New Jersey Rockets

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, and Copper City Chiefs. They became members of the Mid-Eastern Hockey League in 1975, remaining active until 1982.

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

• 11/4: New Jersey Rockets - Cheshire Blues 8:3
• 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
• 2/2: New Jersey Rockets - Cheshire Blues 8:3

Northeast United States Hockey League

• 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
• 2/24: Jersey Brewers - New Jersey Rockets 4:3

1974-75

• 11/16: New Jersey Rockets - Washington Chiefs 4:2
• 2/8: Washington Chiefs - New Jersey Rockets

Sources

• The Record
• The Morning Call