23-24 NJC 14U MAJOR AAA
23-24 NJC 14U MAJOR AAA
Managers: Wendy Gundlach, Cathy Schmitt
League: MAWHA
Tournaments/Showcases:
NAHA Labor Day Girls Fest – Worcester, MA (September 1-3, 2023)
Stoney Creek Showcase – Stoney Creek, ON (September 22-24, 2023)
NIT Women’s Hockey Tournament – Blaine, MN (October 19-22, 2023)
PIP Roc City Girls Fest – Rochester, NY (November 3-5, 2023)
JWHL Challenge Cup – Rockville, MD (February 16-19, 2024)
MEET THE COACHES
Experienced staff with a wealth of knowledge and a passion for athlete growth and development.
EMILY JANIGA
HEAD COACH
CEP Level 4
Coaching Experience:
- 19U Major New Jersey Colonials (HC, 2021-22)
- 14U White New Jersey Colonials (HC, 20-21)
- 19U Niagara Junior Purple Eagles (HC, 19-20)
- 19U Niagara Junior Purple Eagles (AC, 18-19)
Playing Experience:
- Metropolitan Riveters (NWHL)
- PWPHA Showcases
- Buffalo Beauts (NWHL)
- Vanke Rays (CWHL)
- Mercyhurst University (Class of 2016)
Emily Janiga brings an extensive hockey background to the Colonials organization as both a player and coach. She competed in the PHF, NWHL, PWHPA, CWHL as a professional. She played NCAA DI level for Mercyhurst, where she captained the varsity women's team during her Junior and Senior years. She scored 151 points (72 Goals, 79 Assists) in her career and earned Female Athlete of the Year in 2016. The team made 3 NCAA Final 8 and 2 NCAA Frozen Four tournaments. Janiga was named to the All-CHA First team, the College Hockey America Conference (CHA) Player of the Year, the conference scoring leader, and was a member of the All-CHA First Team.
Janiga has coached in youth hockey since graduating in 2016. Her repertoire includes the 19U, 16U and 14U levels, the Buffalo Sabres Learn to Play (LTP), the Skating Instructor Academy of Hockey in Buffalo, and most recently, Skate with the HEAT.
Coach Janiga not only brings a true passion for growing the game of hockey to the forefront of her efforts, but her experiences with growing the game are unparalleled.
During her time in the CWHL with the Vanke Rays, she worked as a Beijing 2022 Women's Sport Ambassador to assist in the global grassroots growth and promotion of female hockey in preparation for the 2022 Winter Olympics.
RACHEL HAVRYLKOFF
ASSISTANT COACH
CEP Level 2
Coaching experience:
- New Jersey Colonials
- York Lady Devils
- Hershey Jr. Bears
Playing experience:
- Lady Islanders (Youth)
- Wyoming Seminary Prep
- Lebanon Valley College
Rachel Havrylkoff returns for her second season with the Colonials. As an assistant coach, the 14U Major team won the MAWHA Playoff Championship in 2023.
Coach Havrylkoff is a 2021 graduate of Lebanon Valley College who played hockey and lacrosse.
AMANDA LAFFIN
ASSISTANT COACH
CEP Level 1
Coaching Experience:
- 2017 USA Hockey New England Development Camp (Girls 15/16/17)
- Worcester Lady Crusaders (practice/skills)
- New England Jumbo (practice/skills)
Playing Experience:
- College of Holy Cross (D1/D3)
- Pomfret Prep School Hockey
- Connecticut Polar Bears
- Connecticut Seahawks
Amanda Laffin (nee Kewer) returns for the second season with the New Jersey Colonials coaching staff. She has experience in player development at USA Hockey camps and youth teams in New England.
Coach Laffin played collegiate hockey as a member of the Holy Cross Crusaders team that moved from Division 3 to Division 1 in her senior season. A four-year letterwinner at Pomfret School, she excelled in hockey, field hockey, lacrosse and crew.
Laffin served as team captain for the Connecticut Polar Bears in 2013. A key player for the club, she served as captain in 2013. Her youth hockey experience included the 2012 National Championship and quarterfinalists in 2009 and 2014.