/pages/the-program/about-us
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The Program
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Combines
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Recruits
Players
As one of the 22 top-level Junior hockey organizations competing in the Eastern Hockey League (EHL), the Valley Jr. Warriors have faced off against the best Junior hockey talent this country has to offer. From September through March, league members take part in 46 regular-season games. The EHL is committed to developing and producing student-athletes with aspirations of advancing to collegiate and/or professional hockey.
Under the EHL umbrella sits the Eastern Hockey League Premier (EHLP), a 15-team sub-division. Consisting of mostly 17 and 18 year old hockey players, the EHLP provides kids with a chance to get an early start at the Junior level. All 12 EHLP teams complete a 46-game regular season schedule. The Valley Jr. Warrior EHL-P team will supplement it's EHL-P schedule by also competing in two U18 AAA events as well as schedule games vs. U18 AAA teams. This will allow these players to be exposed to a hybrid of junior hockey and U18 AAA midget.
While honing one’s hockey skills is the main objective, the Valley Jr. Warriors are also committed to preparing players for the academic challenges for those who are looking to move on to college teams. The Warriors require all post-high school players to take at least one college course per semester. This allows the student athlete to transfer acquired credits into the college he chooses to attend as a full time student.
The Valley Jr. Warrior Junior teams take advantage of unique advantages that benefit them as they progress towards their collegiate and professional goals::
The VJW program participates in an average of four to six major recruiting showcases and tournaments each year as well as attending top high school/prep school games.
Head Coach/General Manager Ryan McGrath has spent the last nine years as an assistant coach at the NCAA D3 level working at UMASS-Boston as well as Wentworth Institute of Technology. This experience has allowed coach McGrath to truly develop superior relationships with NCAA coaches across the United States.
As owners and operators of six facilities (Haverhill, Lawrence, Malden Valley forum, Chelmsford forum, Kasabuski, and Hockeytown), the VJW program has access to unlimited ice time for practice, power-skating and individual sessions.
XP Athletic has been hired to be the official performance specialists. Pat Gigante and his staff are the best in the business! They will be working with every VJW junior player 2x per week in our own facility located on the mezzanine level of the Haverhill Valley Forum.
The Haverhill Valley Forum serves as the official home of the Valley Jr. Warrior junior program. The EHL and the EHL-P/U18 AAA team have private locker rooms with skate sharpening, work bench, stick rack, laundry facility and video room.
