Empire Adds New Organizations

During the off-season the Empire League was anything but quiet. The Virginia Statesmen purchased the inactive franchise of the Elmira Junior Jackals. They will operate out of Reston, Virginia.

The Wheatfield Blades departed the Empire League moving to the Canadian Golden Horseshoe League. Their franchise was sold to the Buffalo Stars. Owner Peter Peteroti had operated a junior 'C' team in the CHA and his new Empire franchise will be a "farm-team" of the Buffalo Junior Sabres in the Provincial Junior Hockey League.

The Foxboro Stars was added as a new franchise for the 2006-07 season. Owner Rich Touzos is also owner/operator of the Walpole Stars in the Eastern Junior Hockey League.



The last change in ownership was the Rochester Junior Americans franchise was moved and the name of the franchise was changed to Maksymum Junior Hockey. Owners Dave and Tony Maksymiu but will continue to operate out of ESL Sports Centre in Rochester.