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Girard Leads Returning Class of Players

By Neil Ravin - Content Manager, 07/23/19, 10:00AM EDT

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EHL and EHLP Teams Each Prepare for New Season with High Hopes

TEWKSBURY, MA -- For many programs, a year that finished with 13 NCAA Commitments and both teams advancing to the Second Round of the playoffs, would be reflected on as a success. However for the Boston Jr. Rangers, the after-thoughts from the 2018-19 season have brought with them an "Unfinished Business" mentality. Don't get Rich DeCaprio wrong, he's very proud of the 13 players moving on to college hockey this fall, but he's also determined to help bring both of his junior teams back to Providence.

"It was simply a disappointing way for the season to finish," said DeCaprio, the EHL Head Coach and General Manager. "Both of our teams last year were good enough to make it to the Frozen Finals, but each group came up just short. The defeats have made Keith [Aucioin] and I that much more determined to make it back to the Frozen Finals, and to do so at both levels."

Two seasons ago (2017-18), the Rangers' team in the Eastern Hockey League (EHL) won their division and then advanced further then the program ever had before, on their way to the first-ever Frozen Finals at Providence College. Year in and year out, the top team of the Rangers' program has always been regarded as a contender, and Coach DeCaprio wants this to be the year where they are the last team standing.

As for the Eastern Hockey League Premier (EHLP) team, last year was the first time the Rangers had fallen short of at least reaching the finals. In each of the first three seasons of the EHLP, the Rangers advanced to the EHLP Finals, skating away as champions a pair of times. It's also worth noting that in each of the past two years, the Rangers have won the Regular Season Championship. Simply put, the EHLP team doesn't want an early exit in the 2019 playoffs to be known as the end of a dynasty.

Looking ahead to the new season on the horizon, and the Rangers organization as a whole has many returning players. Below you'll find a list of all the players, both EHL and EHLP, coming back for another year with the program.

  • Josh Barton
  • Jake Blackwell
  • Liam Brophy
  • Tanner Caldarola
  • Denis Engelson
  • Will Fisher
  • Connor Galloway
  • Jacob George
  • Mitch Gillespie
  • ​​​​​​​Billy Girard
  • ​​​​​​​Mitch Haight
  • Steve Johnson
  • Andrew Keith
  • Cam Libby
  • Brad Mackin
  • Duncan MaClellan
  • Matt McPherson
  • Jake Mecrones
  • Jonah Nash
  • Matt Orlando
  • Martin Pietraszek
  • Tom Skold
  • Max Stephens
  • Nick Weaver
  • Steve Wesley
  • Nathan Young
  • Emils Zelcs

With such a high retention rate, combined with 72 total NCAA Commitments since 2013, the numbers simply speak for themselves. The Rangers program owns top teams in the both the EHL and the EHLP, and both squads are ready to get a new season started.


Billy Girard ('99) joined the Rangers in early October this past season. In 24 starts, Girard owned a record of 14-6-4 to go along with a 2.31 GAA and a .929 save percentage. The netminder is a strong contender for this year's Goalie of the Year Award.