals, 0–2 vs. Boston Junior Bruins
2016–17 45 17 22 6 40 131 175 8th of 10
USPHL-Premier
Lost Play-in Game, 1–3 vs. P.A.L. Junior Islanders

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Balassone. Grace. Philadelphia Flyers. Flyers Debut Premier League Junior Team. September 28, 2013. June 1, 2014.
  2. News: The Junior Hockey News. PHILADELPHIA FLYERS CREATE ELITE TEAM TO PLAY IN USPHL. Apr 9, 2013. June 1, 2014.
  3. News: George. John. Philadelphia Business Journal. Flyers create 'elite' team — of amateurs. Oct 2, 2013. June 1, 2014.
  4. Web site: Delaware Hockey LLC Purchases Philadelphia Flyers Premier Team . USPHL . May 1, 2017.
  5. Web site: Virtua to Put Name on Tier I and II Youth Hockey Club at Virtua Flyers Skate Zone . Team Comcast . March 29, 2016.