Hooksett, NH-The New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs Empire team earned the title "NATIONAL JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP RUNNER-UP's" with an impressive run in the USA Hockey Junior B National Tournament in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The team swept their opponents in pool play going 3-0 and winning their Division, before moving on to shutout the Dubuque Thunderbirds (Ohio) by a score of 3-0 in the National Semi-Final game. For more information on the impressive streak visit the tournament website at: http://www.juniorbnationaltournament.com/

The Monarchs came up just short in their first ever bid for a National Title, losing to the 4-time Champion, St. Louis Jr. Blues in the Championship game. The Monarchs pulled off the Cinderella story of the tournament by knocking off the Phoenix Polar Bears in their first game by a score of 4-1. They went on to upset the Minnesota, Ice Hawks in the second game 4-3 in an overtime thriller and then bounced the Flint Generals from the National tournament by a score of 5-3 in the third and final game of the round robin.

The Monarchs represented the Empire Junior Hockey League well by becoming the first team in League history to make the frozen four, and play for a National title. The Monarchs are in just their third season at the Junior 'B' level and have come a long way in a short amount of time. The Monarchs are now ranked #2 in the Country and will begin 2007/08 with that National ranking.

Head Coach Ryan Frew offered this about the National run, "We played very good hockey in Grand Rapids. We knew that we had the type of team that could compete on a National stage, but we also knew that we would need to be playing our best hockey of the year in order to get the results that we wanted. It was important that we were responsible on the defensive side of the puck and my kids were. You can't make too many mistakes in your own end with the caliber of players that compete at that level. We certainly weren't the most skilled team in Michigan, but this group of kids played like a team. It was a team effort and every kid on the roster played hard and contributed to the overall group effort. We believed in them and they believed in themselves. I am proud of what we accomplished. They just raised the bar for every kid that is looking to play in this organization moving forward. This was about as rewarding of a coaching experience that you can ask for. It was a special group of players here in New Hampshire this season."

New Hampshire will be hosting tryouts from May 10-12 at the Tri-Town Ice Arena in Hooksett, New Hampshire in an effort to recruit a team that can compete for a National Title again next year. 14 players from this season's team so far are headed to college or Junior 'A' and there are roster spots looking to be filled at every position. Please visit www.empirejrmonarchs.com for more information.

This marked the first time in USA Hockey history that an organization has had two teams playing for the National Championship at separate levels. The Tier III Junior A EJHL Monarchs won the Championship. Congratulations to the New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs and the Head Coaches of both teams Ryan Frew and Sean Tremblay.