Atlanta Knights Junior Hockey Club

The Atlanta Knights Junior Hockey Club are a USA Hockey Sanctioned Tier III Junior Franchise, with a stated mission to advance players to be recruited and play for Varsity Collegiate Hockey Programs at the NCAA Division I and III level.

The Atlanta Knights Junior Hockey Club provides unique opportunities for advanced players to improve and showcase their individual and team skills. These opportunities are provided through a professional hockey organization, experienced coaching, and a schedule of highly competitive league games and participation in league and national Junior showcases

Based in Atlanta, Georgia, The Atlanta Knights Field Two Junior Hockey Franchises, providing players between the ages of 15 and 20 the full range of opportunites to achieve their career goals and to reach their potential. The Atlanta Knights maintain relationships with more than 30 NCAA Collegiate teams, affiliations with numerous Junior Hockey Frachises, and AAA / AA Youth hockey programs to provide each player and family a comprehensive method to promote talent and provide players pathways to achieve their goal athletic and academic goals.

The Knights field two Junior Hockey teams:

Atlanta Knights Junior Elite Team

The Atlanta Knights Junior Elite team is a member of the prestigious MJHL and plays a schedule of more than 50 games, with half the season played against Junior B teams (MJHL north and South) and the remainder of the schedule played against US and Canadian Junior A teams in a series of National Showcase events. Most out of league showcases are played in events held by the Eastern Junior Hockey League (A). Atlanta Knights Junior Select Team

The Atlanta Knights Junior Select team participates in the SEJHL, a USA Hockey Junior B league with a 36 game league schedule and the remainder of the schedule comprised of roughly 20 games against National Junior B teams through a series of National Showcase events, GeneRally hosted by the Empire Junior Hockey League (B).

History

The Atlanta Knights Hockey Club is owned by the Atlanta Knights Hockey Foundation, with the principal benefactors being the Falkenstein Family Foundation. The franchise was established in 2006 and commenced operations in the 2007-2008 season. In the first season of operations, the Knights captured the SEJHL Season Championships and progressed to the semi-final game of the USAH Junior National Championship. In the first season play, the Knights posted a 35-6-1 record against all competition. The Knights practice and play out of Knights Arena at the Marietta Ice Center, the original practice facility for the Atlanta Flames franchise and original Atlanta Knights IHL franchise. The ice facility is also owned by the Falkenstein Family Foundation.

In 2008-2009, the Knights were admitted to the Metropolitan Junior Hockey League (MJHL)that is located primarily in the northeastern US. The MJHL is the oldest junior hockey league in the USA and competes at the Tier III, Junior B level on a national basis. In 2008-2009, the MJHL Knights (Elites) finished second in the MJHL South and posted a 41-8-3 record. In 2008-2009, the Atlanta Knights Selects (SEJHL) won their second consecutive SEJHL Season Championships and progressed to the finals of the USAH National Championship losing to the National Champion Chicago Huskies of the GLJHL. in 2008-2009, the Knights Selects posted a 34-1-0 record, with the only loss occurring in the National Championship game.

Affiliations and Player Advancement

The Atlanta Knights are currently affiliated with a number of organizations. At the program level, the Knights partner with the Atlanta Thrashers (NHL) in several player development initiatives. At the junior level, the Knights maintain direct affiliations, player placement, and scouting relationships with Tri-Cities of the USHL (Tier I, Junior A, the Motor City Metal Jackets of the NAHL (Tier II, Junior A) and a number of Canadian and US based Junior A franchises.

On the collegiate front, the Knights maintain relationships with more than 30 NCAA Division I, II and III programs, and more than 20 direct relationships with ACHA Division I, II and III programs. in 2009, 8 Knight's players received NCAA offers with 9 moving on to play ACHA Collegiate hockey. The Knights expect a similar number of college placements for 2009-2010.

The Knights have an organizational website located at http://www.atlantajuniorknights.com