About
The New Jersey Devils Youth Hockey Club offers a complete range of ice hockey programs, from beginner levels to highly competitive AAA USA Hockey-sanctioned programs, as well as programs for players with disabilities. All programs follow a curriculum built on up-to-date coaching methods and research in child development and are structured to give each participant latitude for personal growth. The cornerstone and driving principle of the organization is its stated Commitment to Youth.
The New Jersey Devils Youth Hockey Club states that it is committed to creating an atmosphere that fosters player self-confidence, develops high self-esteem, and builds strong character. The club provides professional staff and follows a curriculum based on current coaching methods and child development research. Junior Devils Inc. doing business as the New Jersey Devils Youth Hockey Club is not affiliated with the New Jersey Devils, and the New Jersey Devils name and logo are trademarks of the New Jersey Devils, used with permission.
Program Director John DiNorcia has led the New Jersey Devils Youth Hockey Club since 1998 and serves as Director of Player Development for the Atlantic Amateur Hockey Association. His background includes serving as Atlantic District Coach-in-Chief, being the first recipient of the AAHA Coach of the Year Award, being a National Finalist for the Positive Coaching Alliance’s Double-Goal Coach Award, membership in the AAHA Hall of Fame, and receiving the Dr. John J. McMullen Award. His coaching achievements include gold, silver, and bronze medals at the USA Hockey National Championships, winning the Silver Sticks International Tournament and the Quebec Peewee International Tournament, and being on the staff of the only Atlantic District team to win gold at the USA Hockey Junior Olympic Festival before USA Hockey moved to a mixed-team format. He is a former high school English teacher and holds an M.Ed. from Kean University.
Coach Chris Atkinson is a core member of the AAHA Player Development Program staff and has coached numerous Tier 1 teams to District finals and league championships. He coached New Jersey Devils Peewee Quebec teams that advanced to the quarterfinals in 2018, 2022, and 2023. His playing career includes a USA Hockey National Championship, a Silver Sticks International Championship, and a Quebec Peewee International Tournament Championship, and he was on the only Atlantic District team to win the USA Hockey Junior Olympic Festival before the move to a mixed-team format. He played at the Salisbury School, was selected for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program, played on the U.S. Under-18 team, played Division 1 college hockey at the University of Vermont, and played a season with the Danbury Whalers.
Coach D.J. Book has over 35 years of playing, officiating, and coaching experience. His background includes youth hockey in Pittsburgh and South Jersey, serving as Captain and Assistant Captain on multiple teams, and serving as an Assistant Captain on the Shawnee High School Varsity hockey team. He played hockey for Berkshire School in Sheffield, Massachusetts, attended Union College, and graduated from Carnegie Mellon University, where he was a College Hockey East All-Star. He has worked for the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins and ESPN Radio and assisted coach Jay Varady with the Pittsburgh Hornets Youth Hockey Program.
Coach Kevin Crane is the Managing Partner of D1 Development Group and Assistant Coach of the Seton Hall Preparatory School Varsity team. He is a member of the Atlantic District Player Development staff and has coached several Devils Youth Tier 1 teams since 2014, including a team that won an AAHA District Championship before the COVID shutdown. His playing career includes a USA Hockey National Championship, two NCAA Tournament appearances, and ECAC and Ivy League Championships at Princeton University. He played high school hockey at Phillips Exeter Academy, where he was captain of the varsity ice hockey team.
Coach Adam Diglio is the longest tenured coach at the New Jersey Devils Youth Hockey Club, having started with the club in 1988. His roles have included Coach, Level Coordinator, Defensive Coordinator, Tryout Director, and Associate Coaching Director. He has led teams to the USA Hockey National Championships five different times. His playing career includes Division 1 college hockey at Canisius College in Buffalo, New York, where he served as Team Captain, First Division professional hockey in Italy, and minor professional hockey in Cincinnati for the Cyclones of the ECHL. He holds a BS in Business Management, an MS in Organizational Development with a thesis focusing on youth sports organizations, and two advanced certificates from Cornell University in Executive Leadership.
Last updated June 20, 2026.
The New Jersey Devils Youth Hockey Club states that it is committed to creating an atmosphere that fosters player self-confidence, develops high self-esteem, and builds strong character. The club provides professional staff and follows a curriculum based on current coaching methods and child development research. Junior Devils Inc. doing business as the New Jersey Devils Youth Hockey Club is not affiliated with the New Jersey Devils, and the New Jersey Devils name and logo are trademarks of the New Jersey Devils, used with permission.
Program Director John DiNorcia has led the New Jersey Devils Youth Hockey Club since 1998 and serves as Director of Player Development for the Atlantic Amateur Hockey Association. His background includes serving as Atlantic District Coach-in-Chief, being the first recipient of the AAHA Coach of the Year Award, being a National Finalist for the Positive Coaching Alliance’s Double-Goal Coach Award, membership in the AAHA Hall of Fame, and receiving the Dr. John J. McMullen Award. His coaching achievements include gold, silver, and bronze medals at the USA Hockey National Championships, winning the Silver Sticks International Tournament and the Quebec Peewee International Tournament, and being on the staff of the only Atlantic District team to win gold at the USA Hockey Junior Olympic Festival before USA Hockey moved to a mixed-team format. He is a former high school English teacher and holds an M.Ed. from Kean University.
Coach Chris Atkinson is a core member of the AAHA Player Development Program staff and has coached numerous Tier 1 teams to District finals and league championships. He coached New Jersey Devils Peewee Quebec teams that advanced to the quarterfinals in 2018, 2022, and 2023. His playing career includes a USA Hockey National Championship, a Silver Sticks International Championship, and a Quebec Peewee International Tournament Championship, and he was on the only Atlantic District team to win the USA Hockey Junior Olympic Festival before the move to a mixed-team format. He played at the Salisbury School, was selected for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program, played on the U.S. Under-18 team, played Division 1 college hockey at the University of Vermont, and played a season with the Danbury Whalers.
Coach D.J. Book has over 35 years of playing, officiating, and coaching experience. His background includes youth hockey in Pittsburgh and South Jersey, serving as Captain and Assistant Captain on multiple teams, and serving as an Assistant Captain on the Shawnee High School Varsity hockey team. He played hockey for Berkshire School in Sheffield, Massachusetts, attended Union College, and graduated from Carnegie Mellon University, where he was a College Hockey East All-Star. He has worked for the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins and ESPN Radio and assisted coach Jay Varady with the Pittsburgh Hornets Youth Hockey Program.
Coach Kevin Crane is the Managing Partner of D1 Development Group and Assistant Coach of the Seton Hall Preparatory School Varsity team. He is a member of the Atlantic District Player Development staff and has coached several Devils Youth Tier 1 teams since 2014, including a team that won an AAHA District Championship before the COVID shutdown. His playing career includes a USA Hockey National Championship, two NCAA Tournament appearances, and ECAC and Ivy League Championships at Princeton University. He played high school hockey at Phillips Exeter Academy, where he was captain of the varsity ice hockey team.
Coach Adam Diglio is the longest tenured coach at the New Jersey Devils Youth Hockey Club, having started with the club in 1988. His roles have included Coach, Level Coordinator, Defensive Coordinator, Tryout Director, and Associate Coaching Director. He has led teams to the USA Hockey National Championships five different times. His playing career includes Division 1 college hockey at Canisius College in Buffalo, New York, where he served as Team Captain, First Division professional hockey in Italy, and minor professional hockey in Cincinnati for the Cyclones of the ECHL. He holds a BS in Business Management, an MS in Organizational Development with a thesis focusing on youth sports organizations, and two advanced certificates from Cornell University in Executive Leadership.
Last updated June 20, 2026.
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