Wayne, NJ - After battling through an injury filled 2006-2007 junior campaign, Mark Armstrong had to do some soul searching. In the spring of 2007 Armstrong underwent knee surgery to repair a torn ACL which had given him problems throughout the year. After rehabbing, Armstrong turned his career around. He changed his habits, his lifestyle, and dropped 18 lbs, coming back to the Hitmen at a lean 185 lbs, but more importantly ready to lead a youthful team. That September, Armstrong was named captain of the Jersey Hitmen, this just one season after being hampered by the knee, he put up a 9-7-16 scoring line in 38 games, but his teammates saw the determination on his face, and he was leading by example.
 
The 2007-2008 season would prove to be a memorable one for Armstrong as he would lead his Hitmen team from cellar dwellers in 06-07 to first place in 07-08. Not only did he lead them to a regular season EJHL crown, but Armstrong scored the game winning goal in the Championship game to lead the Hitmen to their first ever EJHL title (in just their fourth year of existence).
 
"Mark was a leader in every sense of the word," commented head coach Toby Harris. "He lead the team stretches, he made sure everyone arrived to the rink on time, he scored big goals, he did it all...."
 
In the spring of 2008 Armstrong made his college commitment choosing St Lawrence University. In two seasons, the 6'2, 190 pound Armstrong has a 9-6-15 scoring line in 51 games, but has brought more to the table than just points.
 
"Mark is an intense competitor," said assistant coach Bob Prier. "He comes to work everyday and makes the players around him better." This attention to detail in Armstrong's game and approach did not go unnoticed as this spring Armstrong was invited to compete in the defending Stanley Cup champion, Chicago Blackhawks, NHL developmental camp.
 
"The camp was awesome," commented Armstrong. "I scored a couple of goals, but the most exciting thing was that they told me that they would keep an eye on me this season and would want to talk with me after this year." Armstrong opened a lot of eyes at camp with his play, but also impressed the Chicago staff as he finished 7th out of 72 in the Blackhawks physical testing.
 
Armstrong and the Saints open their season on Saturday October 10th when they face-off against Canadian University, Carleton College, in exhibition action.

Wayne, NJ - Hitmen alum Bryan Haczyk (Secaucus, NJ) has been invited to participate in the New Jersey Devils summer NHL Development Camp, which will run from July 11-17 at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. The camp is designed for the team’s entry-level players, unsigned draft picks and invited undrafted players.

“This is a huge honor just to be invited and I’m going to do my best to make the most of this opportunity,” said Haczyk. “Bryan is a smart, solid hockey player, with incredible speed” said Hitmen head coach/gm Toby Harris.  “He has the physical tools to be a difference maker. On the ice, he has a world of talent, off the ice, he’s a classy kid and a great teammate. We wish him luck...”
 
In two seasons with the Hitmen, Haczyk played 81 games and logged a 24-51-75 line. He was also and EJHL all-star and the team's leading scorer in 2004-2005. Now 23 years old, Haczyk has spent the past three seasons with Niagara University in the CHA. In 109 games with the Purple Eagles, Haczyk has collected 18 goals and 32 assists. In 2008 Haczyk was named to the CHA all-academic team.

Hitmen alum leads Boston University with 3.89 GPA

 

Boston, MA - Former Jersey Hitmen defenseman Ryan Ruikka was awarded Boston University’s Regina Eilberg Scholarship awarded to the player with the team’s highest grade point average. The sophomore economics major achieved a 3.89 grade point average, continuing his pattern of success in the classroom that saw him collect Hockey East academic all-star honors as a freshman with the second-highest GPA of any league defenseman. A native of Chelsea, MI, Ruikka left the USHL to be the assistant captain on the Hitmen’s 2008 EJHL Championship team as well as an EJHL all-star.