The Hampton Roads Junior Whalers are proud to announce that two of our alumni, and teammates at Utica University will turn Pro.
1997 Forward Regen Cavanagh has signed an ATO with the Norfolk Admirals of the ECHL and 1998 forward John Moncovichhas signed with the Fayetteville Marksman of the SPHL.
Cavanagh, 26, joins the Admirals after completing his fifth season of collegiate hockey at Utica (NCAA-III). This season, the Chesapeake, VA native posted 31 points in 28 games with the Pioneers (12g, 19a). In 2021-22, Cavanagh put together his best season corralling 46 points (20g, 26a). Those points are currently tied for a season-high in program history. In five seasons, Cavanagh registered a total of 120 points in 110 games. He leaves Utica having played the second-most games in program history (110).
Regen grew up playing travel hockey with the Whalers. After three season with the Whalers junior team he went on to play in the United States Hockey League (USHL) for Dubuque and Sioux Falls, as well as the North American Hockey League (NAHL) with Corpus Christi, Janesville, and Odessa before committing to Utica. He will be joined in the lineup tonight by Utica teammate of USPHL South division rival Justin Allen of the Charlotte Rush, who has also signed an ATO with the Admirals.
Moncovich, 24, completed his fourth season of college hockey with the Utica Pioneers, posting 21 points in 27 games (12g, 9a). He also finished his Utica career on a high note, leaving with 88 career points in 88 games. In 2021-22, Moncovich put together his best season corralling 36 points (19g, 17a).
Moncovich, from Wilmington, N.C., played 5 seasons for the Hampton Roads Junior Whalers, appearing in 239 games across those 5 seasons, compiling 186 goals and 327 points in that time, winning two USPHL Championships along the way before committing to Utica.
Cavanagh has joined the Admirals in Quebec and is expected to be in the lineup for tonight’s game against the Trios-Rivieres Lions at 7:00 pm (EST), Moncovich will be joining the Marksman and is expected to be in the line up on Friday against the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs.
