New Jersey Rockets

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The New Jersey Rockets (also known as the South Mountain Rockets) were a semi-pro team based in South Orange, New Jersey. They played an independent schedule at first, but joined the Garden State League for 1963-64. The Rockets withdrew from the league after the 1968-69 season, and played independently until 1973-74, when they played in the Northeast United States Hockey League with the Bergen Brewers, Long Island Koho Americans, High Lawn Jerseys, Cheshire Blues and Copper City Chiefs. They became members of the Mid-Eastern Hockey League in 1975, remaining active until 1984.

Results

1959-60
  • 3/27: New Jersey Rockets - Long Island Eagles

The Rockets were slated to play in the Eastern AHA Championship, but withdrew.

1960-61
  • 11/19: New Jersey Rockets - Baltimore Clippers 15:3
  • 2/19: New Jersey Rockets - Baltimore Clippers 4:1
  • 3/10: New York St. Nicholas - New Jersey Rockets 3:2
  • 4/8: New Jersey Rockets - Springfield Flyers 14:2

The Rockets played in the Eastern AHA Championship that March.

1961-62
  • 11/9: Renssaeler Polytechnic Institute - New Jersey Rockets 7:0
  • 2/24: New Jersey Rockets - New Jersey Mets
1962-63
  • 12/1: New Jersey Rockets - Baltimore Jr. Clippers 9:0
  • New Jersey Rockets - West Point Cadets 1:1
1968-69
  • 12/21: Bridgeport Home Oilers - New Jersey Rockets 9:3
  • New Jersey Rockets - Washington Chiefs 3:2
1969-70
  • 11/1: Bridgeport Home Oilers - New Jersey Rockets 11:2
  • 11/23: University of Pennsylvania - New Jersey Rockets
  • 12/21: New Jersey Rockets - Garden State All-Stars
  • 1/18: New Jersey Rockets - Washington Chiefs 7:2
  • 2/21: New Jersey Rockets - Washington Chiefs 9:1
1970-71
  • 11/22: New Jersey Rockets - High Lawn Jerseys 5:2
  • 12/12: New Jersey Rockets - Washington Chiefs 4:3
  • 12/26: New Jersey Rockets - Garden State All-Stars
  • 1/2: Bridgeport Home Oilers - New Jersey Rockets 5:3
  • 1/24: New Jersey Rockets - Washington Chiefs 10:1
  • 2/7: Bridgeport Home Oilers - New Jersey Rockets 6:4
  • 2/14: High Lawn Jerseys - New Jersey Rockets 6:4
  • 2/20: Washington Chiefs - New Jersey Rockets 4:4
  • 2/21: Washington Chiefs - New Jersey Rockets 4:3
1971-72
  • High Lawn Jerseys - New Jersey Rockets 5:3
  • 11/21: New Jersey Rockets - West New York Victorias
  • 11/28: Long Island Flyers - New Jersey Rockets 5:2
  • 12/5: New Jersey Rockets - New York Greenleafs
  • 12/12: New Jersey Rockets - Hartford Huskies 9:0
  • 12/26: New Jersey Rockets - Cranston Hockey Club 11:3
  • 1/9: New Jersey Rockets - Long Island Flyers
  • 1/15: New Jersey Rockets - Washington Chiefs 3:1
  • 1/23: High Lawn Jerseys - New Jersey Rockets 5:2
  • 2/10: Pennsylvania Freshmen - New Jersey Rockets 9:0
  • 3/4: Washington Chiefs - New Jersey Rockets 5:4
  • 3/5: Washington Chiefs - New Jersey Rockets
  • 3/12: New Jersey Rockets - Wissahickon Hockey Club
  • 3/26: New Jersey Rockets - Granite State League All-Stars

Rockets were 8-5-1 as of 2/3.

1972-73
  • 11/5: New Jersey Rockets - New York St. Nicholas
  • 11/11: Washington Chiefs beat New Jersey Rockets
  • 11/12: New Jersey Rockets - Newark Brewers
  • 12/17: New Jersey Rockets - Lenox Jerseys 6:5
  • 1/6: Washington Chiefs - New Jersey Rockets 6:0
  • 1/13: New Jersey Rockets - New York Greenleafs
  • 1/20: Lenox Jerseys - New Jersey Rockets 6:6
  • 1/21: New Jersey Rockets - Washington Chiefs 2:1 OT
  • 2/4: New Jersey Rockets - Newark Brewers
  • 2/18: New Jersey Rockets - Renssaeler Polytechnic Institute
  • 3/4: New Jersey Rockets - West Haven Flyers
  • 3/11: New Jersey Rockets - Newark Brewers
  • 3/25: New Jersey Rockets - Long Island Koho Americans

Essex County Holiday Tournament

  • 11/25: Lenox Jerseys - West Haven Blues (CT) 6:2
  • 11/25: New Jersey Rockets - Rutgers University 11:1
  • 11/26: Lenox Jerseys - New Jersey Rockets 5:4

Rockets went 15-6-2 on the season.

1973-74
  • 11/25: Lenox Jerseys - New Jersey Rockets 6:3 - South Mountain Tournament
  • 11/25: Cheshire Blues - New Jersey Rockets 4:3 OT - "
  • 12/1: Washington Chiefs - New Jersey Rockets
  • 1/?: New Jersey Rockets - Washington Chiefs 3:1 - Rockets 8-9 overall on the season after game

Northeast United States Hockey League

  • 11/4: New Jersey Rockets - Cheshire Blues 8:3
  • 11/10: Lenox Jerseys - New Jersey Rockets 3:1
  • 11/11: New Jersey Rockets - Long Island Koho Americans
  • 12/23: New Jersey Rockets - Long Island Koho Americans
  • Bergen Brewers - New Jersey Rockets 5:4 OT
  • 1/27: Bergen Brewers - New Jersey Rockets 6:5
  • 2/2: New Jersey Rockets - Cheshire Blues 8:3
  • 2/24: Jersey Brewers - New Jersey Rockets 4:3

Standings as of 1/25

  1. Copper City Chiefs 7-0-0-14
  2. Bergen Brewers 5-2-0-10
  3. Lenox Jerseys 4-2-0-8
  4. New Jersey Rockets 2-3-0-4
  5. Long Island Koho Americans 0-5-0-0
  6. Cheshire Blues 0-6-0-0
1974-75
  • 11/10: New Jersey Rockets - Rockland Colonials
  • 11/16: New Jersey Rockets - Washington Chiefs 4:2
  • 12/8: Rockland Colonials - New Jersey Rockets 1:0
  • 12/15: New Jersey Rockets - Rockland Colonials 3:3 OT
  • 2/8: Washington Chiefs - New Jersey Rockets
  • 2/23: Rockland Colonials - New Jersey Rockets 6:3
  • 2/28: New Jersey Rockets - Rockland Colonials 5:4
1975-76

Mid-Eastern League

  • Rockland Colonials - Jersey Rovers 8:3
  • New Jersey Rockets - Jersey Rovers 7:3
  • Newark Sabres - Jersey Rovers 15:1
  • 11/23: Rockland Colonials - Newark Sabres 2:1
  • 11/30: Rockland Colonials - New Jersey Rockets 6:3
  • 12/12: Rockland Colonials - Newark Sabres 7:4
  • 12/14: New Jersey Rockets - Newark Sabres 7:6
  • 12/19: Newark Sabres - Rockland Colonials 3:1
  • 1/3: Rockland Colonials - New Jersey Rockets 7:4
  • 1/16: Rockland Colonials - Newark Sabres 14:0
  • 1/17: New Jersey Rockets - Jersey Rovers 7:1
  • 1/31: Rockland Colonials - New Jersey Rockets 8:3
  • 2/1: Rockland Colonials - Jersey Rovers 10:5
  • 2/7: Jersey Rovers - New Jersey Rockets 4:4
  • 2/14: New Jersey Rockets - Rockland Colonials 6:3
  • 2/28: New Jersey Rockets - Jersey Rovers 8:1
  • 3/6: New Jersey Rockets - Jersey Rovers 6:0
  • 3/7: New Jersey Rockets - Newark Sabres 11:4
  • 3/13: New Jersey Rockets - Rockland Colonials 4:2
  • 3/14: New Jersey Rockets - Newark Sabres 5:3
  • 3/14: Rockland Colonials - Jersey Rovers 10:0 - semifinal - Colonials won series 2-0
  • 3/21: New Jersey Rockets - Newark Sabres 3:2 - " - Rockets won series 2-0
  • 3/28: Rockland Colonials - New Jersey Rockets 3:2 - final
  • 4/2: New Jersey Rockets - Rockland Colonials 4:2 - "
  • 4/4: New Jersey Rockets - Rockland Colonials 5:4 OT - "

Standings as of 2/6

  1. Rockland Colonials 12-1-0-24 108:40
  2. Newark Sabres 6-6-0-12 60:63
  3. New Jersey Rockets 5-4-0-10 49:40
  4. Jersey Rovers 0-12-0-0 34:108
1976-77
  • 11/21: New Jersey Rockets - White Plains Plainsmen 5:1
  • 12/18: Boston Budmen - New Jersey Rockets 12:6
  • 1/8: New Jersey Rockets - Concord Coachmen 8:7
  • 1/22: Ithaca Stars - New Jersey Rockets 6:3
  • 2/12: Princeton Hockey Club - New Jersey Rockets 9:5 - Rockets 6-7-2 after game

Mid-Eastern League

  • 11/8: New Jersey Rockets - Bricktown Seahawks 4:4
  • 11/13: New Jersey Rockets - Florham Park Cobras 5:4
  • 11/27: New Jersey Colonials - New Jersey Rockets 7:5
  • 12/4: New Jersey Rockets - Pennsylvania Eagles 20:2
  • 12/5: New Jersey Colonials - New Jersey Rockets 6:5 - Colonials 6-1, Rockets 4-2-1 after game
  • 1/16: Bricktown Seahawks - New Jersey Rockets 7:2
  • 1/29: New Jersey Rockets - Florham Park Cobras 5:3
  • 2/15: New Jersey Rockets - Florham Park Cobras 5:3
  • 2/26: New Jersey Colonials - New Jersey Rockets 6:5
  • 3/5: Bricktown Seahawks - New Jersey Rockets 8:7 - semifinal
  • 3/13: New Jersey Rockets - Bricktown Seahawks 7:2 - " - Rockets won series, 2-1
  • New Jersey Colonials - Florham Park Cobras - "
  • 3/20: New Jersey Colonials - New Jersey Rockets 4:3 OT - final

Standings as of 2/16

  1. New Jersey Colonials 11-1-0-22
  2. Bricktown Seahawks 9-3-3-21
  3. New Jersey Rockets 6-6-2-14
  4. Florham Park Cobras 3-12-1-7
  5. Pennsylvania Eagles 0-7-0-0

Colonials finished 14-2-0, Seahawks 10-3-3.

1977-78

Mid-Eastern League

Standings as of 2/10

  1. Bergen-Rockland Colonials 13-7-1-27
  2. Cherry Hill Cyclones 13-6-0-26
  3. New Jersey Rockets 9-8-3-21
  4. Racquet & Rink Rebels 8-7-3-19
  5. Florham Park Cobras 0-17-1-1
  • 2/11: Cherry Hill Cyclones - Florham Park Cobras 10:4
  • 2/12: Cherry Hill Cyclones - New Jersey Rockets 8:5
  • 2/18: Cherry Hill Cyclones - Racquet & Rink Rebels 4:2
  • 2/19: Bergen-Rockland Colonials - Cherry Hill Cyclones 7:3
  • 3/5: Cherry Hill Cyclones - Racquet & Rink Rebels 5:3 - Cherry Hill clinched first place
  • 3/19: Cherry Hill Cyclones - New Jersey Rockets 7:4 - semifinal
  • 3/25: New Jersey Rockets - Cherry Hill Cyclones 5:4 - "
  • 4/1: New Jersey Rockets - Cherry Hill Cyclones 6:4 - "
  • Racquet & Rink Rebels - Bergen-Rockland Colonials - "
  • 4/8: Racquet & Rink Rebels - New Jersey Rockets 4:3 OT - final
  • 4/15: Racquet & Rink Rebels - New Jersey Rockets - "
1978-79

Mid-Eastern League

Final standings

  1. Bergen-Rockland Colonials 15-2-1-31
  2. New Jersey Rockets 11-5-2-24
  3. Essex Cobras 7-10-1-15
  4. Jersey Shore Privateers 1-17-0-2
  • New Jersey Rockets - Essex Cobras 9:4 - semifinal
  • Essex Cobras - New Jersey Rockets 5:3 - "
  • 3/24: New Jersey Rockets - Essex Cobras 8:2 - "
  • 3/31: New Jersey Rockets - Bergen-Rockland Colonials 4:3 - final
  • 4/8: New Jersey Rockets - Bergen-Rockland Colonials - " - Rockets won series
1979-80
  • 12/8: New Jersey Rockets - Bristol Badgers 9:2
  • 12/15: New Jersey Rockets - Dutchess Blues 8:4
  • 1/26: New Jersey Rockets - Baltimore Blazers 7:2
  • 3/2: Dutchess Blues - New Jersey Rockets 14:1

Eastern Atlantic Hockey League

  • 11/3: New Jersey Rockets - Bergen-Rockland Colonials 4:3
  • 11/10: New Jersey Rockets - Essex Cobras 8:0
  • 11/11: New Jersey Rockets - Bricktown Privateers 16:2
  • 12/1: New Jersey Rockets - Bergen-Rockland Colonials 5:2
  • 12/22: New Jersey Rockets - Essex Cobras 12:3
  • 12/29: New Jersey Rockets - Bergen-Rockland Colonials 4:4
  • 1/5: Bergen-Rockland Colonials - New Jersey Rockets 5:4
  • 1/12: New Jersey Rockets - Essex Cobras 4:3
  • 1/13: New Jersey Rockets - Bricktown Privateers 11:5
  • 1/27: New Jersey Rockets - Bricktown Privateers 7:4
  • 2/9: New Jersey Rockets - Bricktown Privateers 11:1
  • 2/22: Bergen-Rockland Colonials - New Jersey Rockets 5:2
  • 2/23: Bergen-Rockland Colonials - New Jersey Rockets 4:3

The New Jersey Rockets beat the Bergen-Rockland Colonials to win the playoff championship.

1980-81

Eastern Atlantic Hockey League

  • 11/8: New Jersey Rockets - Newark Sabres
  • 11/15: New Jersey Rockets - Bergen-Rockland Colonials 5:4
  • 11/23: Dutchess Blues - Bergen-Rockland Colonials 6:4
  • 11/30: Dutchess Blues - Newark Sabres 7:5
  • 12/13: New Jersey Rockets - Bergen-Rockland Colonials
  • 12/14: Dutchess Blues - New Jersey Rockets 9:2
  • 12/22: New Jersey Rockets - Bricktown Privateers
  • 12/27: New Jersey Rockets - Dutchess Blues
  • 1/4: Dutchess Blues - Bricktown Privateers 9:2
  • 1/10: New Jersey Rockets - Bricktown Privateers
  • 1/11: Dutchess Blues - Newark Sabres 11:3
  • 1/17: New Jersey Rockets - Newark Sabres
  • 1/18: Bergen-Rockland Colonials - Dutchess Blues 5:4
  • 1/31: New Jersey Rockets - Bricktown Privateers 10:4
  • 2/1: Dutchess Blues - Bricktown Privateers 6:5
  • 2/7: New Jersey Rockets - Bricktown Privateers
  • 2/15: Dutchess Blues - Newark Sabres 5:4
  • 2/21: Dutchess Blues - New Jersey Rockets 7:5
  • 2/28: New Jersey Rockets - Bergen-Rockland Colonials 1:0
  • 3/8: Dutchess Blues - Bergen-Rockland Colonials 4:4
  • 3/15: Dutchess Blues - Newark Sabres Forfeit - semifinal
  • 3/23: Bergen-Rockland Colonials - New Jersey Rockets 3:1 - "
  • 3/29: Dutchess Blues - Bergen-Rockland Colonials 6:6 - final - second game cancelled

Blues finished regular season 10-5-1, Newark Sabres 7-9.

1981-82
  • 11/7: New Jersey Rockets - Pennsylvania Badgers
  • 11/14: New Jersey Rockets - Baltimore Blazers
  • 11/21: New Jersey Rockets - Bergen-Rockland Colonials
  • 11/28: New Jersey Rockets - Scarborough (ON)
  • 1/9: New Jersey Rockets - Hamilton (ON) 12:4
  • 2/6: New Jersey Rockets - Long Island Digs
  • 2/13: New Jersey Rockets - New York City Firemen 7:3

Eastern Atlantic Hockey League

  • 11/6: Bergen-Rockland Colonials - New Jersey Rockets 6:4
  • 11/15: Bergen-Rockland Colonials - Dutchess Blues 6:1
  • 11/22: Dutchess Blues - New York Raiders 9:1
  • 12/5: New Jersey Rockets - Dutchess Blues 8:4
  • 12/9: Bergen-Rockland Colonials - New York Raiders 5:3
  • 12/17: Dutchess Blues - New York Raiders 5:1
  • 12/19: New Jersey Rockets - Connecticut Raiders
  • 12/20: Dutchess Blues - Bergen-Rockland Colonials 4:1
  • 1/10: Dutchess Blues - New Jersey Rockets 10:2
  • 1/16: New Jersey Rockets - Bergen-Rockland Colonials 6:4
  • 1/24: Bergen-Rockland Colonials - Dutchess Blues 6:4
  • 1/30: New Jersey Rockets - Connecticut Raiders 5:1
  • 2/7: Dutchess Blues - New Jersey Rockets 7:5
  • 2/20: Bergen-Rockland Colonials - New Jersey Rockets 2:1
  • 2/27: New Jersey Rockets - Dutchess Blues
  • 2/28: Dutchess Blues - New York Raiders 7:5
  • 3/13: Dutchess Blues - New Jersey Rockets 5:4 - semifinal
  • 3/23: Bergen-Rockland Colonials - Dutchess Blues 2:1 - final
  • 3/28: Bergen-Rockland Colonials - Dutchess Blues 6:2 - "

Note: New York Raiders were also referred to as Connecticut Raiders.

1982-83

Eastern Atlantic Hockey League

  • 11/6: New Jersey Rockets - Dutchess Blues 5:3
  • 11/21: Dutchess Blues - New Jersey Rockets 3:3
  • 12/4: Bergen-Rockland Colonials - New Jersey Rockets 7:3
  • 12/5: Bergen-Rockland Colonials - Dutchess Blues 5:4
  • 12/10: Bergen-Rockland Colonials - Connecticut Raiders 10:8
  • 12/11: Connecticut Raiders - Dutchess Blues 7:6
  • 1/7: Bergen-Rockland Colonials - New Jersey Rockets 5:4
  • 1/23: Dutchess Blues - Connecticut Raiders 4:1
  • 1/28: Bergen-Rockland Colonials - Dutchess Blues 3:2
  • 2/4: New Jersey Rockets - Bergen-Rockland Colonials 5:5
  • 2/6: New Jersey Rockets - Dutchess Blues 7:5
  • 2/13: Bergen-Rockland Colonials' - Dutchess Blues 4:2
  • 2/27: Bergen-Rockland Colonials - Connecticut Raiders 5:3
  • 3/20: Dutchess Blues - Bergen-Rockland Colonials 5:4
1983-84
  • 12/20: Bergen-Rockland Colonials - New Jersey Rockets 6:1

Eastern Atlantic Hockey League

  • 11/6: Dutchess Blues - New Jersey Rockets 3:3
  • 11/12: Dutchess Blues - New Jersey Rockets 4:4
  • Bergen-Rockland Colonials - Connecticut Raiders 6:3
  • Bergen-Rockland Colonials - New Jersey Rockets 10:7
  • New Jersey Rockets - Bergen-Rockland Colonials 3:2
  • Connecticut Raiders - Bergen-Rockland Colonials 8:6
  • Dutchess Blues - Bergen-Rockland Colonials 9:1
  • 12/11: Dutchess Blues - Bergen-Rockland Colonials 4:1
  • 12/17: Bergen-Rockland Colonials - Connecticut Raiders 5:5
  • 12/27: New Jersey Rockets - Connecticut Raiders
  • 1/15: Bergen-Rockland Colonials - Dutchess Blues 8:1
  • 1/28: Bergen-Rockland Colonials - Connecticut Raiders 4:1
  • 2/18: Bergen-Rockland Colonials - New Jersey Rockets 8:3
  • New Jersey Rockets - Dutchess Blues - semifinal
  • 3/17: Dutchess Blues - New Jersey Rockets 8:4 - "
  • 3/18: Dutchess Blues - New Jersey Rockets 7:3 - "
  • Bergen-Rockland Colonials - Connecticut Raiders - "
  • 3/25: Bergen-Rockland Colonials - Dutchess Blues 6:4 - final

Sources

  • The Record
  • The Morning Call