Boston Bandits
The Bridgewater Bandits, also called the Boston Bandits, are a junior ice hockey organization from Bridgewater, Massachusetts, in the United States, with teams playing in the United States Premier Hockey League. The organization plays home games at the Bridgewater Ice Arena.
| Bridgewater Bandits | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City | Bridgewater, Massachusetts |
| League | United States Premier Hockey League |
| Founded | 1996 |
| Home arena | Bridgewater Ice Arena |
| Colors | Red, black, white |
| Owner(s) | Scott Harlow |
| General manager | Jay Punsky[1] |
| Head coach | Jim Gaudet[1] |
| Franchise history | |
| 1996–2011 | Bridgewater Bandits |
| 2011–2020 | Boston Bandits |
| 2020–present | Bridgewater Bandits |
History
The Boston Bandits organization had a team in the Tier III Eastern Junior Hockey League (EJHL) from 1996 until its dissolution in 2013. The Bandits would then join the Atlantic Junior Hockey League which would reorganize and become the Eastern Hockey League (EHL) for the 2013–14 season.
The Bandits organization also fields teams in the lower level USPHL Premier Division, as well as youth hockey select teams at the Bantam, Peewee, and Squirt and various other levels. The Premier team originally played in the Empire Junior B Hockey League until 2013 and then the Metropolitan Junior Hockey League (MetJHL) from 2013 to 2015 at which point the EHL added the Elite Division and the former EHL teams were all promoted to the Premier Division. The MetJHL team then joined the EHL-Elite Division.
In 2017, the Bandits' organization left the EHL for the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL).[2] The USPHL was planning to launch the Tier II level league, which became the National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC), for the 2017–18 season. However, the USPHL was denied the Tier II status by USA Hockey and the junior league went independent.[3] The top level Bandits team joined the NCDC and the developmental team joined the Premier Division.[4]
The Bandits sold their NCDC franchise to the Philadelphia Hockey Club for the 2020–21 season.[5] The organization was then sold to Scott Harlow in December 2019[6] and the organization reverted back to the Bridgewater Bandits identity beginning with the 2020–21 season.
Season-by-season records
| Season | GP | W | L | T | OTL | Pts | GF | GA | Regular Season Finish | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Junior Hockey League | ||||||||||
| 1997–98 | 37 | 21 | 15 | 1 | — | 43 | 167 | 125 | 4th of 8, EJHL | |
| 1998–99 | 37 | 10 | 23 | 4 | — | 24 | 113 | 170 | 7th of 8, EJHL | |
| 1999–00 | 40 | 11 | 27 | 2 | — | 24 | 151 | 205 | 9th of 11, EJHL | |
| 2000–01 | no data | EJHL | ||||||||
| 2001–02 | 38 | 8 | 26 | 1 | 2 | 20 | 103 | 201 | 6th of 6, South 10th of 12, EJHL | |
| 2002–03 | 38 | 11 | 22 | 4 | 1 | 27 | 101 | 194 | 5th of 6, South 8th of 12, EJHL | |
| 2003–04 | 38 | 6 | 28 | 3 | 1 | 16 | 104 | 192 | T-5th of 6, South T-9th of 12, EJHL | |
| 2004–05 | 48 | 10 | 34 | 3 | 1 | 24 | 113 | 201 | 7th of 7, South 12th of 13, EJHL | |
| 2005–06 | 45 | 22 | 18 | 3 | 2 | 49 | 150 | 147 | 3rd of 7, South 7th of 14, EJHL | Lost Quarterfinals, 0–2 vs. Boston Junior Bruins |
| 2006–07 | 45 | 23 | 16 | 5 | 1 | 52 | 202 | 166 | 2nd of 7, South 5th of 14, EJHL | Lost Quarterfinals, 0–2 vs. New England Junior Huskies |
| 2007–08 | 45 | 24 | 15 | 2 | 4 | 54 | 179 | 143 | 2nd of 7, South 5th of 14, EJHL | Lost Quarterfinals, 0–2 vs. Boston Junior Bruins |
| 2008–09 | 45 | 23 | 13 | 6 | 3 | 55 | 180 | 155 | 2nd of 7, South 5th of 14, EJHL | Won Quarterfinals, 1–0–1 vs. Syracuse Stars Lost Semifinals, 0–2 vs. Jersey Hitmen |
| 2009–10 | 45 | 16 | 24 | 2 | 3 | 37 | 154 | 200 | 6th of 7, South 11th of 14, EJHL | Did not qualify |
| 2010–11 | 45 | 13 | 26 | 3 | 3 | 32 | 139 | 203 | 7th of 7, South 10th of 14, EJHL | Did not qualify |
| 2011–12 | 45 | 23 | 20 | 0 | 2 | 48 | 161 | 157 | 4th of 7, South 7th of 14, EJHL | Lost First Round, 0–1–1 vs. New England Junior Huskies |
| 2012–13 | 45 | 18 | 23 | — | 4 | 40 | 121 | 153 | 6th of 7, North 10th of 14, EJHL | Lost First Round vs. Bay State Breakers |
| Eastern Hockey League | ||||||||||
| 2013–14 | 44 | 22 | 17 | 3 | 2 | 49 | 149 | 136 | 3rd of 5, North 6th of 17, EHL | Won Round 1, 2–0 vs. New York Apple Core Won Quarterfinals, 2–0 vs. New York Bobcats Lost Semifinals, 1–2 vs. New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs |
| 2014–15 | 44 | 18 | 20 | — | 6 | 42 | 118 | 138 | 3rd of 5, Boston Div 11th of 19, EHL | Lost Round 1, 1–2 vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights |
| 2015–16 | 41 | 30 | 7 | — | 4 | 64 | 155 | 93 | 1st of 9, North Conf. 2nd of 18, EHL-Premier | Won First Round, 2–0 vs. New England Wolves Lost Second Round, 0–2 vs. Walpole Express |
| 2016–17 | 48 | 23 | 24 | — | 1 | 47 | 146 | 163 | 5th of 6, Boston Div. 8th of 9, North Conf. 12 of 17, EHL-Premier | Lost First Round, 0–2 vs. New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs |
| United States Premier Hockey League | ||||||||||
| 2017–18 | 50 | 20 | 26 | — | 4 | 44 | 154 | 175 | 8th of 11, NCDC | Lost Quarterfinals, 0–2 vs. Islanders Hockey Club |
| 2018–19 | 50 | 26 | 18 | — | 6 | 58 | 153 | 149 | 7th of 12, NCDC | Lost Quarterfinals, 0–2 vs. Boston Junior Bruins |
| 2019–20 | 50 | 25 | 17 | — | 8 | 58 | 196 | 182 | 7th of 13, NCDC | Playoffs cancelled |
References
- "Boston Bandits name Jim Gaudet as new NCDC head coach". USPHL. April 25, 2019.
- "USPHL Announces New Tuition Free Hockey Division for 2017-18 Season". JuniorHockey.com. October 6, 2016.
- "DAILY DISH: USA HOCKEY ANNUAL CONGRESS". JuniorHockey.com. June 6, 2017.
- "National Collegiate Development Conference Officially Launches For 2017-18". JuniorHockey.com. December 15, 2016.
- "Philadelphia Hockey Club Buys NCDC Franchise, Will Join League In 2020-21". USPHL. November 14, 2019.
- "New Ownership Announcement". BostonJuniorBandits.com. December 5, 2019.