CLUB HISTORY
Boys Program
In this day and age, there aren’t many organizations that can say they’ve been around for as many years as we have, 50 years and counting! We’re still doing the job we set out to do: Teach and train young players to play and enjoy the game of ice hockey.
From our humble beginnings, as the Morris County All-Stars, in 1971, (consisting of 10 or so teams), to the nationally renowned NEW JERSEY COLONIALS, we proudly enter our 30th year of existence as a premier travel hockey club!
Our bragging rights include our 2010-2011 USA Hockey National Champion 12U Pee Wee Major Team! Many talented players have gone on to USHL , USA NTDP, NCAA and professional hockey careers. Numerous alumni have become NHL Entry Draft selections.
We have teams, from Developmental Mite ADM to Midget 18 AAA for ages 5-18.
Our boy’s teams play in two leagues: the Atlantic Youth Hockey League (AYHL, Tier I) and the New Jersey Youth Hockey League (NJYHL, Tier II). Our Tier I teams play at some of the highest competitive levels on the East Coast and beyond! Tier I schedules involve travel within the Tri-State area, along with New England, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Tournament play can take them to Canada, Detroit, Dallas, and Chicago, to name a few destinations. Our Tier II teams play most of their games within the Tri-State area, with forays to further locations for tournament play.
Boys Executive Director, Bruce Shatel is the head coach of Delbarton varsity ice hockey and baseball teams. Under his tenure, Delbarton established themselves as one of the preeminent high school hockey teams in the Northeast with numerous team accolades and players moving on to play in the college and pro ranks. Shatel's playing career included Providence College, Deerfield Academy and Morristown High School.
Boys Tier II Director, Rich McLaughlin, is an inductee to the New Jersey High School Hockey Hall of Fame as both a player and coach. Randolph has won 9 New Jersey State Public High School championships under McLaughlin's leadership. He became only the 4th high school hockey coach to reach 500 wins in New Jersey history on January 31, 2024.
Alumni have gone on to junior, DI and D3 Colleges, the ACHA and even the NHL.
Throughout the years, we have remained a steadfast and solid organization that provides players with the kind of quality experience to help our young athletes grow personally, emotionally and athletically. We will continue to teach players the values of teamwork, discipline, sportsmanship, and dedication, in a sport we are passionate about.
Come be part of the Colonials Experience!
Girls Program
Since 2004, the New Jersey Colonials Girls Hockey program has enabled countless girls of all ages and abilities learn to play and love the game of ice hockey. The Colonials would like to invite GIRLS OF ALL AGES AND SKILL LEVELS to come and be a part of this great tradition.
The tradition continues with the 2025-26 season as Colonials Girls Hockey program is dedicated to the Development, Growth and Empowerment of girls and young women, and realizing academic success through sport.
The Colonials Girls Hockey Program strives to instill qualities such as leadership, integrity, work ethic and teamwork for life in every girl who makes the choice to play Colonials hockey.
Competitive success is a by-product of the trademark development process that the Colonials Girls program has become known for throughout the girl’s hockey community, the NCAA, USA Hockey and the PWHL.
As a result, the program continues to amass a record of success in the Atlantic District.
This record of success is an undeniable endorsement of the NJC Girls development process:
- 45+ AAHA District Championships since 2001
- 100+ Players have gone on to play NCAA hockey
- 5 Players represented the United States as members of USA Hockey National Teams in World Championships and the Olympics
- Several alumni have continued their hockey careers in the professional hockey
Girls Director, Emily Janiga, has an extensive hockey background as both a player and coach. She earned Female Athlete of the Year her senior year (2016) at Mercyhurst University and played 6 years professionally. Her mission for the organization is to create a structured, competitive and professional environment for girls to develop and feel confident at the rink.