2006 Monarchs "Crowned" EJHL Champions

Third Title for NH in Five Years

Hooksett, NH - In what was another 'banner' year for the New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs, the team capped it off with a thrilling 6-5 OT win over the Junior Bruins in the EJHL Championship Game. The title is the third for New Hampshire in the last five years having won it in 2002 and 2004. Tournament MVP Greg Holt scored the game winning goal with just 2:08 left in overtime when he converted a Dan Bartlett feed from in front of the net. "That game was exactly what you want your league finals to be, just an unbelievable tilt all the way through," stated GM/Head Coach Sean Tremblay. "To be up 4-1, have them tie it 4-4, go up 5-4 with two minutes to play only to have them tie it with 52 seconds and then win in OT is more than a storyteller can handle." After the game the accolades kept coming in as the annual EJHL awards were announced. Greg Holt earned the EJHL Offensive Player of the Year as he also won the EJHL scoring title. Ryan Simpson was the recipient of the EJHL Goaltender of the Year as he was the leader in GAA and save % from start to finish all year long. Lastly, Sean Tremblay was named Coach of the Year as his team compiled a 45-4-4 overall record.

In alumni news, over a dozen former Monarchs participated in the NCAA Tournament. Leading the way were Chris Higgins (BU) and Matt Duffy (Maine) who were named to the NCAA All Regional Team. Higgins also made history when he scored the fastest hat trick in Regional play ever in a 9-2 win over Nebraska-Omaha. It was also the fourth fastest in NCAA history. Derek Damon capped off a tremendous career at Maine as he piled up 111 points in his four-year career. After playing in his second Frozen Four he signed an Amateur Try-out Contract with the Lowell Lock Monsters of the American Hockey League.