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Atlanta Fire Join 16U Elite Division

05/01/2019, 12:00pm EDT
By Nick Cataldi

Guilford, Conn. May 1, 2019-The East Coast Elite League (ECEL) is proud to announce that the Atlanta Fire is joining the ECEL in the 16U Division for the upcoming season. 

The Atlanta Fire program is located in Alpharetta, Georgia, located less than 25 miles from the metropolitan city of Atlanta and the first team from the Southeast to join the league. 

“The Atlanta Fire hockey club est. 1998 is proud to join the ECEL league at the 16U division. We are looking forward to joining some of the top hockey organizations in the country and expose our players to high-level competition, as well as great exposure in the northeast to both prep schools and junior hockey clubs.” Said Fire Director Curtis Morrison

The Atlanta Fire program is very competitive and will help the ECEL balance of the league. "We are excited to welcome the Atlanta Fire to our league. The Fire program has had a history of success and developing players. I’m thrilled to work with directors, Steve Jacobs, and Curtis Morrison.” said ECEL Commissioner Peter Alden. 

The Atlanta Fire is in a non-traditional hockey market but has sent a lot of players to college programs. In total, the Fire has sent 18 players to Division 1 schools including North Dakota, UMASS Lowell, Northeastern University, Boston University (BU) and UMaine. They even produced an NHL Draft Pick in Chase Pearson who just signed his entry-level deal with the Detriot Red Wings in March. It also has sent a player to the OHL, and 19 players to Division 3 schools throughout its program history.  

“Our organization is coming off 3 straight tier 2 national championships, and looking to continue to develop players ready to play at the next level of the game.” Added Morrison.

As a program, the Fire is just as committed to the off-ice development, as much as they are for on-ice growth. On the team website, it lists five values that the team is committed to developing off the ice, the student, character, hard work, persistence, dreamers, and family. "To have a program, that is this committed to off the ice development, as well as on the ice development is a good thing because that is the job of us as coaches and programs to turn these players into young men and high-level players," added Alden.    

Founded in 2013, the East Coast Elite League is a four-weekend showcase series that will provide maximum exposure for its member organizations and their players, by playing in top venues, in ideal scouting locations. Spread across the U15, U16, and U18 divisions and represented by several of the top hockey organizations across the country, the ECEL is the premier showcase series in the United States, unmatched in its format and exposure opportunities. For more information on the ECEL, log on to http://www.ecelhockey.com or on Twitter @ECELHockey.

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