🏒 Built for the Love of the Game
At the heart of the Jr Knights is a passion for hockey, teamwork, and growth. We’re committed to helping young athletes build skills, confidence, and lifelong memories — all in a fun, supportive environment.
Our Beginnings
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Junior Knights, a USA Hockey-sanctioned organization led by Hockey Director Alex Vasko, were founded in 2007 to strengthen youth hockey in northeastern Pennsylvania. The program emerged during a period of growing interest in the sport following the arrival of the American Hockey League (AHL) in Wilkes-Barre in 1999. Increased exposure to professional hockey, combined with expanding youth and scholastic participation, created the ideal foundation for the Knights to develop a competitive pathway for local players.
As the organization grew, it expanded to include the Lady Knights program, further strengthening opportunities for female athletes and reinforcing the Knights’ commitment to developing players at every level.
Our mission
Since its founding, the Junior Knights have been committed to developing student-athletes and providing opportunities to compete at the highest levels of amateur hockey. The organization’s mission is to prepare players for advancement by emphasizing skill development, character, teamwork, and competition against top programs throughout the United States and Canada.
Through experienced coaching, structured player development, and exposure to collegiate and junior scouts, the Knights strive to help athletes reach their full potential both on and off the ice.
Competitive Milestones
The Junior Knights have consistently expanded their competitive opportunities while achieving success across multiple levels of hockey.
- 2009: Youth teams earned USA Hockey Tier I status, establishing the program among the nation’s elite youth organizations.
- 2010: The organization launched junior hockey teams in the Atlantic Junior Hockey League (AJHL) and Metropolitan Junior Hockey League (MJHL), both USA Hockey Tier III leagues.
- 2013: The Knights captured the AJHL Championship, marking the program’s first junior league title.
- 2015: The organization acquired a North American Hockey League (NAHL) Tier II franchise, providing players with a direct pathway to one of North America’s premier junior leagues.
- 2018: The NAHL team recorded its most successful season, earning 30 wins, qualifying for the playoffs, and advancing to the Robertson Cup Championship after defeating the New Jersey Titans and Philadelphia Rebels.
Youth and Junior Programs
The Knights’ youth teams compete in the Atlantic Youth Hockey League (AYHL), the premier Tier I AAA travel hockey league on the East Coast, providing competition against many of the region’s top organizations.
In 2021, the organization earned USA Hockey Tier II status, expanding competitive opportunities at the state, regional, and national levels. That same year, the Knights acquired United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL) Elite and Premier Tier III franchises, creating a structured development pathway for players ages 16–20 pursuing advancement to Tier II junior hockey and NCAA opportunities.
In 2022, the organization joined the Atlantic Hockey Federation (AHF), a USA Hockey-sanctioned Tier II league featuring more than 250 teams. The addition of the AHF expanded competitive opportunities across multiple age groups and skill levels while strengthening the Knights’ player development pathway.
In 2018, new ownership acquired the rink and initiated a major revitalization of the facility. Upgrades included a new off-ice turf training area, fitness facility and weight room, RapidShot and RapidHands training systems, a skating treadmill, a luxury scouting lounge, upgraded boards and glass, an A/V press box, additional parking, new locker rooms, and a complete facility overhaul. These enhancements created an optimal environment for player development and scouting.
In 2022, the Knights were awarded a Tier II junior hockey franchise in the National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC), becoming the 14th member of the USPHL’s tuition-free Tier II conference. The NCDC’s strong track record of advancing players to NCAA programs and its recognition by NHL Central Scouting further strengthened the Knights’ position within North American Tier II hockey. These expansions reflected the program’s ongoing commitment to providing top-tier opportunities for athletes in northeastern Pennsylvania and beyond.
