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For the week ending on January 7th, the Atlantic Girls Hockey Federation rankings are in. KRACH is a team’s win/loss ratio multiplied by strength of schedule. You can view all rankings on the AGHF KRACH Page here.

The teams that are in first in each division are Princeton Tiger Lilies (10U), Saugerties Fillies (12U), MYHA Blue (14U Diamond), Reston Raiders (14U Platinum), Princeton Tiger Lilies Black (16U Diamond), Maryland Jr. Black Bears (16U Platinum), NJ Bandits (19U Diamond), and PHC Belles (19U Platinum).

The “spread” has no place in youth hockey

Black Bear Sports Group recently started the Hockey Power Rankings (“HPR”) as an alternative to MyHockeyRankings (“MHR”). MyHockeyRankings has been the only ranking source in youth hockey for many years and originally was used to help families schedule competitive games. Unfortunately, as its power grew, people and organizations have weaponized the use of MHR. Many teams refuse to play scheduled games for fear it will decrease their ranking. Many teams won’t pull a goalie in a close game for fear of giving up an empty net goal which will harm their rankings. many organizations have figured out that playing a small bubble of teams/games protects their strength of schedule which, given that losses do not matter in MHR, artificially increases their ranking. Ultimately this is particularly important for national bound teams as USA Hockey and their affiliates are now using MHR for qualification for district and national at-large selections.

The primary problem with MHR is that its system creates a “rating” for teams that sadly are not based on wins. The higher the rating, the higher the ranking. To simplify things, the rating is based on strength of schedule and goal differentials. The rating difference between teams represents the projected score differential (the “spread”) between teams when they play. If you beat that spread, regardless of winning or losing, your ranking rises. If you do not beat the spread, your rating falls – hence the problem with pulling the goalie and giving up an empty net goal – it could damage your spread if the spread is one goal. Moreover, MHR will not share how the rating is calculated in any fashion, leaving people to wonder if teams start the season equally or if there is a carryover from the previous season. The lack of transparency from MHR makes their rating/rankings even more powerful and dangerous.

The Hockey Power Rankings is based on KRACH – the same formula used by College Hockey Power Rankings systems, one of the rankings used by NCAA Division 1 College Hockey. HPR uses wins and strength of schedule – goal differential is not relevant. We are not trying to displace MHR; instead, we are trying to give alternatives for USA Hockey, coaches and families to make decisions. We believe that teams should not be forced to turn down games due to fear of the “spread.” We hope the HPR allows teams to play more local games, limit travel, and reduce the overall costs of playing the game.

Finally, Black Bear is the largest customer of GameSheet, the electronic scoring system that, as a result of Black Bear adopting it two years ago, has now become the national standard. Black Bear asked GameSheet to provide HPR electronic access to the games that GameSheet produces, similar to the access that MHR has to ensure accuracy of posted scores. GameSheet has some form of agreement with MHR that precludes anyone else from accessing this data. Black Bear asked that MHR allow HPR access to the GameSheet data and MHR refused. Black Bear responded that if MHR will not give access to its data, then MHR could not have access to Black Bear’s data. It is a shame that MHR is acting this way – everyone is suffering because of their decisions. Black Bear stands willing to share access to its data if MHR changes their mind.

In the meantime, we have always believed that choices are better. If people do not like the HPR, they will not come to the site. If they do, we believe youth hockey will be better off.

Welcome back to the AGHF Player of the Week for the week ended December 17th, 2023! This weekly feature, running throughout the 2023-24 season, pays tribute to outstanding players across all divisions. Our honorees are selected from player nominations submitted by their respective coaches. You can now commemorate their achievements with customizable Player of the Week merchandise available in the league store.

12U Nominating Coach: Stephen Gerke

Team: The St. James
Player’s Name: Payton Blaine
Jersey Number: 59
Position: Forward
“Payton is the ultimate team player- she does whatever she can to help the team win whether it helps her individually or not. Her progression throughout the year has been rapid due to her dedication and attention to detail. Payton helped the team to a 3-0-0 weekend tallying 3 goals and 3 assists in those 3 games.”

14U Diamond Nominating Coach: Keith Audit

Team: Jr. Flyers
Player’s Name: Kaitlyn Ding
Jersey Number: 12
Position: Forward
“In 2 wins this weekend (combined score 5-0), Kaitlyn either scored or assisted on all 5 goals. She is a play-driver and difference-maker and has really come into her own over the last few months.”

16U Diamond Nominating Coach: Katie Smith

Team: Jr. Flyers
Player’s Name: Lena Sturz
Jersey Number: 81
Position: Forward
“Lena had a great aggressive forecheck all game and kicked off the scoring with a breakaway top shelf goal.”

19U Diamond Nominating Coach: Taylor Borrelli

Team: York Lady Devils
Player’s Name: Amber Meluzio
Jersey Number: 53
Position: Defense
“Amber earned her first hat trick of the season and helped led her team to a win against Lehigh Valley.”

19U Platinum Nominating Coach: John Sparks

Team: NJ Rockets
Player’s Name: Julia Marano
Jersey Number: 19
Position: Defense
“Consistently excellent defense as well as offense!”

Honorable Mentions:

Aubrianna Jacobus	NJ Bandits 12A	12U
Lorelei Poulsen	NJ Bandits 12A	12U
Fallon Conway	PTL U12 Elite	12U
Magnolia Marcus	Stateline Hawks	14U Diamond
Emma Hlinka	PTL Orange	14U Diamond
Meredith Swavely	Jr Flyers 14U AA Ettore	14U Diamond
Kylie Miller	PTL Black	14U Diamond
Catalina Campos	WBS Lady Knights	14U Diamond
Emma Hiles	York Devils	16U Diamond
Abigael Gallagher	PTL Black	16U Diamond
Abigael Gallagher	PTL Black	16U Diamond
Lily Flynn	PTL Orange	16U Diamond

For the week ending on December 17th, the Atlantic Girls Hockey Federation rankings are in. KRACH is a team’s win/loss ratio multiplied by strength of schedule. You can view all rankings on the AGHF KRACH Page here.

Welcome back to the AGHF Player of the Week for the week ended December 10th, 2023! This weekly feature, running throughout the 2023-24 season, pays tribute to outstanding players across all divisions. Our honorees are selected from player nominations submitted by their respective coaches. You can now commemorate their achievements with customizable Player of the Week merchandise available in the league store.

12U Nominating Coach: DJ Matthews

Team: Saugerties Fillies
Player’s Name: Olivia Pavloudakis
Jersey Number: 5
Position: Forward
“Liv played her best game I’ve ever seen her play. With some girls out she played on the top unit. She assisted and scored on two early goals in the first game to help pace the Fillies to a game 1 victory. She assisted on the line goal in our game 2 tie. Great job Liv!”

14U Diamond Nominating Coach: James Pierson

Team: LVPY
Player’s Name: Elia Kafel
Jersey Number: 62
Position: Defense
“Our team was short this past weekend and Elia was 1 of the 3 defense in the lineup. She stepped up in a huge way. Elia played both of the ends of the ice very well and contributed to the goal scored with a great shot from the point. Elia has been improving week over and week and has quickly become a top end player on our team.”

14U Platinum Nominating Coach: Lorincz

Team: Princeton Tiger Lilies
Player’s Name: Sofia Calandra
Jersey Number: 5
Position: Forward
“Sofia was i high gear all weekend 6 point congratulations”

16U Diamond Nominating Coach: Rebecca Morse

Team: Princeton Tiger Lilies
Player’s Name: Pelaja Jensen
Jersey Number: 55
Position: Defense
“Polly played a strong defensive game this weekend, against a top divisional opponent that transitioned the puck quickly and worked hard/smart to get to the net. This type of game was right in her wheelhouse as someone who embraces a challenge and thrives in a fast-paced environment. She maintained good gaps, battled hard in the dirty areas to end plays quickly, and often started our breakout with a crisp first pass. Perhaps most impactful was her physical play, especially tying up and boxing out in front of our net to allow our goalies to do their job.”

19U Diamond Nominating Coach: Grace Potash

Team: NJ Bandits
Player’s Name: Grace Potash
Jersey Number: 12
Position: Forward

Honorable Mentions:

Ari Liu	12U	Saugerties Fillies	6	Goalie
Teagan Carey	12U	WBS Lady Knights	34	Goalie
Mackenzie Miller	12U	PTL U12 Elite	19	Defense
Lexi Davar	14U Diamond	PTL Orange	13	Forward
Laci Nelson	19U Diamond	Lady Devils	5	Defense

The Atlantic Girls Hockey Federation proudly presents its roster for the 2024 Peewee Tournament in Quebec, set to take place from February 7 to February 18, 2024. This premier event gathers approximately 120 teams from around the world, creating an atmosphere often likened to the “Little League World Series of Hockey.”

The tournament unfolds on the grand stage of the Videotron Centre, boasting a seating capacity of 18,259 and serving as the home arena for the Quebec Remparts. Amidst the competition at this iconic venue, the participating teams will also engage in spirited matches at various rinks across Quebec City.

Goaltenders:

Paloma Larocque (Jr. Flyers)
Marion Koester (WBS Jr. Knights)

Players:

Lauren Letts (PTL)
Samantha Locke (Hollydell Hurricanes)
Khloe Miller (PTL)
Aurora Benz (Jr. Flyers)
Sarah Vang (PTL)
Olivia Pelle (Hollydell Hurricanes)
Alexandra Maloy (Hollydell Hurricanes)
Madeline Staffieri (Jr. Flyers)
Fiona Saunders (Hollydell Hurricanes)
Paloma Larocque (Jr. Flyers)
Marion Koester (WBS Jr. Knights)
Elizabeth Coen (Jr. Flyers)
Isabella Kasper (Ashburn Xtreme)
Isabelle Lynch (MYHA)
Maggie Wang (PTL 12U Elite)
Ashlee Grillo (NY Islanders)
Isabella Redden (Jr. Flyers)
Tomasina Cinquino (Jersey Hitmen)

Coaching Staff:

Head Coach: Brooke Reimer
Assistant Coach: Nikki Miller

For the week ending on December 10th, the Atlantic Girls Hockey Federation rankings are in. KRACH is a team’s win/loss ratio multiplied by strength of schedule. You can view all rankings on the AGHF KRACH Page here.

Excitement is building for the upcoming 2023 Atlantic Girls Hockey Federation (AGHF) All Stars event, scheduled for this Saturday, December 9th, at Ice Vault. Adding to the excitement, the AGHF announced that the comprehensive All Star Online Program, featuring the live roster and teams, is now live! Fans should keep an eye out for potential changes as the week progresses.

Stay in the know and keep up with all the action by accessing schedules and live scores conveniently located under the All Star page on our website.

Make sure not to miss the opportunity to have your All Stars moments captured by Carmo Photography. Positioned at the rink, they will be snapping photos throughout the event. For those looking to take home a tangible memory, Carmo Photography will also have a table with a selection of pictures available for purchase.

Elevate your AGHF All Stars experience by entering to win a free Sherwood stick of your choice! Simply submit your most thrilling game clips from the weekend here for a chance to snag this coveted prize. We’ll be announcing the lucky winners on our social media channels, so stay tuned for the big reveal.

For those interested in custom All Star player cards, you can conveniently purchase them online. Visit playercards.store to order these personalized mementos, featuring the code ALLSTARS2023. Commemorate this special event with your own player card.

We invite everyone attending the 2023 AGHF All Stars event to capture the essence of the weekend and share it with us. Whether you’re snapping action shots, team celebrations, or candid moments, tag us in your photos on social media or upload them directly here to be featured on the official AGHF account.

Welcome back to the AGHF Player of the Week for the week ended December 3rd, 2023! This weekly feature, running throughout the 2023-24 season, pays tribute to outstanding players across all divisions. Our honorees are selected from player nominations submitted by their respective coaches. You can now commemorate their achievements with customizable Player of the Week merchandise available in the league store.

10U Nominating Coach: Rebecca Morse

Team: PTL
Player’s Name: Aryaa Panwar
Jersey Number: 89
Position: Forward
“Aryaa’s engagement with the play has steadily increased as the season has progressed. Her understanding of the game has also grown significantly, and it showed this weekend. She made confident decisions with and without the puck. On Saturday, Aryaa had a very strong second period, assisting on our third goal, then scoring two consecutive goals. On Sunday, she came right to our game from another game at a different rink. Meeting her team on the ice for warmups, she switched gears seamlessly, worked hard all game, and was a difference-maker for us.”

12U Nominating Coach: Robert McCarthy

Team: CP Dynamo
Player’s Name: Adalena Siebert
Jersey Number: 20
Position: Forward
“Addie had a phenomenal night, registering a hat trick and an assist in a tough fought 5-4 loss against a very talented Saugerties team.”

14U Diamond Nominating Coach: Kyra Herbert

Team: ST. J
Player’s Name: Sarah Cheney
Jersey Number: 33
Position: Goalie
“Sarah had a 40-save shutout to help our team secure a 1-0 OT win this weekend. She stopped multiple breakaways including one in OT that served as a break out for our game winning goal.”

14U Platinum Nominating Coach: Jon Bass

Team: NJ Bandits
Player’s Name: Holland Haftek
Jersey Number: 17
Position: Forward
“Holland scored both goals in our Saturday game and this comes as she’s showing growth in her skills and increasing passion for the sport and her team!”

16U Diamond Nominating Coach: Cody Ruff

Team: Lehigh Valley Phantoms
Player’s Name: Alea Ladika
Jersey Number: 29
Position: Goalie
“Alea was a brick wall, backstopping the Phantoms girls to two big wins over the weekend.”

16U Platinum Nominating Coach: Sean O’Connor

Team: Maryland Junior Black Bears
Player’s Name: Samantha Scott
Jersey Number: 91
Position: Forward

19U Diamond Nominating Coach: Matt Haney

Team: Tri City Eagles
Player’s Name: Madison Luniewski
Jersey Number: 66
Position: Forward
“Maddison scored the GWG for us after being down 2-0 on Saturday, & scored the GWG for us on Sunday. She had an overall outstanding weekend after having a rough couple of weeks. She is also a 2008 birthyear”

Honorable Mentions:

Leah King	Jr Flyers 10UA	10U	3	Forward
Ava Galley	NY Islanders	12U	8	Defense
Abby Grossman	NY Islanders	12U	31	Goalie
Adalyn Faust	WBS Lady Knights	12U	46	Defense
Mackenzie Miller	PTL Elite	12U	19	Defense
Ava Cras	Jr Flyers 14U AA Ettore	14U Diamond	8	Forward
Delaney Cozine	NJ Bandits 14AA	14U Diamond	31	Goalie
Kacie Kaough	Princeton Tiger Lilies 14u Orange	14U Diamond	18	Defense
MAGNOLIA MARCUS	Stateline Hawks	14U Diamond	91	Forward
Kenslie Rockovits	WBS Lady Knights	14U Diamond	9	Forward
olivia Connor	ptl	14U Platinum	2	Forward
Logan Sullivan	PTL Orange	16U Diamond	93	Forward
Maya Felix	York Lady Drvils	16U Diamond	61	Forward
Aurora Short	Maryland Junior Black Bears	16U Platinum	10	Forward
Logan Shumaker-Gromek	NJ Bandits	19U Diamond	2	Defense

For the week ending on December 3rd, the Atlantic Girls Hockey Federation rankings are in. KRACH is a team’s win/loss ratio multiplied by strength of schedule. You can view all rankings on the AGHF KRACH Page here.