24-25 NJC 14U MAJOR AAA

Managers:  Steven Choi, Jennifer Young

League:  AAHA (MAWHA)

Tournaments/Showcases:

Stoney Creek U15 Showcase – Stoney Creek, ON (September 20-22, 2024)

2024 Tradition NIT – Blaine, MN (October 17-20, 2024)

PIP Roc City Girls Fest – Rochester, NY (November 1-3, 2024)

CCM MLK Girls Invite – Boston, MA (January 18-20, 2025)

JWHL Challenge Cup – Rockville, MD (February 14-16, 2025)

MEET THE COACHES

Experienced staff with a wealth of knowledge and a passion for athlete growth and development.

Avery, B 21

BROOKE AVERY

HEAD COACH

CEP Level 3

Coaching Experience:

  • New Jersey Colonials
    • 19U AAA
  • Oyster River High School
    • AC - Varsity Hockey
    • HC - JV Lacrosse
  • University New Hampshire, Summer Camp Coach

Playing Experience:

  • Metropolitan Riveters (NWHL)
  • Syracuse University
  • University of New Hampshire
  • St. Paul's School

Brooke Avery's extensive background in the sport provides a strong foundation for growth and development of her team and players.

Coach Brooke Avery graduated from Syracuse University in 2019 after transferring from the University of New Hampshire. Brooke has experience coaching both ice hockey and lacrosse.  She played professionally with the Metropolitan Riveters from 2019-2022.

Janiga, E 21

EMILY JANIGA

ASSISTANT COACH

CEP Level 4

Coaching Experience:

  • New Jersey Colonials
    • 19U AAA
    • 16U AAA
    • 14U AAA, A
  • 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.

Laffin, A 23

AMANDA LAFFIN

ASSISTANT COACH

CEP Level 2

Coaching Experience:

  • New Jersey Colonials
    • 16U AAA
    • 14U AAA
  • 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 her third season with the New Jersey Colonials.  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.

OUR MISSION

The New Jersey Colonials Youth Hockey Association's mission is to provide a quality environment for learning, playing and enjoying the game of ice hockey.