YORK — In what was billed as an “unparalleled pathway” to the collegiate level and a boost to the local economy, the Yorktown Admirals junior hockey team was launched Thursday morning at Chilled Ponds Yorktown.

Starting in September as an expansion team, the Admirals will compete in the United States Premier Hockey League. They will have teams in the Tier II National Collegiate Development Conference and the Tier III Premier Division of the USPHL.

“The (NCDC) is established to provide an unparalleled pathway to NCAA hockey,” Admirals General Manager Brad Jones said at an introductory news conference. “The NCDC offers elite level competition, professional coaching and a proven track record of player advancement to NCAA Division I and Division III programs as well as professional leagues.

“We’re excited not only for the local player development, but also the economic impact this team and teams that will come in (to) play will have on hotels, restaurants and shops in and around the area.”

CJ Sweigart was introduced as the NCDC team head coach. He is currently coaching the Hampton Roads Whalers’ elite squad, which has six games remaining in its regular season.

Joey Carroll will be head coach of the Admirals’ Premier and serve as an assistant to Sweigart. Also on the staff is Ian Erdman, who Sweigart coached with the Lone Star Brahmas.

CJ Sweigart was introduced as the head coach of the Yorktown Admirals NCDC team. (Dave Johnson/For The Virginia Gazette)

“I think with the roster we’re assembling, we’ll have a pretty strong year in year one, which we’re excited about,” Sweigart said. “So hopefully, starting strong helps grow that right away, too.

“We’ll have a pretty good picture of our full roster following the draft. After that, we roll into training camp in August and the season for the NCDC is all the way through May.”

Jones also is the general manager of the Whalers, which he believes can provide a blueprint for the fledgling Admirals.

“After 20 years of success with player development and advancement and with eight championships and over 300 advancements to college and pro hockey,” he said, “we’re excited to expand athletic opportunities on the Peninsula.”

Jones said he believes the Admirals’ presence can encourage younger players.

“Having elite players training and competing right here allows local kids to see what’s possible,” he said. “They’re not just watching hockey; they’re learning from it and imagining themselves on that path someday.”

Fan support will be a must, and Sweigart believes that will come.

“We actually had a blue and green preseason game here two years ago,” said Sweigart, referring to his Whalers team. “The place was packed. I have a lot of faith with how the community has shown up to support and volunteer positions.

“I’m not worried about how the support will go. Growing it, as with anything new, will take time.”

The roster is likely to include local players, but it also will have prospects from coast-to-coast — as well as abroad. The Whalers’ current rosters, for example, includes nine players from Sweden and seven from Canada.

The majority of players will be ages 16 through 20. They will live with host families in Hampton Roads.

Although the first game is seven months off, work is already underway. The NCDC Draft will be on May 14, but Jones said the Admirals have five players tendered to play. That’s the league limit, but as an expansion team, the Admirals can tender as many as 14 players.

In conjunction with the Whalers, the Admirals will have a pre-draft camp from May 1-3 at Chilled Ponds Chesapeake. Approximately 150 players are expected to attend.

“This isn’t a weekend travel team — it’s a full-time development model,” Jones said. “For players in this region, it raises the ceiling of what’s possible without having to leave Virginia to pursue elite opportunities.”

Jones had an example at the ready. Brandon Osmundson grew up in Chesapeake playing junior hockey with the Whalers. That helped pave his way to Utica College in New York, where he remains the fourth-leading scorer in program history.

Now 25, Osmundson is in his third year with the Norfolk Admirals.

Douglas R. Holroyd, chairman of the York County Board of Supervisors, grew up in Toronto. So he understands how big hockey can be.

“This will be a coveted team that citizens will want to and be able to watch,” he said. “You get to view the up-and-coming NHL players at the junior level when they’re still in the coaching phase and developing as players.

“It’s phenomenal to watch that growth through those early years,” Holroyd added. “That’s what we’ll experience here.”

https://www.dailypress.com/2026/02/14/admirals-launch-junior-hockey-expansion-team-in-york-county/