Jamestown, NY – The oldest and largest
junior league in the United States, the North
American Hockey League, a USA Hockey-sanctioned
Tier II Junior A league boasting 19 teams from
across the country, including the esteemed USA
Hockey National Team Development Program, prides
itself on the social maturity and skill
development of student-athletes ages 16-20 with
aspirations of advancing to collegiate and/or
professional hockey.
Barry Soskin,
President and co-founder of the Jamestown Jets
recently added the Albert Lea (Minnesota)
franchise to the NAHL roster of clubs. The newly
named Albert Lea Thunder will grace the Central
Division of the NAHL.
The new coaching staff includes head coach Paul
Willett, a longtime hockey coach in the
Minnesota high school hockey circles, and his
assistant Brian Murphy.
The Thunder will hold tryouts for prospective
players at the Jamestown Savings Bank Ice Arena
July 11, 12 and 13th. some of the
country’s top hockey prospects will be visiting
the downtown facility for the first time.
Soskin, who fell in
love with the town of Albert Lea, and especially
its rink, once he laid eyes on it. The whole
idea of a junior team in Albert Lea came after
negotiations broke down to buy another team.
“We’re excited to welcome the Thunder to our
league,” said NAHL commissioner Mark Frankenfeld.
“Albert Lea is a great addition to our Central
Division footprint and, behind a sound ownership
group committed to both the local community and
player development, the Thunder represents
everything the NAHL stands for.”
The Thunder will play its home games out of the
Albert Lea Ice Arena. Why Jamestown for
tryouts??? “Western New York is becoming a hot
bed for upcoming hockey players.” stated Mike
Ferguson, Jamestown Savings Bank Ice Arena GM.
“Look at the Olympic Team, a third or more of
the players were born and raised in Western New
York. Dennis Canfield and Barry Soskin brought
the Jamestown Jets to our backdoor. Soskin and
Canfield know that hockey talent is abundant in
this area. They are only looking for the best!”
The Jamestown Jets will play in the newly formed
Untied Junior Hockey League. Dennis Canfield is
co-owner and Director of Hockey Operations for
the Jets. “The Jamestown Savings Bank Ice Arena
is one of the premier venues in the Northeast.”
said Canfield. “Why not showcase one of the
premier NAHL franchises here in Jamestown?”
Scan the NAHL website and you will see that
their players have landed in some of the top
Division 1 hockey schools in the nation.
Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame and Boston
College to name a few. “They don’t get any
bigger than that!” said Canfield.
“We couldn’t be happier to be a part of such a
prestigious and storied developmental league as
the NAHL, “ said Soskin, the Thunder’s
president. “Our top priority is to bring
affordable, family entertainment to the Albert
Lea community while providing our players with
all of the necessary resources to advance both
athletically and academically.”
The Thunder will hold its tryouts from June
20-22 (Chicago); June 27-29 (Canonsburg, Pa.);
July 11-13 (Jamestown, N.Y.);
and July 26-28 (Albert Lea).
To be registered or for
further information, contact Barry Soskin at
(888) 983-2999 or e-mail at
sosksports@aol.com
. Locally, you can
contact Dennis Canfield at (716) 484-2624 ext.
217.
