The New Jersey Bears are a USA Hockey-sanctioned Tier III Junior A ice hockey team from Flemington, New Jersey. They play in the South Conference of the Eastern Hockey League (EHL). For the 2024-25 season the Bears are adding a team to the Premier (EHLP).
The players, ages 16–20, carry amateur status under Junior A guidelines and hope to earn a spot on higher levels of junior hockey in the United States and Canada, Canadian major junior, collegiate, and eventually professional teams.
History
The Philadelphia Jr. Flyers were members of the Atlantic Junior Hockey League (AJHL) from 2008 until 2013 when Tier III junior hockey leagues went through a reorganization, which included the AJHL re-branding itself as the Eastern Hockey League (EHL). In 2015, the EHL added a lower level of Tier III junior hockey for player development called the EHL-Elite Division and all the current EHL members, including the Jr. Flyers, were added to the EHL-Premier Division. In 2017, the league re-branded, dropping the Premier name from their top division and renamed the Elite Division to Premier.
The organization currently fields a team at the former Tier III Junior B level in the EHL Premier (and formerly in the Metropolitan Junior Hockey League). It also currently fields youth hockey select teams at the Midget U18, Midget 16U, Bantam, Peewee, and Squirt and Mite levels.Official Website of the Philadelphia Jr Flyers Hockey ClubPhiladelphia Jr Flyers Official Page
The Jr. Flyers 18 and under team won the silver medal in the 2010 USA Hockey National Tournament in Chicago, Illinois.AG's Scott wins silver medal with Philadelphia Jr. Flyers - Avon Grove Sun - Southern Chester County Weeklies
Prior to the start of the 2020-21 season the Jr. Flyers were sold and became the Protec Jr. Ducks. Then prior to the start of the 2022-23 season the franchise was sold once more, moved to Flemington, New Jersey and became the New Jersey Bears. The Bears were approved to add an expansion team to the EHL's Premier division the following year.
Season-by-season records Season GP W L T OTL SOL Pts GF GA Regular season finish PlayoffsPhiladelphia Jr. FlyersAtlantic Junior Hockey League 2008–09 42 19 20 0 3 — 41 124 148 4th of 6, South8th of 12, AJHL 2009–10 42 20 19 0 3 — 43 141 145 3rd of 6, South6th of 12, AJHL 2010–11 44 19 23 0 2 — 40 142 172 4th of 6, South9th of 12, AJHL 2011–12 44 23 16 5 0 — 51 179 144 5th of 12, AJHL 2012–13 44 16 21 5 2 — 39 117 121 8th of 12, AJHLLost Quarterfinals, 0–2 vs. Northern CyclonesEastern Hockey League 2013–14 44 19 18 7 0 — 45 113 107 3rd of 6, South Div.10th of 17, EHLLost First Round series, 0–2 (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights) 2014–15 44 23 19 — 2 — 48 124 122 2nd of 5, South Div.9th of 19, EHLLost First Round series, 0–2 (Hartford Jr. Wolfpack) 2015–16 41 19 15 — 7 — 45 134 129 6th of 9, South Conf.10th of 18, EHL-PremierLost Conf. Quarterfinal series, 1–2 (Hartford Jr. Wolfpack) 2016–17 48 36 8 — 4 — 76 163 88 2nd of 4, Mid-Atlantic Div.2nd of 8, South Conf.2nd of 17, EHL-PremierWon Conf. Quarterfinal series, 2–0 (Hartford Jr. Wolfpack)Won Quarterfinal series, 2–1 (East Coast Wizards)Won Semifinal series, 2–0 (New Hampshire Junior Monarchs)Won Championship, 3–2 (Philadelphia Little Flyers) 2017–18 50 12 32 — 6 — 30 98 187 4th of 4, Mid-Atlantic Div.7th of 8, South Conf.15th of 16, EHLDid not qualify 2018–19 46 20 22 — 4 — 44 160 172 3rd of 5, South Div.5th of 8, Mid-Atlantic Conf.11th of 18, EHLLost First Round series, 0–2 (Philadelphia Revolution) 2019–20 46 19 26 — 1 — 39 112 126 6th of 8, Mid-Atlantic Conf.13th of 19, EHLWon First Round series, 2–1 (Connecticut RoughRiders)Remainder of postseason cancelledProtec Jr. Ducks 2020–21 38 17 15 — 6 — 40 133 154 3rd of 6, South Div.7th of 18, EHLWon Div. Quarterfinal series, 2–1 (New York Apple Core)Lost Div. Semifinal series, 0–2 (Philadelphia Little Flyers) 2021–22 46 25 16 — 5 — 55 147 144 3rd of 4, South Div.7th of 17, EHLLost Div. Semifinal series, 0–2 (New Jersey 87's) 2022–23 46 27 14 — 4 0 58 140 130 t-1st of 5, South Div.t-6th of 19, EHLLost Div. Semifinal series, 1–2 (Team Maryland)New Jersey Bears 2023–24 46 29 12 — 4 1 63 148 110 1st of 6, South Div7th of 23, EHLLost Semifinal, 0–2 (Philadelphia Little Flyers) 2024–25 46 32 10 — 0 4 68 195 122 1st of 5, South Div5th of 21, EHLLost Semifinal, 0–2 (Philadelphia Hockey Club) 2025–26 50 31 15 — 2 2 66 179 124 3rd of 5, South Div7th of 20, EHLWon Semifinal, 2-0 (New Jersey 87's)Won Div Finals 2-1 (Philadelphia Hockey Club)Won League Semifinals 2-0 (HC Rhode Island)Won League Finals 2-1 (Seahawks Hockey Club)
Alumni The Junior Flyers have produced a number of alumni playing in higher levels of junior hockey, NCAA Division I, Division III, ACHA college and professional programs, including:Philadelphia Little Flyers Juniors powered by GOALLINE.ca Jeff Corey - Ontario Reign (ECHL) Ed DeWald- Mercyhurst- NCAA D1 Orel Hershiser - Played for the Junior Flyers before attending Bowling Green State University and a career in Major League Baseball. Tyler Hostetter - Adirondack Phantoms (AHL)Flyers Reduce Roster - Philadelphia Flyers - News Eric Knodel Toronto Maple Leafs 2009 NHL Entry Draft - Toronto Marlies (AHL) Vince Malts Vancouver Canucks 1998 NHL Entry Draft - Amstel Tijgers (Eredivisie David Moccia - Adirondack Frostbite (UHL), Asst Coach SUNYAC Plattsburgh (SUNYAC) Ryan Mulhern Calgary Flames 1992 NHL Entry Draft - Washington Capitals (NHL) John Murray - Johnstown Chiefs (ECHL) Eric Tangradi Anaheim Ducks 2007 NHL Entry Draft - Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL), Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL)
References
External links Official web site Official League Website