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ECEL Welcomes North Carolina Force U16!

06/05/2019, 3:15pm EDT
By East Coast Elite League

North Carolina Force U16 to Compete in East Coast Elite League for 2019-2020 Season

We are proud to welcome the North Carolina Force U16 to the East Coast Elite League for the upcoming 2019-2020 season! Based out of the Raleigh Area, the Force plan to assemble the best players and coaches from the Carolinas to compete in all league events this year.

Excited to embark on their maiden voyage in the league, the Force hope to utilize their competitive U16 program as a springboard for preparing local players for the junior hockey ranks. More specifically, they wish to develop their players so that they are well-equipped to eventually suit up for their parent club of the Eastern Hockey League, the North Carolina Golden Bears.

“We were very impressed by the league's footprint in the Northeast. After competing in the Eastern Hockey League for a year, we see the importance of introducing the North Carolina kids to that hockey area earlier. This is where the college scouts are and to get used to that environment is important,” said owner Paul Strand. Led by head coach Bruce Crisp, the North Carolina Force hope to follow the recent success of their state’s very own Carolina Hurricanes. With the end-goal of sending players to NCAA teams after furthering them from U16 hockey to the Golden Bears, the Force come into the 2019-2020 season with high hopes of taking the East Coast Elite League by storm, developing local players, and allowing for academic development through missing less school due to the showcase format the league provides.

The East Coast Elite League provides extensive opportunities for players in U15, U16, and U18 divisions to develop and be scouted by some of the top junior and college teams across the nation. Top-tier venues paired with widespread exposure and goals of player progression provide unparalleled opportunities for amateur players to further their ice hockey careers.

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