The Connecticut Jr. Rangers are a Tier III junior ice hockey team playing in the United States Premier Hockey League's (USPHL) Premier Division. The Jr. Rangers play their home games at Chelsea Piers Connecticut.
History
In 2012, several teams decided to leave the Eastern Junior Hockey League and form their own league. The Connecticut Yankees, who had been in operation as an independent junior club since 1989, joined with the breakaway group and became founding members of the United States Premier Hockey League in 2013. In 2016, the league petitioned USA Hockey to begin sponsoring a separate Tier II league. In December, the USPHL petition was denied. As a result, the USPHL left USA Hockey oversight and began operating their new division independently. The second Connecticut Jr. Rangers team began that fall and both teams remain in operation (as of 2025).
USPHL The Connecticut Yankees played their inaugural season in the USPHL 2013–14, finishing last in the field of 9 teams. After reaching a deal with the New York Rangers, they rebranded as the Connecticut Jr. Rangers in 2014. The club had another poor season before making their first postseason appearance in 2015. After 4 years of middling records, the team declined after COVID-19 ended the 2020 postseason prematurely. It took a few years for the club to rebuild but, once they got back on track, they had a rapid ascent and peaked with their first league championship in 2024.
Season-by-season records Season GP W L OTL Pts GF GA Regular season finish Playoffs 2013–14 48 8 39 1 17 120 237 9th of 9Did not qualify 2014–15 50 10 32 8 28 123 213 10th of 11Did not qualify 2015–16 44 20 23 1 41 134 170 7th of 12Won Round 1, 3–1 vs. Portland Jr. PiratesLost Round 2 series, 1–2 vs. Jersey Hitmen 2016–17 45 19 20 6 44 133 142 5th of 10Lost Quarterfinal series, 1–2 vs. Syracuse Jr. Stars 2017–18 44 15 25 4 34 155 203 7th of 9 Mid-Atlantic Div.t–34th of 44 USPHLWon Div. Quarterfinal series, 2–0 vs. Skipjacks Hockey ClubLost Div. Semifinal series, 0–2 vs. New Jersey Rockets 2018–19 44 19 21 4 42 171 203 4th of 7, North East Div.32nd of 54, USPHLWon Div. Quarterfinal series, 2–1 vs. Niagara Falls ThunderLost Div. Semifinal series, 1–2 vs. Connecticut Nighthawks 2019–20 44 21 21 2 44 175 168 3rd of 6, North East Div.t–32nd of 52, USPHLWon Div. Quarterfinal series, 2–0 vs. Connecticut NighthawksLost Div. Semifinal series, 0–2 vs. Springfield Pics 2020–21 40 14 25 1 29 124 170 7th of 10, Mid Atlantic Div.47th of 62, USPHLDid not qualify 2021–22 44 11 32 1 23 107 191 7th of 7, Atlantic East Div.57th of 64, USPHLDid not qualify 2022–23 44 23 17 4 50 172 149 5th of 10, Mid Atlantic Div.t–34th of 70, USPHLLost Div. Quarterfinal series, 1–2 Rockets Hockey Club 2023–24 44 41 3 0 82 341 105 1st of 8, Atlantic Div.1st of 61, USPHLWon Div. Quarterfinal series, 2–0 vs. Brooklyn AviatorsWon Div. Semifinal series, 2–0 vs. Rockets Hockey ClubWon Eigthfinal, 6–2 vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton KnightsWon Quarterfinal, 2–0 vs. Charlotte RushWon Semifinal, 5–2 vs. Metro Jets Development ProgramWon Championship, 5–4 (OT) vs. Islanders Hockey Club 2024–25 44 31 9 1 66 213 127 1st of 11, Atlantic Div.14th of 73, USPHLLost Div. Quarterfinal series, 0–2 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights 2025–26 43 31 10 2 64 232 142 3rd of 10, Atlantic Div.20th of 77, USPHLWon Div. Quarterfinal series, 2-0 Mercer ChiefsWon Div Semifinals 2-0 (Red Bank Generals)Lost Div, Finals 1-2 (West Chester Wolves)
References
External links Official Home Page Elite Prospects