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NORTH JERSEY AVALANCHE

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JOHN MUSTARD

AN AVALANCHE OF SUCCESS

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IT WAS LATER SUMMER IN 2013 when the Avalanche hockey office received an email from a Sheldon Mustard mentioning that his family would be moving from Ontario to New Jersey in the Fall — Sheldon was reaching out to see if their son, John, would be able to find a Mite hockey team to play on for the upcoming season.  At that point, hockey tryouts had been completed for nearly seven months, and all of the Avalanche teams were already picked.  Since the Mustard family wouldn’t be moving until the end of September, Sheldon mentioned that they’d be willing to drive down earlier so John could be evaluated.  Despite the obvious dedication, the hockey office planned to get John on the ice at the beginning of October once the Mustards were officially moved to the States.   

 

John stepped onto the ice at the Ice House for his “evaluation” on Wednesday, October 2nd, 2013.  By the following Monday it was official: John Mustard was a member of the Avalanche family.

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My time at the Avalanche was amazing.  I have not only enhanced my skills and became a better player, I also became a better person, learning how to be a good teammate and a coachable player. 

— John Mustard

The Avalanche program prepared me very well to step into a higher level of hockey. The skills that I developed over the years made it a smooth transition to the USHL.

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— John Mustard

John, who began in the 8U program and went on to play 10 consecutive years in the Avalanche organization through 16U, has been having an exemplary year — including scoring the game-winning overtime goal in the Chipotle All-American Prospects Game, John has been voted Rookie of the Year for the 2023-24 USHL hockey season, along with being drafted 67th overall in the NHL Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks.  His 60-game award-winning season with the Waterloo Black Hawks included him netting 29 goals and 27 assists for a total of 56 points, where he led the USHL for rookie scoring.

Having played 5 straight years of AAA hockey at 10U, 12U, and 14U, John played a single season at the Bantam AA level after not being selected for the Bantam Major AAA team.  Instead of leaving the Avalanche to find another AAA team, John and his family stayed with the program, playing on a competitive Bantam AA for Coach Tom Natoli.

The coaching staff for the 14U AA team was amazing from the beginning … [they] really pushed the team concepts of hockey … totally what John needed at that time.  We are tremendously grateful to the coaching staff and fellow families we played with that year for such an amazing season. 

Playing 14AA helped John develop different parts of his game that made him a much more well-rounded player.  He left 14AA ready to jump back up to the Tier I level with a lot of confidence in his game. 

— Sheldon Mustard

— Tom Natoli (Avs 14U AA Head Coach)

Completing the Bantam AA season while leading the team in goals and points, John went on to play two seasons with the Avalanche 15P and 16U AAA teams, where he truly found his stride as a player, again leading the 16U team with both goals and points.

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Johnny is dedicated to his craft, extremely coachable and in love with the game - it is no surprise that he has been rewarded for his passion to the game of hockey. 

— Anthony Day (Avs 16U AAA Head Coach 22-23)

Congrats to John for all of his success, we are all very proud of him.  And congrats to his family for their patience in understanding that player development is a process and is rarely a straight line.  His story is truly a lesson for all youth hockey parents: enjoy each year, make great friends, and develop life long memories — if your son or daughter has a love for the game, athletic ability, and the desire to succeed, they will rise to the top.

— Dan May (North Jersey Avalanche President)

Next, John will be heading to Providence College where he will play NCAA Division 1 College Hockey.  Yet no matter where John plays hockey, or where the next part of his life and already successful hockey career takes him, he will always be a member of the Avalanche family, and he will always have a home at the Ice House.

For all the younger players with big goals of playing AAA and pursuing hockey at the highest levels, I would emphasize how important it is to stay in the moment and value everyday you have at the rink to enjoy having fun playing the sport you love.

— John Mustard

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Avalanche Alumni

Professional

Mustard, John | Waterloo Black Hawks | Providence College | Chicago Blackhawks

Hutson, LaneUSA NTDP | Boston University | Montreal Canadiens

Carroll, Ryan | Tabor Academy | Harvard University | Kalamazoo Wings

Ebert, Nick | Ontario Hockey League | LA Kings

Pesce, Brett | University of New Hampshire | Carolina Hurricanes, New Jersey Devils

Radoslovich, Matt | Boston University | Trenton Devils

Ritter, Stephen | Tabor Academy | Providence College | DEL

    

Division I

Hutson, ColeUSA NTDP | Boston University

Hutson, Quinn | Muskegon Lumberjacks | Boston University

Abruzzese, Nicholas | University of Vermont 

Agriogianis, Steven | Delbarton School | USHL | Penn State University 

Ammerman, Brittany | NAHA | University of Wisconsin 

Ammerman, Brooke | NAHA | University of Wisconsin 

Badini, Jack | USHL | Harvard University 

Baiocco, John | Yale University 

Birdsall, Chris | Boston College 

Burns, RJ | EJHL | West Point 

Caffrey, Joe | Choate Rosemary Hall | Harvard University 

Cameron, Matthew Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 

Carroccio, Ben Andover Yale University 

Clare, Kevin National Team Development Program University of Michigan 

Colvin, Dan Kent West Point 

Cucci, Joe Bentley College 

DiMurro, Diarmad Dartmouth College 

Goehring, Todd Sacred Heart University 

Grando, Chris USHL Boston College 

Hagen, Alex Choate Rosemary Hall St. Lawrence University 

Hampton, Bobby USHL Northeastern University 

Ivanir, Daniel Penn State University 

Johnstone, Marc USHL Sacred Heart University 

Jozefek, Grant Northeastern University 

Knowlton, Chris Des Moines Buccaneers University of Denver 

Kodsi, Cole Michigan State University 

LaScala, Maria Sacred Heart University 

Markison, Colin Jersey Hitmen University of Vermont 

Matteo, Chris Penn State University 

Melanson, Drew Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 

Morris, Matt Dubuque Fighting Saints University of Maine 

Novak, Max Hill School Union College 

O'Connor, Drew Delbarton School Dartmouth College 

Orzetti, Charles Yale University 

Palecco, Dante Yale University 

Parker, John Indiana Ice Bemidji State University 

Privitera, Alexx National Team Development Program Boston University 

Privitera, Jarrid The Gunnery School University of Vermont 

Rauter, Alex Choate Rosemary Hall Cornell University 

Robbins, Justin Quinnipiac University 

Rosenthal, Ryan Kent School University of Vermont 

Samuelsson, Adam NTDP Boston College 

Selman, Justin USHL University of Michigan 

Seyfert, Jordan | Merrimack College 

Stephanick, Jason USHL SUNY Geneseo 

Sternschein, Sam Cornell University 

Stoul, Valerie NAHA University of Vermont 

Tabakin, Brandon NTDP Yale University 

Tsangeas, Angelo Sacred Heart University 

Varley, Connor Penn State University 

Wisocky, Evan USHL University of Connecticut 

Wynne, Conner Browne University 

Wyszomirski, Craig | The Gunnery School Merrimack College 

Yelovich, Anthony | The Gunnery School Sacred Heart University 

Znutas, Mark Hotchkiss Holy Cross 

    

Division III

Adams, Dave Shattuck St. Mary’s St. Olaf 

Barr, Alex Brighton Academy Ajax Attack Curry College 

Bertin, Erik Deerfield Academy Bowdin College 

Bishop, Tyler UMass - Boston 

Bustard, Jordan | UMass - Boston 

Carroll, Matt Salve Regina University 

Ciotti, Michael AJHL Trinity College 

Dipiazza, Carlo NJ Rockets Jr A Fitchburg State 

Doyle, Matt Deerfield Academy Williams College 

Goffredo, John Northwood Fitchburg State 

Janson, Mike AJHL Assumption College 

Kang, Robert Andover Academy St. Anselm 

Kinney, Jimmy Williams College 

Kreisinger, Greg Choate Hobart College 

Latta, Rich Tabor Academy UMass - Dartmouth 

Leiser, Bobby Fitchburg State 

Lento, John Cushing Becker College 

Loebs, Sean Fitchburg State 

Lunau, Steve Williams College 

McKillop, Liam AJHL St. Anselm 

Moore, Drew Framingham 

Perrone, Jenn Trinity College 

Pencinger, Daniel Suffolk University 

Pesce, Tom Middlebury College 

Rausch, Joe Choate Rosemary Hall Hamilton College 

Redvanly, Andrew Suffolk University 

Rigtrup, Matt Trinity Pawling St. Michael’s 

Rinaldi, Vinny Salisbury Utica College 

Soto, Edgar | Johnson and Wales 

Spencer, Ian Nichols College 

Stephanik, Jason SUNY Geneseo 

    

ACHA

Addeo, Vincent Rutgers University 

Androulakis, Chris University of Delaware 

Apidopoulos, Adam William Paterson University 

Apidopoulos, Mark William Paterson University 

Balance, Joe Montclair State University 

Beckman, Lance William Paterson University 

Boniface, Larry Villanova University 

Boomhower, Carl EJHL University of Scranton 

Calendrillo, Evan Montclair State University 

Celentano, Steve William Paterson University 

Cocozzo, Phil Connecticut Clippers University of Rhode Island 

Deckenback, Kris Stony Brook 

DiPiazza, PJ Westchester University 

Drago, Jonathan University of Maryland - Baltimore 

Fortino, Jason William Paterson University 

Franzone, Jason Trinity Pawling William Paterson University 

Garlasco, Kyle William Paterson University 

Jones, Bob Loyola College 

Keough, Tom EJHL University of Delaware 

Kim, Michael Hamilton Redwings Jr A William Paterson University 

LaCorte, Ryan William Paterson University 

Lang, Jordan William Paterson University 

Lang, Tyler Metro Moose Jr A Wagner College 

Latta, Andrew Tabor Academy Montclair State University 

Latta, Richard Montclair State University 

L'Heureux, Gary William Paterson University 

May, Jason Trinity Pawling University of Rhode Island 

May, Luke Choate Rosemary Hall College of New Jersey 

Moy, Don Army 

McDermott, Jason William Paterson University 

Melvin, Ryan Canterbury William Paterson University 

Negron, Matt Boston College 

O’Brien, Mike NJ Hitmen University of Rhode Island 

O’Connell, Ian William Paterson University 

Ottstadt, John William Paterson University 

Pirovano, Michael Montclair State University 

Randazzo, Anthony Trinity Pawling University of Rhode Island 

Sisti, Brian Siena College 

Siuofas, Nick University of Delaware 

Sotsky, Eric Westchester Universty 

Sowinski, Daniel Sacred Heart University 

Tellian, Michael AJHL William Paterson University 

Vuoncino, Matt Marquette University 

Whitford, Matt | William Paterson University 

Zisa, Greg | William Paterson University 

    

Prep/Junior 

Carlisle, Chris Ontario Hockey League  

Case, Daniel Kent School  

Crawley, Brandon Ontario Hockey League London Knights 

Dipiazza, Carlo NJ Rockets Jr A  

Doyle, Matt Deerfield Academy  

Ganss, John John Taft  

Kang, Robert Tabor Academy  

Kennedy, Michael Hill School  

Latta, Andrew Tabor Academy  

Liautaud, Greg Canterbury  

Malysa, Nick Plymouth Whalers Jr A  

McGurdy, Myles QMJHL  

Moore, Brandon Trinity Pawling Philly Revolution  

Piccinich, JJ Ontario Hockey League London Knights 

Roche, TJ Kent School  

Thoubboron, Jake Deerfield Academy  

Vorel, Elliott Milton Academy

Decade Club
Players

The North Jersey Avalanche 'Decade Club' honors and congratulates those players and their families that have been with the organization for 10 years or more.  What a fantastic accomplishment.  We are so appreciative of your dedication and commitment.

Decade Club
Coaches

It is with great pride that we honor the following 26 coaches into the North Jersey Avalanche's Coaching Staff Decade Club.  Whether it was a Learn to Play clinic or taking a team to victory at the US Nationals, many of them simply started out as volunteers with their own children on the ice.  We thank you for your dedication to the organization and honor your ongoing commitment to the hundreds of players who are proud to wear the North Jersey Avalanche uniform.

Bryan Amico
John Amico
Carl Antifonario
Jeff Auger
Dave Caminiti
Glenn  Carlough
Colin Church
Chris Curtiss
Tom Duhamel
Erich Fleischmann
Ryan Gibbons
Joe Griffo
Pete LaMonica
Tim Lindis
Kyle Long
Ben Mattessich
Brian May
Dan May
Eric May
Jason May
John Picinic
Tom Preville

Rick Proot
Larry Robbins
Brian Sharkey
Rob Vizard
Tom Vizard

 

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