For Immediate Release:
CAROLINA YOUTH HOCKEY GROWING AND GETTING STRONGER
- Carolina Junior Hurricanes and Carolina Eagles Merge to Create More Opportunity for Youth Hockey Players
Raleigh, NC (Friday, February 1, 2019) - The Raleigh Youth Hockey Association (also known as the Carolina Junior Hurricanes) and the Carolina Eagles are proud to announce that the two organizations will merge and operate under the Carolina Junior Hurricanes brand and logo, effective March 1, 2019.
The two largest youth hockey programs in the Carolinas have united in a joint effort to provide youth hockey players a premier hockey experience that best aligns under the banner of the NHL Carolina Hurricanes. By bringing the players together, as well as selectively combining staff and resources, and operating as the largest youth hockey family in the Southeastern District, the new Carolina Junior Hurricanes will proudly provide one of the strongest development programs and elite training opportunities.
“Today, is a GREAT DAY FOR HOCKEY in the City of Raleigh,” says Steve Henley, Executive Director/Director of Hockey for RYHA. “The hockey landscape has changed many times over the last 20 years. Through all of those changes, RYHA and the Carolina Eagles have continued to move forward to become two of the premier programs in the Southeast. While it may have taken longer than many have hoped, we will now combine the significant strengths of both programs into one united front. We will continue to provide opportunities for all travel players to train and compete in an environment that is appropriate for their skill level, provide the best coaching, the best player development, and the best education for those athletes wishing to move beyond youth hockey. We have integrated our resources at every level, including our Board of Directors, Executive Committee, Coaching as well as Administrative Staff to give our members the strongest program in the Southeast. We are proud to join forces with the Carolina Eagles and look forward to building the new Carolina Junior Hurricanes together.”
Growing the game of hockey in the area and providing a positive hockey experience has always been in important initiative for both organizations. Consolidating the two programs is a natural evolution that both sides feel will strengthen and elevate every level of play for the athletes. By working together, teams will immediately be more competitive during the season.
“Creating the best environment and a great program for players to play hockey has always been one of our main goals. I’m extremely proud of what we accomplished with the Carolina Eagles,” says Jocelyn Langlois, Chief Executive Officer of the Carolina Eagles. “Merging both programs will create the best environment possible for all players. There will be less division in the market and this will create stronger, more competitive teams at both the local and national levels with players placed at the appropriate level to succeed. We are bringing the best of both organizations by creating a full integration of officers, staff, policies, committees and coaches, which will enable us to grow properly and create the best program for all of the players while still maintaining that personal family feel. I’m really excited about this merger and am glad to be part of the new Carolina Junior Hurricanes Hockey Association.”
As each program brings a rich history and a loyal spirit, both organizations recognize that this announcement will be met with a variety of emotions. The leadership of both teams are optimistic and excited about the future ahead and are committed to a successful integration. Athletes who want to play hockey in an environment that focuses both on the creation of competitive teams and strong player development, will have a home with the Carolina Junior Hurricanes.
The hard work that each organization has done to provide the best hockey programs, promotion and culture possible, will be carried on at the new Carolina Junior Hurricanes and is supported by the NHL Carolina Hurricanes.
“The Carolina Hurricanes recognize and celebrate this united move forward towards creating a clear and focused direction for hockey families to follow and grow,” says Shane Willis, Carolina Hurricanes Representative to the Board of Directors. “We believe the merger will create a homogenous development program that will serve to provide a solid and superior foundation for players, preparing them physically and mentally for the next level. We look forward to working together to provide positive leadership and support in the growth of the players and the game.”
With the rest of the season to finish, the expectations remain the same and that is for every player to do their very best and enjoy the game. While next season will bring changes and new teammates, for the remainder of this season both clubs expect their teams to play hard, play fast and play the game of hockey the way it is intended.
Details of the overall program and processes including tryouts, apparel and more are still being finalized as the 2019-20 Carolina Junior Hurricanes prepare for the official launch date of March 1st.
An Open House Event will take place at the PNC Arena in March to present and review the 2019-2020 Carolina Junior Hockey Program (exact date and details to be announced). In the interim, a series of FAQ is listed below to answer some of the most immediate questions.
FAQ
Is this really a merger?
Yes, this is really a merger. This is not a takeover of any single club. It is the culmination of a longstanding desire to bring together two great programs to create an even greater and stronger entity for the development of our players.
Who will make decisions about the program?
A newly formed Carolina Junior Hurricanes Hockey Committee made up of RYHA and Carolina Eagles staff will work together to develop the 2019-2020 Youth Hockey Program. The Hockey Committee’s recommendations will be approved by a combined Board of Directors which will also include representatives from both organizations.
Will both organizations be represented on the Board of Directors?
Yes
Who will be in management?
Program and Executive Directors are Jocelyn Langlois and Steve Henley. o Colin Muldoon and Lincoln Flagg will combine their efforts to lead Player Development and Parent Education programs, respectively.
How many teams will you be fielding?
An estimated 30-35 teams is being projected, including boys and girls programs. Exact breakdown still to be determined, based on registration and participation. The goal is to have a place to play for all our athletes by assigning players at the appropriate level in an effort to maximize development and success.
Will the Select U8 Program continue?
Yes.
When will tryouts take place and will they still happen over just one weekend?
Tryouts will take place over 3 weekends but may expand into the week, based on registration and participation: AAA (May 3-5); Girls (May 10-12); AA/A (May 17-19) Select U8 (TBD).
How will tryouts be formatted?
The newly combined coaching staff from RYHA and the Eagles will work together to evaluate all players in a comprehensive and inclusive tryout experience. We remain committed to providing a fair and even playing field for all players regardless of their prior organization.
Who will be next season's coaches and how will they be selected and designated?
The Hockey Committee will review the current coaching staff from both organizations and vet all new coaching candidates. Coaches will be selected based on overall qualifications, experience and merit and will be assigned at the best suited level.
Which rinks will be used?
We will be using all the rinks (WF/Garner/Cary/RCI/Iceplex) as per our contracted ice.
Are the jerseys changing?
Yes. All members of the 2019-2020 Carolina Junior Hurricanes, regardless of their 2018-19 organization, will be purchasing new Jerseys for the season. We will try to provide complete packages as economical as possible to help with the merger.
What color helmets, gloves and pants will be required?
The Carolina Junior Hurricanes will wear red helmets, gloves and pants.
How should we expect to receive communication and which website do we reference for more information?
Communication and messaging will continue to come from each respective organization until the end of the 2018-2019 Season. A new website will be launched for the new Carolina Junior Hurricanes. The roll-out plan for the new website and social media accounts will be communicated in late March.
For more information about the NEW Carolina Junior Hurricanes program, please contact Steve Henley at executivedirector@juniorhurricanes.org or Jocelyn Langlois at jlanglois@carolinaeagleshockey.com
