After an historic season full of firsts (with another big one still on the horizon), the USPHL and its Tuition-Free Tier II National Collegiate Development Conference, are proud to announce the P.A.L. Junior Islanders as the 2022-23 NCDC Organization of the Year.
“It’s a great honor,” said fourth-year head coach Mike Marcou. “It’s always nice to be recognized and that’s something that we all work for from the top down. We’re all about doing the right things every day to help our players and that’s what makes our team special.”
The organization was originally founded as the Police Athletic League and partnered with the Suffolk County Police Department all the way back in 1974. Islanders General Manager Ron Kinnear played on that first Peewee team and is a P.A.L. lifer. He’s been with the program since day one and has watched it grow from a small town youth club into the largest Juniors organization in New York state....SEE FULL STORY
Join us in congratulating Coach Mike Marcou for being awarded the 2022-23 Ryan Frew Memorial Coach Of The Year Award by the USPHL for the NCDC! As a former P.A.L. youth player, Coach Marcou has shown incredible dedication to our organization, and we couldn't be prouder of him...SEE FULL STORY
Under his leadership, the PAL Jr. Islanders NCDC team achieved their best points total ever, just one point off first overall. And now, they're headed to the Dineen Cup Finals! What an amazing accomplishment!
Coach Marcou, thank you for your unwavering commitment to the team and for inspiring us all to be our best. You truly deserve this award, and we can't wait to see what the future holds.
The PAL Jr Islanders NCDC team has advanced to the Finals of the NCDC Dineen Cup Playoffs. The team advanced after defeating the Mercr Chiefs in 2 straight games of their best of 3 series. The Jr Islanders won Game 1 by a 2-1 score on 3/24. They then closed out the series in Game 2 on 3/25 as they won 3-2. Both games in the series were decided in OT.
Best of luck to the players and coaches as they next face-off against the South Shore Kings in another best of 3 series to crown the NCDC Champion.
GAME SCHEDULE (all games at Northwell Health Ice Center):
The PAL Hockey 16U AA team will be participating in the Chipotle-USA Hockey National Championship Tournament. The games will take place March 30th thru April 3rd in Amherst, NY.
USA Hockey will be streaming all of the Chipotle-USA Hockey National Championships action live and on-demand at USAHockeyTV.com. There will be both free and subscription-based content, with a subscription required for Nationals viewing. See all options available at USAHockeyTV.com
Youth Tryouts 23-24 Season - PAL, Jr Islanders & Rinx
by posted 03/20/2023
We are pleased to announce that Tryouts for our 2023-2024 season Youth level teams (8U/Mite thru 14U/Bantam at Tier I, II & III) have now been scheduled.
Check out the link below for the times and dates for the various levels.
Please note, that if you are trying out for any PAL/Jr Islanders/Sound Tigers/Rinx team and are coming from another organization, that a signed, original release must be presented at the tryout.
The 2023 Futures Camp through the Youngstown Phantoms and Black Bear Sports Group, provides younger players (2008 - 2010 brith years) exposure to Junior 'A' scouts and coaches from the USHL, NAHL, EHL, NCDC and select NCAA Division I and III coaches. Take the ice with Junior and College coaches and experience high-intensity practices at the next level...REGISTRATION NOW OPEN
The 1st Annual Black Bear/P.A.L. Jr. Islanders Symposium was recently held. A presentation was given to the attendees to learn more about how the pathway to junior and college hockey has been enhanced within our organization,. There were introductions to key members of Black Bear junior staff, as well as ours...SEE THE PRESENTATION
For more information, please email Ron Kinnear at ronkinn@icloud.com.
Our journal for the 2022-2023 season is now available to view. Thank you to all the players, coaches, families, administrators and sponsors who support our programs and the organization as a whole.
The P.A.L. Jr Islanders are proud to announce the return of Aleksey Nikiforov as the Head Coach of the Junior Elite team for the 2023-2024 season! Coach Nikiforov brings a wealth of experience in coaching, and in the development of players. He is one of the preeminent members of the hockey community. We are proud, happy and thrilled that he will continue his association with our organization.
P.A.L. Ice Hockey/Jr Islanders would like to thank all players that participated in our team tryouts for the 2022 – 2023 season.
Please visit our Tryout Results pages listed below for the players selected for teams at each level. Also, you will need to print out, complete and bring forms with you to Roster Signing Night:
USA Hockey has amended the waiting period for tryouts for the 2023 season - see info below:
***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***
The Jewish holiday of Passover begins at Sundown on April 5th, 2023. This also coincides with the 48-hour rule for tryouts after the last game of the National Championships. With this, the USA Hockey Youth Council has overwhelmingly voted to shorten the tryout restriction to 24 hours FOR 2023 ONLY. With this, the official time for any tryout will be after 12:45 PM EST on April 4th,2023. Please communicate this information with your constituents and programs in your respective Sections.