Jersey Rockhoppers


The Jersey Rockhoppers were a professional ice hockey team based in West Orange, New Jersey, in the United States. They played the 2008-2009 season as members of the Eastern Professional Hockey League and played at the 2,500 seat Richard J. Codey Arena.
The Rockhoppers name was chosen by the team's owners after a name the team contest. The owners decided on an animal name, co-owner Igor Mrotchek stated “We think that Rockhoppers makes a nice match and is identifiable with grace, agility and an aggressive nature compared to other penguins”.
The 2008-09 Rockhoppers were coached by Brian Gratz. On March 28, 2009, the Rockhoppers won the EPHL Championship by defeating the Brooklyn Aces 2 games to 1.

Notable players

On March 21 and 22, 2009, former New York Ranger great, Ron Duguay, suited up to play two games in the EPHL, one game with the Brooklyn Aces and the other with the Jersey Rockhoppers, to raise money for the Garden of Dreams Foundation, a nonprofit organization associated with Madison Square Garden.

Roster