JSN Force On The Ice

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Volume 27 • Issue 570

TRINITY HALL

JerseySportingNews.com

2/18/20 - 3/9/20

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Page 2 Jersey Sporting News • 2/18/20 - 3/9/20

Mariners Setting Sail for State Tournament

By Casey Krish

TOMS RIVER NORTH’S COLE SCHNEIDER TOMS RIVER – There needs to be a sturdy ship, but it also takes a solid crew to keep it afloat. The Mariners from Toms River North are certainly capable of such a task.

A top-line that boasts a trio of talented scorers that gel together perfectly, Toms River North certainly can muster up enough cannonballs on deck to throw their enemies’ way.

It all starts with junior Cole Schneider – the New Jersey Devils Shore Conference Player of the Month for December – who leads the conference with 38 goals and 66 points entering the state tournament. The junior displays a natural ability to swiftly enter the zone and cause havoc for his counterparts.

He can strike quickly and often, as illustrated by a five-goal, seven-point night on Dec. 6. He also produced a sevenpoint effort on North’s Senior Night, a fitting conclusion to the Mariners’ home schedule.

Schneider currently resides at 184 career points, but was quick to credit his success to the help of those around him.

“It all starts with my teammates,” Schneider said. “Without the chemistry built with my line, I wouldn’t be in this position now.”

Opposing defenses know better than to place all their efforts to stop one player. After all, the top line is a powerful trio. Fellow junior Anthony DeFalco and senior Patrick Dowds round out a unit that lights the lamp and etches their name on the score sheet more often than any other line in New Jersey.

DeFalco – in his first year with the program – currently ranks in the top five in the state with 33 assists. His precision passing and ability to find open sticks on the ice is paramount to the unit clicking.

“I’ve been playing with Cole for a really long time,” DeFalco said. “We always know where each other will be. We just find a way to click. Once one goes in, they just seem to keep coming.”

DeFalco registered a career-high five assists on Feb. 10, and also has three four-point efforts on the year.

Dowds, the elder-statesman of the line, by far envelops an underrated role among the forwards. Dowds, who just recently committed to continue his hockey career at Ramapo College, doesn’t get the spotlight for scoring the fancy goals and producing gaudy numbers, but he plays an immense support role to those around him.

Seniors Joe Lembo and Kevin Anderson have locked down opponents to a tune of just under three goals per game.

Sophomore Cory van den Berg produced 14 points, proving to be a valuable asset that will provide some scoring depth for Toms River North.

Junior defensemen Justin Ervelli has a pair of four-point games on the season, and his 28 points are near the top of the list among all Shore Conference blueliners. Ervelli will be the lone senior among the core established on the back end.

Freshmen Jake Kurzynowski (nine points) and Steven Kapp (five points) provided sound contributions during their rookie seasons and should play a larger role in the years to come. Blaise Schoelen, DJ Freed and Jake Bennert notched some playing time under their belts as rookies, while Sydney Danyo scored a goal and an assist in her sophomore season.

Senior Brigette Maikisch found the score sheet on opening night and recently committed to Neumann University in Aston, PA. The crew would not be complete without a strong anchor to keep the ship from floating astray. Toms River North is fortunate enough to have had two outstanding seniors in between the pipes this year.

Corey Finnegan, who just recently eclipsed 1000 saves during his career, has taken a heavy workload in his time in the crease, putting up a 46-, 48- and 51-save night this season. His 51-save performance on Dec. 26 was a career night for Finnegan, as the night developed into a 1-0 shutout victory over Southern Regional to book a date in the Winding River Holiday Tournament final.

Classmate Paul Fiorello has also taken his opportunities on the ice and ran with them. Appearing in nine contests this season, Fiorello has pitched three shutouts and has allowed two or fewer goals in seven of those appearances. Like Dowds, Fiorello recently announced he would be continuing his career at Ramapo College.

“There’s a great group of kids in that locker room,” DeFalco said. “We took a few tough losses to some great teams down the stretch, but it’s time to hit a reset and get ready for the tournaments.”

“We just have to keep working hard and not give up; keep playing our game. It’s a new season now heading into the playoffs,” Schneider added.

Being an upperclassmen, Dowds has carved out a support role for his younger line mates, while also understanding how they aid in his personal game as well.

Toms River North suffered a setback in the opening round of the Shore Conference Dowd Cup, but still have their sights set on the NJSIAA Public B state tournament.

“Playing with Cole and Anthony, I can sit back and watch the magic happen; clean up the ‘garbage’ goals when need be,” Dowds said. “Even sometimes playing with the younger guys I try and show them the ropes and help them learn the system. The seniors always try to play smart and set a good example for the younger guys.”

The Mariners’ days at sea are slowly dwindling away, but before the season draws to a close, there are a few more moments still to be had.

Toms River North fans can blush over the numbers put up by their top three forwards, but don’t be fooled – there is a tremendous supporting cast behind them.

With the focus on the offense, the Mariners line of defense has been stalking under the deck as one of the best in the Shore Conference.

“There are some bonds that I’ve made here that will never be broken,” Dowds said of his four years in the Mariners’ navy and gold. “I’ve had the chance to play with some of my closest friends, and I’m ready for one final run with them.”

Toms River North awaits their seeding in the state tournament, which is scheduled to be released on Feb. 18. Regardless of what the future beholds, one thing is of certain.

The Mariners will be eager to set sail.

TOMS RIVER NORTH’S ANTHONY DEFALCO Photos by Tom Smith

2/18/20 - 3/9/20 • Jersey Sporting News

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Page 4 Jersey Sporting News • 2/18/20 - 3/9/20

Saint John Vianney is Rewarded with Continued Success by Challenging Itself

By Robert Solomon

HOLMDEL – In the world of high school sports, strong programs have high expectations. This is true of numerous teams especially in the competitive Shore Conference. As the ice hockey season winds down and tournaments begin, many teams are building on previous successes. The Saint John Vianney ice hockey team is a perfect example of this formula.

body,” said Messemer. “He keeps opponents outside (the defensive zone) and gets the puck to the net ”

Head coach Mick Messemer has been coaching at SJV for ten years, taking over the head coaching position six years ago. “We have a great group of kids who are willing to sacrifice for the team and the school,” said Messemer. “They are proud to represent SJV.

SJV rotates goalies with junior Sal Benvenuto getting a majority of the playing time.

Senior Jeff Ricci is another strong offensive contributor. He leads the team in assists with 19 and is second on the team with 14 goals.

Expectations are high as SJV plays in the Dowd Cup Tournament. “We want to win as much hardware as possible,” said Messemer. “We came up short in the finals of the Egan Cup after winning it the last two seasons.

We want to make up for not winning the Egan Cup by winning the Shore Conference (Dowd Cup) and then the state tournament.”

“My coaching staff and I are demanding of the players. We expect them to respect the game, respect each other, respect their opponents and respect the officials,” he continued. “We also want them to do the best they can day in and day out, on the ice and in the classroom.”

As SJV continues to play for the Dowd Cup, Messemer feels they need to continue to start off on the right foot and stay focused. “We need to get all three facets clicking at the same time when it matters,” he said. “The playoffs are a second season. It is one and done so we need to be focused.”

Messemer feels the players have bought into the program. “Life is about competition and we put a lot of competition in practice which comes out in the games,” he explained. This seems to be true, as SJV's record is 9-6-2, with all six losses against teams ranked in the top 20 in the state.

“We might not have the best record but we don’t shy away from competition,” said Messemer. “We made a lot of adjustments at the beginning of the season. I wish we could have gotten it done against some of the teams ahead of us (in the state rankings).”

SJV is ranked 11th in the state, second in the Shore Conference and seeded first in the Dowd Cup. In addition to the Shore Conference, SJV plays in the Egan Conference, a parochial school conference. Because of this, SJV is exposed to many opponents its Shore Conference opponents do not play. SJV also challenges itself by scheduling many teams outside the Shore and Egan conferences.

“We play a tough, competitive schedule including a lot of teams away from the Shore,” said Messemer. “With the strength of our schedule, we cannot take many games off.”

SJV’S #30 GOALIE SAL BENVENUTO

Christian Brothers Academy is SJV’s toughest opponent according to Messemer. “When we played them they were number one in the state,” he added. CBA is presently ranked second in the state.

SJV is a fairly balanced team when it comes to offense and defense. The team’s strength is its speed and the fact that they put the puck in net according to Messemer. “We focus on all three facets of the game – offense, defense and goaltending,” he explained. “When we click on all cylinders, we put the puck in the net.”

Senior captain Dom Troisi is one of SJV’s top offensive players. He is among the state leaders in goals with 23. “He’s a great kid. He has speed, focus and leadership qualities,” said Messemer.

Junior captain AJ Micalizzi is SJV's top defenseman. “He is 6’ 3 with a big

SJV’S #9 DOM TROISI Photos by Fran Attardi

This did not seem to be a major concern, as they defeated Manalapan in the first round of the Dowd Cup, 4-1. SJV had a strong third period scoring three goals to lock up the victory. Menditto led all scorers with two goals. SJ LeComte and Troisi also scored. Rich Kulaszewski led all players with two assists. Goalie Benvenuto stopped 21 of Manalapan’s 22 shots on goal.

Their next game is against the fourth seed Middletown North on Feb. 18.

SJV played Middletown North earlier in the season, winning a close game, 3-2.

SJV has experienced numerous successes in recent years. They won two straight Handchen Cups, one Dowd Cup and two Egan Cups. Messemer feels the program has a bright future. “We’ve had a lot of success. We want to continue to offer kids in the school the best chance to play at the highest level,” he said.

2/18/20 - 3/9/20 • Jersey Sporting News

Page 5

Rebels Rolling P O E N D I N N P O E N A D RightG Along G I N N R A G G R

By Casey Krish

2ND LOCATION IN HOWELL SEPTEMBER 201 2ND LOCATION IN HOWELL SEPTEMBER 2018

HOWELL – The co-op program of Howell-Matawan has had its fair share of ups and downs this season. Fortunately, the ups have outweighed the downs, and the Rebels (8-7-6) qualified for both the Shore Conference Tournament and NJSIAA Public A state tournament.

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Every game during the course of a long and grueling season comes with different challenges. For Howell-Matawan, many of their games provided the same adversary – being close in the final minutes.

“All of these close games are going to help us in the long run,” Howell head coach Bill Daley said after their 6-3 win over Jackson Memorial on Jan. 17. “When we get deep into the season, this is how every game will be. There’s no easy wins in the postseason.”

With 13 of their first 21 games decided by two goals or less, the Rebels are no strangers to having to step up when the pressure is on late in contests. When the going gets tough, look no further than senior forward Dylan Kramer to get the Rebels a goal. Kramer has found the back of the net 16 times over the course of his final season, nearly doubling his career high of nine set during his sophomore season. His 41 points entering the state tournament leave him with 98 career points.

A healthy senior class contributes to winning now, but Howell-Matawan also has some future talent who have been producing before they reach their final campaign.

Junior James Fay is second on the team behind Kramer with 10 goals, while his 16 points positions him third among the Rebels skaters. Stanley Paluszek has also chipped in on the offensive side this season with seven goals.

“It’s an advantage going into every game that when teams want to focus on stopping someone like Kramer,” Daley said. “The rest of the team steps up.”

P O E N D ING N A R G

The milestone will place Kramer in the Howell-Matawan record books – becoming the 10th player in school history to reach that mark.

But don’t be fooled into thinking this team is a one-man show. Other seniors have stepped up this season such as Bernard Vitale, Tyler Herman and James Bianco.

The Rebels know where the goals are going to come from, and with the depth they have at forward, Daley and his staff don’t need to worry about lighting up the scoreboard too often.

2ND LOCATION IN HOWELL SEPTEMBER 2018

Bianco has filled a role on both the offensive and defensive side of the ice, and has produced 16 points so far this season. Vitale has fired in 15 points, and Herman has scored six goals.

Senior goalie Dan McEvoy has been one of the best goalies in the entire state, and his efforts were rewarded when he was named the New Jersey Devils Player of the Month for January in the Shore Conference.

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“Dan really is the backbone of this team, as he has been all year,” Daley said. “He has taken his game to a whole new level this season, and that has helped keep us in games.”

From Basics to Champions

to do anything he can to stop the puck and keep Howell-Matawan in games entering the state playoffs.

“He does everything he can to keep it out of the net,” Daley said. “Simple leg save, diving at a rebound, using his head and even stacking the pads on a breakaway. He is going to be a big factor in the postseason.”

The postseason had a difficult start for Howell-Matawan. After picking up the 13th seed and falling to fourth-seeded Middletown South in the opening round of the Handchen Cup, the Rebels will need to regroup before they learn their opponent in the state’s Public A bracket.

The loss stung undoubtedly for a group that had battled all season to get to a postseason setting, and after tying Middletown South, 1-1 earlier in the season, the 10-2 loss was a shocking result.

Daley has seen this before, and his message to his players is one of hope.

“After the game I told them that the last time we played in this building during the Shore Conference Tournament was a loss to RBC in the 2015 finals,” Daley said. “We lost 8-1, but then we went on to win the next four games and play in the first state championship game in school history at The Rock.”

From Basics to Champions

During the month of January, McEvoy produced a .923 save percentage between the pipes for Howell-Matawan during a stretch of games the team needed to qualify for the postseason.

CHEERLEADING TEAMS CHEERLEAD P O E N D I N N A G R G CALL FOR TEAMS 2ND LOCATION IN HOWELL SEPTEMBER 2018 DETAILS CALL FO “I could see the look on their faces change to a belief that something special was about to happen to this program again,” Daley said. “They won’t quit on each other and they will do anything to help the team win.”

© George Tiedemann/GT Images.

During the stretch, McEvoy recorded a shutout against Manalapan, while also snatching up back-to-back 40-save efforts against South Brunswick and Middletown South.

“We have had some amazing players come and wear the Rebels colors over the years,” Daley said. “Dan is the first (to be named Player of the Month) and we couldn’t be prouder of him. 2248 US 9 South, Howell, Howell-Matawan still has•some work to do, but they – like many others NJ (Ideal Plaza) 732-966-3441 in the state – embrace being 0-0-0 again. Throw out the seeds. Throw “That just shows what hard work and a ‘never quit’ attitude can get out the predictions. From this point forward, who wants it more? you,” he added.

“Our bags are packed,” Dailey said. “Ready to take that trip back to McEvoy is nimble in the crease, and the three-year starter will be ready The Rock.”

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HOWELL’S MCEVOY AND KRAMER Photos courtesy of Howell high school

Howell-Matawan by no means is getting ahead of themselves, but they know it’s not time to hang up the skates just yet. The tournament format has changed since 2015, and now the Rebels only need three wins to return to the Prudential Center for the Public A state crown.

Page 6 Jersey Sporting News • 2/18/20 - 3/9/20

NO. 2 RANKED CHRISTIAN BROTHERS HAS RALLIED BEHIND NEW COACH ANDY GOJDYCZ

By Mike Ready

LINCROFT – After beloved and highly successful head coach Ryan Bogan was let go by the school’s administration last June amid an avalanche of public outcry, Bogan’s replacement, Andy Gojdycz, was tasked with rallying his troops around him and putting the controversial and highly unpopular release of Bogan behind them.

That was a tough position for any new coach to be in, but once players and supporters became aware of Gojdycz’ highly-decorated career at CBA and that he helped captain the Colts to three consecutive NJSIAA championships (1994-96) and three Gordon Cups, it softened the blow a bit and gave Gojdycz immediate credibility.

“It definitely helped having the guys know the success our teams had back then and that I was a big part of it,” said Gojdycz. “That’s all good, but you still have to know how to coach them, how to mentor them and be that leader that gets the most out of them.”

Following his historic high school career, Gojdycz went on to captain Rutgers for four years earning American Colligate Hockey Association (ACHA) All-American honors in 1998. He remains Rutgers’ all-time leading scorer among defensemen with 167 points from 1996 to 2001. He then stepped behind the bench coaching Rutgers for 13 seasons from 2002 to 2015. In the 2007-08 season he was a finalist for the ACHA Division 1 Coach of the Year.

“It’s definitely an honor to come back and coach at my alma mater,” said Gojdycz. “I hold Ryan (Bogan) dear to my heart and I thought bringing back an alumni to help continue what he’s already built on was important.

“The players have responded well and have been very respectful,” he continued. “Look, the players have one goal – they want to win. They’re good kids from good families and understood the situation when I came in and were definitely welcoming of me. Earning respect is one thing and I think we’re doing that. It’s an ongoing process but it’s been pretty seamless in becoming their coach. They understand our goals and it’s been a great year so far, but the job’s still not done.”

CBA is Gojdycz’ fourth high school coaching job after stints with Hightstown (2002-04), Hunterdon Central (2004-10) and Montgomery (2015-19).

Under Gojdycz the Colts haven’t missed a beat.

They’re currently ranked No. 2 in the state with a 13-4-3 record playing in the toughest conference in the state, the Gordon Conference.

“We have a hell of a lot of talent on this team,” said Gojdycz. “Every player possesses a gift that they can bring to the whole of the team. I feel lucky for what I’ve inherited and their work ethic has been phenomenal from the beginning of the season through a little downward spiral we were able to rebound from and it shows a lot about of their character.”

The Colts top line of wingers – Kyle Contessa (9G, 19A) and sophomore Zach Wagnon (14G, 18A) and sophomore center Evan Brown (11G, 26A) – is one of the top lines in the state.

Contessa was just voted the MVP of the Shore Conference A North division this season and was a first- team All-Shore selection a year ago. This season’s All-Shore selections haven’t been released yet but he’s certainly in line for additional postseason awards.

“Kyle’s a great kid and a leader,” said Gojdycz. “I don’t want to call him a phenom but he has the attributes of a player that has the gifts and the talent to go to the next level. He’s got the height, the stick control, the quick release on his shot and he understands the game and knows where to be and that’s something you really can’t teach. He has what you call ‘hockey sense’ and that’s hard to describe.

“Those three on the same line bar none is the best line in the state,” he continued. “I don’t mean to be cocky about it but having those three working the way they work on the same line, I’m really lucky to have them.”

Senior Giovanni Crepaldi (5G, 4A) centers the second line with senior C.J. Cummings (3G, 6A) and freshman Leighton Biesiadecki (6G, 5A) on the wings. Senior forward Simon Fitzgerald has contributed seven goals and an assist.

CBA’S COLIN GRABLE Photos by Tom Smith

Junior Colin Grable (6G, 11A) leads the defense in scoring and is usually paired with freshman defenseman Michael Gravina while senior defen-

CBA’S GOALIE NICHOLAS EMILIO seman Chad Schneider (2G, 9A) lines up with freshman Patrick Reilly (2G, 6A). Junior Lucas Salas (1A) sees time on the blue line as well.

“Our pairings on defense is fluid,” said Gojdycz. “We can switch it up depending on the teams we’re playing and where we think they’re weak on offense. It’s all about personal matching. That’s why I’m in a good position being able to match different guys; something we do on offense as well.”

Sophomore goalie John Donohoe (0.91 percent save rate, 1.8 goals allowed per game) has stepped up admirably this season having to replace last year’s first-team All-Shore goalie Jake Brown. He has shutouts against Don Bosco, Delbarton and St. Augustine.

With the regular season completed, the Colts have now set their sights on the Gordon Cup and the state playoffs.

On Wednesday, they were given the second seed in the Gordon Cup Tournament and will host No. 7 seed St. Augustine, a team they beat 4-0 a week ago, on Feb. 17.

“St. Augustine is well coached. They’re big and strong and you can never doubt them – they’ll come ready to go,” said Gojdycz. “I don’t care who we’re playing and the guys know that, too. It doesn’t matter who we play, we have to play our way. If we can do that, the sky’s the limit. I don’t know if it helps or hurts having just beat them, 4-0, because now it’s playoff hockey and you have to turn the page on the regular season one loss and you’re done. Again, I don’t care who we’re playing, as long as we play our game we’ll win.”

2/18/20 - 3/9/20 • Jersey Sporting News

Page 7

“Roll Dawgs” Rumson-Fair Haven Embracing Top Seed in SCT

By Casey Krish

RUMSON – There is little argument around the Shore Conference.

Rumson-Fair Haven has emerged as one of the premiere teams of the 2019-20 season.

After a five-win campaign two seasons ago, RFH made some noise and opened some eyes last year when they finished 10-10-2 and advanced to the second round of the Shore Conference Tournament Handchen Cup as a nine-seed. This season has seen the Bulldogs reach a new level of success – one that rewarded them the top seed in the SCT Handchen Cup. Eric Zullo, who served as an assistant coach the past four seasons, noticed something special was brewing as he took over the head coaching spot this year.

“We have a strong senior contingency, and we have everything else you need: a talented group of freshmen, a strong defensive core and plenty of depth scoring,” Zullo said. “We were all set up to take that next step this season, and it has gone better than anyone could have hoped for.”

The senior core up front consists of Sam Catalano (14 goals, 33 points), Rowan Goldin (11 goals, 18 points), as well as Jack Spagnuola and Jack Whitelaw, who each have six goals to their credit. Kevin Hofmann and Max Nicholson each have three goals.

Junior forward Ryan Croddick has been anchored on the top line all season and is tied with Catalano for the team lead. He will return next season as the leading scorer, while younger players like Charlie Tall-

man, Connor Spagnuola, Brett Pritchard and Michael Kuras will look to develop bigger roles as well.

“We have gotten some great spurts from all of our lines really all season long,” Zullo said. “We have a lot of different dynamics to this group – speedsters, big guys, playmakers, and it’s really about trying to find that chemistry balance, and as we find that balance we start seeing goals coming up and down the lineup.”

RFH wrapped up the regular season with a 12-2-3 mark, and consistently get opponents’ best efforts night in and night out.

“Being the number one seed is new territory for us, and we knew we have that target on our back,” Zullo said. “We aren’t going to shy away from this, because this is where we want to be at.”

Rumson-Fair Haven learned in their opening-round game that they’ll be challenged every time they take the ice, when 16th-seeded Central Regional battled for 45 minutes before bowing, 3-0.

“This is where we want to be every year from here on out; in the conversation for the top spot in the Shore Conference,” Zullo said. “To be the best you have to learn how to play as the best, and the only way to do that is to get everyone else’s best on a nightly basis.”

The offense has certainly held their own throughout the year, and the returning depth coming back next year should provide the Bulldogs with plenty of scoring in 2020-21.

But the defense has been nearly impenetrable, allowing their opponents to light the lamp only 22 times across the team’s first 17 games.

The best part of that unworldly number? Goalie Ronan Hickey and every defenseman on the varsity roster will return. Hickey has put up a .935 save percentage and has 13 wins to his credit after getting some starts during his sophomore year.

“I knew coming in that we had three defensemen who were going to fit in, but we were unsure of who would fill out that fourth spot where we can roll out two lines,” Zullo said. “We had two freshmen in Ben Turoczi and Spencer Hobson fill in that 4-5 spot nicely.”

Peter O’Connor and Andrew Schmidt will be the only seniors on RFH’s blue line next season, setting them up to be the leaders for a young core that already has plenty of varsity experience.

Schmidt produced 14 points as a junior and was rewarded by being named a first pair defensemen on the Shore Conference B North all-star team.

RFH’S SAM CATALANO

Braiden Spagnuola, Casey Freeman and Spencer Lee all found the ice as sophomores and will comprise the core that will look to lock down the opponents that want to test the Bulldogs’ newly cemented status at the top of the Shore Conference.

RFH’S BRETT PRITCHARD Photos by Tom Smith “We feel really good that we will be great on the back end for years to come,” Zullo said. “And having Hickey back there as the safety net makes us that much more comfortable in our own zone.”

Rumson-Fair Haven already has some hardware in the trophy case after earning a share of the Shore Conference B North title, but this group is aiming higher.

RFH is undoubtedly earning the attention of the public with their suffocating defense and timely scoring, but there’s still much work yet to be done as the season dwindles down.

“We think we will be in this position a lot more moving forward, but we have a chance to do something special now, and we are going to take it,” Zullo said.

RFH will host ninth-seeded Marlboro on Feb. 18 with a chance to punch their ticket to the Handchen Cup final and earn the opportunity to bring home even more hardware.

Rumson-Fair Haven is also expected to garner a high seed in the NJSIAA Public C state tournament, which will be seeded on Feb. 18.

Regardless of where they are placed, expect these ‘Dawgs’ to be ready to roll.

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Page 8 Jersey Sporting News • 2/18/20 - 3/9/20

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Lions Roar Along in the Postseason

By Casey Krish

MIDDLETOWN – On the surface, Middletown North’s collective record might not look overly flattering. At 7-11-3, the casual follower of New Jersey hockey would conclude that the Lions are an under-average group that can win some nights, but won’t be much of a threat in the postseason.

To those dedicated to the sport and are rigorous followers, they know that couldn’t be farther from the truth.

Playing in the Shore Conference’s A North division, the most lethal group of clubs from top to bottom, it is clear that any team can be tripped up on a nightly basis.

“Yeah, the record isn’t the most attractive in the conference, but we play some tremendous talent,” Middletown North head coach Don Wood said. “Our state tournament bid is in the committee’s hands at this point. Let’s see what they think.”

The Lions entered the cutoff day for the state tournament within the four games over .500 (7-11-2) needed to place a bid to enter the state tournament. With the likes of CBA, Saint John Vianney and Manasquan – all regular guests in the NJ.com top 20 – in A North, Middletown North knew the season would be a grind from the beginning.

“We knew the schedule was going to be challenging, and we weren’t going to shy away from playing anyone,” Wood added.

Two dates with Middletown South, as well as games against St. Rose and RumsonFair Haven also highlight the opposing talent on the Lions schedule.

Middletown North has hung tough with some of the best the Shore Conference has to offer, but they also battled the defending Public B Champions in Ridge and a 17win Lakeland team that won the Passaic County Tournament crown in the past week.

What makes the Lions a dangerous team to play is their ability to have a different player step up each night. With John Miranda (17 points) and Jesse Dickinson (14 points) being the only scorers in double digits, the numbers might not jump off the page, but what does get noticed is the timely efforts of contributions up and down the lineup.

“We don’t have a high-octane offense by any means, but what we do have is a lot of kids who have five, six, seven points across all our lines,” Wood said. “Opponents don’t have that opportunity to focus on and take away one player, because if you do that someone else can hurt you.”

Frank Wendling, Larry Gearl, John Betz, Zach Brady, Colin Delanzo, Andrew Gross and Jimmy Mullarney have all produced in timely manners this season. Each has scored between two and five times this season, and everyone, with the exception of Wendling and Gearl, will return to the lineup next season.

“We love to spread the wealth around, because we are not a one-man show,” Miranda said. “Everyone on this team deserves their time to shine.”

Where Middletown North has truly made its living is on the blue line. Defensively, the Lions have allowed just over 2.5 goals per game. That number against the offensive talent they’ve come across this season speaks volumes about this defensive core.

Middletown North has allowed more than three goals only five times, and in only one instance allowed more than four.

we have Matt (Corella) as our last line,” Wood said.

Matt Corella has taken the reigns as a third-year starter and has produced a stellar .916 save percentage. He celebrated his 1000th career save earlier this season.

“You really can do anything if you work hard at it,” Corella said. “It’s a great number to get, but I honestly don’t want to sit on personal milestones and let them define my time here.

“I’ve had some great players in front of me that can force them to take shots I can get to easier. A lot of credit has to go to them,” he continued.

Middletown North earned the seven-seed in the Dowd Cup and defeated 10th-seeded Wall Township, 3-2, in an overtime thriller; a game that played to the blueprint Middletown North has established throughout the season.

Another close, low-scoring, grind of a win has permitted the Lions to get a crack at a familiar opponent in the Dowd Cup semifinals on Feb. 18. Middletown North fell to Saint John Vianney on Dec. 17, 3-2, in a game that saw the Lions rally from a 3-0 hole established in the second period.

While the Lions await a possible invitation into the NJSIAA Public C state tournament, their focus will solely be on getting that second crack at the Lancers.

“We played everyone in our division tough this year, and if a bounce goes our way here or there then we might be able to knock off a team like SJV,” Wood said.

Middletown North will get that rematch with St. John Vianney on Feb. 18 at Jersey Shore Arena.

“We have some defensemen who can really lock it down,” Wood said. “Even when they aren’t having their best games the other team has to grind out their goals.”

T.J. Stone (seven points) and Jared Kern (two points) are the elder statesmen on the back end that lead a young core that is more than capable of chipping in offense when needed.

“The defense has played really well all year long and have kept us in a lot of games this year,” Miranda said. “We always have a chance to win the game with that group and a great goalie back there.”

Junior Bob Fitzgerald has nine goals, which ranks second behind Miranda for the most on the team. Aidan Cook, Tom Macrae, Connor North and Anthony Rocca make up the rest of the back end.

Photos by Tom Smith

“They keep us in every game, and even when the other team is finding those holes,

Sal Valentinetti to Bring ‘That’s A Mother’s Day’ Special to iPlay America FREEHOLD – Sal Valentinetti is headed to The Event Center at iPlay America on Sunday, May 9, for an unforgettable evening. The singer will perform a ‘That’s A Mother’s Day’ special for those attending the show in Freehold.

Sal “The Voice” Valentinetti became a household name in 2016 after making his debut on Season 11 of NBC’s hit show America’s Got Talent. The singer delivered one of the best performances in the history of the show garnering him the Golden Buzzer recipient.

Valentinetti’s flawless vocals, along with his larger-than-life personality, are sure to showcase the classic crooner sounds of artists such as Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, among others. The 24-year-old currently resides in Bethpage, NY.

“We’re excited to have Sal Valentinetti return to The Event Center at iPlay America. His classic sound will make for a wonderful performance for all moms or anyone who enjoys his crooner sound,” said Jessica Schwartz, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for iPlay America.

Doors will open at 7pm and the show will start at 8pm.

Tickets to attend Sal Valentinetti: That’s A Mother’ Day special (includ-

ing Reserved Admission and VIP Skydeck seating) are available by visiting www.iPlayAmerica.com/SalValentinetti. iPlay America is located on Route 9 at 110 Schanck Road in Freehold. iPlay America’s all indoor, family-friendly themed environment provides guests nearly four acres of outstanding rides, games, and attractions making it the perfect destination for fun year-round.

The Event Center @ iPA is home to concerts, corporate events, expos, galas, trade shows, company outings, sporting events, social gatherings, and every kind of party. iPlay America offers guests a mouth-watering selection of Boardwalk-style fare, classic American cuisine at Game Time Bar & Grill, and an impressive event catering menu. Always free to enter, iPlay America’s guests can enjoy exciting attractions like 2-level Laser Tag, Indoor Go-Kart Track, Spinning Coaster and the Sky Trails® High Ropes Course (the largest indoor ropes course in New Jersey). iPlay America is the first family entertainment center in the U.S. to feature Topgolf Swing Suite immersive sports simulator. It’s fun for all ages and golf skill levels with an array of games such as TopContender, TopPressure, Baseball Pitching, Zombie Dodgeball, Hockey Shots, and more. iPlay America is a 2017 winner of TripAdvisor’s Certificate of Excellence for Outstanding Service.

A New Day for Toms River South-East: Rivals Working Together to Get It Done

By Eugene Stewart

TOMS RIVER – Just a few short years ago, who would have thought it? Two rival high schools from a large school district combining programs to stem the tide of recent less-than-stellar seasons. That’s just what the Toms River school district did. With coaches in place with stand-alone programs who were looking for the “next” to come along and turn the page on both, Jason Verdon found himself with the unenviable task of righting the ship. Three years in the making, the future appears to have a nice flow.

Currently in his third year as head coach of the Tomes River South-East co-op, Verdon is as excited about his program today as he was when he took the helm. “This was not just my first head coaching job, this was my first high school coaching experience. Things weren’t good when I started out. Participation was low and the district was looking to make good of a not so good situation.”

With two schools in the same district carrying such a strong rivalry, the co-op wasn’t well received at first. Once the Board of Education voted on it and made it a reality, the joint program was born. “I had to take over and make it work,” said Verdon. “We started over, from the team colors and logo, down to the stripes on the helmets. I worked with the players to create something that we all would be happy with.” Now with a new look, the team now had to go out and play winning ice hockey.

The normal schedule played by both teams team individually was heavily weighted with top Shore Conference talent. If there was to be a turnaround for the newly formed team, the schedule would have to be reassessed. “We just weren’t there and our talent level just was not that high. We were outclassed on the ice and needed to make change,” said Verdon.

Over the next two years, plans were formulated to change the schedule. But in the meantime, the losses kept coming. The 2018 season saw the team come away with just one win; the 2019 season concluded with two wins.

Now in its third year, good things were happening. The much-needed schedule change was in place. There were many more skaters on the team, including the creation of a JV program. This would give skaters experience as they sharpened their game for varsity minutes.

Toms River South-East‘s record is 11-6 as they head toward the state playoffs. Finding them in the role of underdog, Verdon said, “I like where we are right now. We’re clicking at the right time, barring a few injuries, but I think we just might be able to sneak up on a team or two because no one is expecting us.”

“We now dress 18 players on varsity,” said Verdon. There was an influx of six travel freshmen – all playing varsity, having a good impact. Three of the six – defensemen Jarrod Dye and Jake Verdon, and forward David Daconde played lights out.

Toms River South-East has come a very long way in a very short time. The only thing surpassing the energy and enthusiam of their head coach is the potential they seems to have.

“They had a profound impact on our team this season,” said Verdon.

Two returning goalies – Mark Bish and Sean Cook – provided very stout support for the front line. “Things have just started to click,” he added.

Verdon singled out sophomore Chris Dineen, who he calls the most impactful skater on the squad. “He does so much and the stat sheet doesn’t show it all. He is the prototypical center who backchecks like an animal. We are very lucky to have him.”

Verdon describes his squad’s brand of hockey as ‘blue collar hockey.’ “We have a balanced attack with six or seven of our skaters around 17-20 points. We outwork our opponents.”

Crediting mentors from Southern Regional and Toms River North, Verdon stated, “Each year we’ve improved, and Parker’s Army stepped in and help fund our JV program.” Named for nine-year-old Parker Nork, this charitable organization began in 2018 as a Go Fund Me page as a tribute to the boy who suddenly, and while still holding so much promise, succumbed to Leukemia. Parker’s Army raises money for sporting programs, childhood cancer research and provides student-athlete scholarships.

TOMS RIVER SOUTH-EAST Photo by Casey Krish

2/18/20 - 3/9/20 • Jersey Sporting News

Page 9

DON’T BE FOOLED WHEN FILING YOUR NJ ANNUAL REPORTS

By Blake R. Laurence, Esq.

A New Jersey Annual Report is a yearly document that nonprofit and profit-based corporations must file. In addition, Limited Liability Companies (LLCs) and Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs) must file the same report. The content of the report outlines the status of an organization. The main reason for filing annual reports for your company is to inform the state of any changes made to your company’s basic contact information. By completing this requirement, you can keep your business compliant and in good standing with New Jersey.

If you fail to file an annual report, you may initially be subject to additional fees or fines.

New Jersey will dissolve your LLC if you leave an annual report unsubmitted for more than

two years. For this reason, it is very important to take this requirement seriously and always remain up-to-date with your annual reports.

The Division of Revenue sends reminder notices to businesses three months before due dates. Company reports are due on the last day of the company’s anniversary month in the state of New Jersey.

BEWARE of other companies that mask themselves to look like the State of New Jersey.

There are a growing number of companies out there that send official-looking documents that look like they are coming from the State of New Jersey regarding the need to file your annual report. They ask you to fill in all

of the information and then charge you a fee of about $135-$175. However, you have to read the entire notice and make sure you do not skip over the “fine” print, which in most cases, is towards the top third of the paper.

If you look carefully, the language is usually in all CAPS, and it will say that they are not a governmental agency. They do not have a contract with any governmental agency to provide their service. Their return envelope will also have a Trenton, NJ address making it seem more official. What they are failing to tell you is that you can file your annual report online for usually less than half of the amount that these private companies are charging you.

The actual filing process for annual reports is quite simple since they do not require a lot of information. If you file your own annual report, the biggest challenge is remembering your due dates year after year to avoid fines and/or dissolution. Do not be fooled and let your hard-earned dollars be taken advantage of when filing your NJ annual report every year.

Blake R. Laurence, Esq., shareholder at Davison-Eastman-Muñoz-Paone, P.A., concentrates his practice in estate planning, administration, corporate transactions and landlord-tenant work. He may be reached at blaurence@respondlaw.com or 732-462-7170.

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Golden Eagles Building a Golden Culture On and Off the Ice

By Casey Krish

BAYVILLE – Go back a year ago, and you’ll find a Central Regional team that struggled out of the gate, going winless in their first nine games before finishing with a 5-12-3 record.

Klutkowski’s speed and ability to get the puck to the net earned him a team-leading 24 goals, as well as being named the Shore Conference B South Most Valuable Player.

Fast forward to today. The Golden Eagles soared out of the gate, starting the season 7-0-1, and will now enter the state tournament with 13 wins.

Junior Trevor Coltenback (41 points) and sophomore Joey Klutkowski (39 points) supplemented a top line that spread the wealth and made them a dangerous unit for any team prepared to try and suppress them.

The turnaround was quick, and after starting five freshmen last season, the fruits of their labor and effort to learn the system are starting to be rewarded.

“We had a better second half of the year because they settled in and realized that high school hockey is a much different game,” said Central Regional head coach Joe Pelliccio. “They started executing what we asked of them, and their confidence started to grow from last year.”

On ice success starts with the efforts of upperclassmen looking to make their final ride a memorable one, and Central has a pair of seniors in Danny Klutkowski and Anthony Mastriano who each take charge of their respective units.

With Klutkowski (47 points) leading the way in scoring and Mastriano anchoring a defensive unit keen on shutting down opposing offenses, Central has been able to develop younger players and allow them to start carving out their roles for the future.

Mark Anthony Competello and Domenick Competello are a pair of sophomores who will slide up and compliment the production left by Klutkowski’s graduation.

Dom Wiatrowski will also provide some scoring after putting up 16 points as a freshman.

Mastriano will depart as well, but the defensive core will be left in good hands with Brady Steller back after missing a large portion of his junior season with an injury.

Sophomore Will Maguire (11 points) and freshman Alex Krish (seven points) have been able to provide some secondary scoring while gaining more experience as well.

With a young defense in front of him, junior netminder Nicholas Bilinski has supplied timely saves on a nightly basis and was named the first-team goalie in the Shore Conference B South. On the year, Bilinski has three shutouts, and has allowed only one goal on four other occasions.

CENTRAL’S DANNY KLUTKOSKI Photos by Tom Smith The Golden Eagles got a potential glimpse of the future in freshman goalie Mason Gancy, who has filled in nicely near the end of the season, making 45 saves in a 3-0 loss to top-seeded Rumson-Fair Haven in the opening round of the Shore Conference Handchen Cup. “These guys have success at the JV and club levels, and winning begets winning,” Pelliccio said. “These guys are bringing that success to this level.”

Central Regional has registered significant wins over division rivals Toms River South-East, Red Bank Regional and Brick Township this season. A 4-3 win over Brick Township on Jan.13 gave the program its first Shore Conference divisional championship.

“All those teams are building too, and we had a lot of close games that could have gone either way,” Pelliccio said. “We played strong games against some quality opponents.”

While the on ice talent and workload reigns in the spotlight, Central Regional is also keen on building a winning culture off the ice. Pelliccio and his staff are eager to develop their players into better hockey players, but they’re also eager to make them better people, too.

CENTRAL’S WILL MAGUIRE

“Our number one priority is to have these kids leave here as men: being accountable, mature and caring,” Pelliccio said. “Whether we win, lose or draw every

game, if any of our players leave the program as jerks, then we failed our job.”

When you walk through the doors at Central Regional, the hockey program only asks for one thing; that you want to be there.

“We are a single public school, and if you’re here then you should want to be here,” Pelliccio said. “While you can, you may not be on any radars, so it’s about having these kids develop as strong teammates and human beings.”

Whether it be a Christmas skate for special needs kids, the Challenger Winter Classic hosted by the Brick Stars Hockey Club, or making a senior with cerebral palsy score a hat trick on Senior Night, you can expect Central’s maroon and gold uniforms to be among those involved.

“We are fortunate enough to have some great kids that want to do these kinds of things, as well as some great families,” Pelliccio said. “They’ve produced some great children and we are hoping to continue to add to that and enjoy every moment of it.”

Central Regional is built for the future, but there is still the present. The Eagles will await their seeding in the NJSIAA Public B state tournament before this group embarks on one final run.

Page 10 Jersey Sporting News • 2/18/20 - 3/9/20

ST. ROSE-RBC-DONOVAN CATHOLIC BENEFITS FROM EXPERIENCE, EXPANDED ROSTER

By Robert Solomon

BELMAR – There are some high school sports that have an overwhelming number of participants. Football, baseball, basketball and soccer are traditional high interest sports with numerous students actively seeking to participate. What is a school to do when participation shrinks to the point where a team cannot be filled? Some schools have reached out to other schools in the same situation to combine teams to form a co-op team. St. Rose, Red Bank Catholic and Donovan Catholic took this route to form a tri-op ice hockey team playing at St. Rose.

St. Rose graduated eight players last spring, leaving them with only six available players, according to St. Rose coach R.J. Hering. Red Bank Catholic and Donovan Catholic also had troubles with participation. “It would be a shame for the RBC players not to play this year,” said Hering. “It (combining teams) made sense from a program standpoint.” The St. Rose tri-op team now has a 19-player roster.

There were some challenges combining the players from different schools.

“It definitely came down to balance and cohesiveness. We had to have rivals come together as a team,” said Hering. One of the first things he did was address the players. “I spoke to the players about building a culture of family.

We wanted to put together the most positive season we could.”

It has been very successful this season. Most of the players were already familiar with each other. “They have a lot of relationships from travel hockey over the years. It has gone extremely well and the kids like the competitiveness of the team,” said Hering.

He explained that combining the teams is only a two-year trial based on participation. “Combining the teams helps with the number of players in the programs,” he said. “It also helps trying to boost the number of players in each school. Gathering interest in each school hopefully will enable them to branch out on their own.”

Hering is in his second year as head coach of the St. Rose team. He has previously coached six years of travel hockey, mostly with high school-age players. He places a strong emphasis on speed and puck movement. “The game has changed over the last five to seven years. It has become a speed and skill game,” he explained. “We do a lot of speed drills and game situation drills in practice. We focus on moving the puck quickly and getting into the (offensive) zone.”

His coaching philosophy and creation of a family culture seems to be working as St. Rose’s record stands at 10-4-5, an improvement over last year’s 8-13-2 record. “Last year we were a very young team with a lot of freshmen and sophomores that played a lot. We were not as developed as some of the other teams and we lost a lot of close games,” said Hering. “They are understanding the systems we are playing a little better this year. They also understand our style of coaching better this year.”

Hering is happy with the progress of the team. “We have a hardworking group of players that like to play a physical game,” he said. “They have embraced our coaching style of good puck movement and speed. They are playing with confidence which is great.”

Every coach has preseason goals and Hering is no different. “I wanted to improve what we did last year. Each year is a building block,” he explained. “We were able to make the Shore Conference Tournament this year which we didn’t do last year. We won the Toms River Tournament (Winding River Christmas Tournament) which we have played in the last two years. We also were able to make the state tournament which we also made last year.”

St. Rose is led by senior captains Sean Grant and Nick Reed and junior captain Tim Regan.

ST. ROSE’S #10 MIKE FRATTAROLI Photo by Fran Attardi It seems the lesson was learned as St. Rose met up with Jackson Memorial again last week in the Shore Conference Handchen Cup Tournament. They were able to beat Jackson Memorial handily in the rematch which allowed them to continue playing in the tournament.

Grant is also St. Rose’s top offensive player. He is among the state leaders in goals scored (29), points (49) and game-winning goals (5). “He plays the game the right way in every aspect on the ice. He has great offensive skills but plays defense as hard as he does offense. He is a great two-way player,” said Hering.

Their next opponent is second-seeded Middletown South. “In order to beat Middleton South, we need to play the same game we have been playing the last few weeks,” said Hering. “It comes down to playing a strong defensive game shutting down their players. They (South) have a strong goalie so we need to get players in front of their net so we can score some ‘dirty’ goals (deflections, tip-ins and goals through screens).”

Sophomore Aidan Grant plays on the same line as his brother, Sean.

“They have great chemistry,” said Hering. Aidan Grant is another strong offensive contributor with nine goals and 19 assists.

To win the Handchen Cup, Hering said, “It has to be a group effort with good goaltending and scoring up and down the line-up. We also need to keep our composure.”

Another top offensive player for St. Rose is Regan. “He’s a great player with good size who plays a physical game and has good puck movement,” said Hering. Regan is third on the team with 18 assists.

Hering feels good about the future of the St. Rose ice hockey program. “The goal is to do the same thing as the top programs. We want to establish St. Rose as one of the better teams at the Shore.” With his coaching style and the motivation of his players, it seems like this is well within their reach.

Mike Frattaroli leads the defense. Last year he played forward for St. Rose.

Hering explains his switch to defense, “He converted to defense for the benefit of the team. He is doing a phenomenal job for us.”

St. Rose has three goaltenders on the roster. Junior Jack Bilancione has gotten the majority of the ice time and is credited with 384 saves.

Based on Hering’s philosophy, it is easy to see that puck movement is one of St. Rose’s strengths. “We move the puck really well. We play a good East-West game which enables us to get the puck up the ice easier,” he said.

However, there are a few areas that Hering feels need to continue to improve. “We’ve had success rolling three lines. We need our second and third lines to contribute as well,” he explained. The powerplay is also a key aspect to St. Rose’s game. “Our powerplay has to be a big strength for us.”

ST. ROSE’S #11 SEAN GRANT Photo by Fran Attardi

St. Rose played a significant game earlier this season against Jackson Memorial. Up 5-2 with four minutes left in the game, St. Rose lost the game, 6-5. “We had our biggest meltdown of the season,” said Hering. “It was our biggest wake-up call and we played really good hockey the rest of the season. It helped us right the ship and get back on track.”

Photo by Emily Brehme

Lombardi 8 4

2/18/20 - 3/9/20 • Jersey Sporting News

Southern Sophomores Starting to Take the Spotlight

By Casey Krish

MANAHAWKIN – Some things will never change. Another season. Another Southern Regional team that no one should want to play in the state tournament.

Winners

The Rams have always played a physical brand of hockey as they wear down their opponents. When you take the ice against the black and yellow, just know you won’t be escaping without being a little black and blue.

Southern has thrown their fair share of punches, and they have also endured their own wounds, but it would be foolish to assume they aren’t capable of taking the hits.

School

“I would be lying if I said I didn’t think we would be a strong competitive team this year,” Southern head coach Dan Wasilewski said. “You really can’t schedule some of the opponents we had this year if you don’t think you can play with the best.”

The Rams squared off against some of the best the Shore Conference could offer, battling teams like Rumson-Fair Haven and Middletown North. They have also ventured statewide, challenging squads such as Mendham and Princeton.

The Rams have held their own, and the backbone holding the squad together starts with the senior class.

“You might get years when the seniors aren’t really a contributor, but this is one of those seasons where the seniors are all vital to this program and we are going to miss them,” Wasilewski said.

Zachary Minafo (25 points) and Andrew Irwin (19 points) have each been solid contributors over their two seasons in the Southern uniform, while Jeffrey Leonard has provided some depth over three years and comes up with some timely scoring.

Justin Braun and Andrew Brock anchor the blue line, and as a team are allowing under 2.5 goals a game.

“We had a lot of faith in this senior class,” Wasilewski said. “They come out competitive every night, and it’s all we ask of them.”

While the seniors get set to embark on one final journey through the state tournament, there are younger players eager to make a name for themselves on the biggest stage. Southern’s strong sophomore class has made strides throughout the season, and they are still a long way from penning their final chapter.

Leading the group has been Chris Laureigh, who after scoring 37 points as a freshman, finds himself at the same total entering the state tournament.

Trey Mattern was thrown into the fire as a freshman last season, but has been more than able to hold his own in between the pipes in his second season, mustering up a .911 save percentage.

SOUTHERN REGIONAL’S #27 PARKER LECH “Trey is a stud and was thrown right in there last year,” Wasilewski said. “He has taken the reigns and ran with them.”

Yater Henry, Brooks Hradek and Matthew Leonard round out the class of 2022, and each will return after getting varsity experience this season.

If being an underclassman prohibits leadership, Southern has not gotten the memo.

“Being around the locker room, you wouldn’t be able to tell that some of these guys are younger,” Wasilewski said. “The sophomores are not afraid to speak up and have a vocal role around the rest of the guys.”

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Freehold Township

Jarrid Markowitz

Cory Davies

Holmdel

Michael Quinn Pavlinetz

Jeff Rainess

Howell

Joe Berenger

Luke Sinkhorn

Keansburg

Matthew Gillen

John Bird

Keyport

Devon Meza

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Long Branch

Tracey Taylor, Jr.

Dan George

Manalapan

Nick Cavallaro

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Manasquan

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Jay Price

Marlboro

Paul Damato

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With the sophomore class having another season to develop, the juniors – William DiStefano, Ryan High, Josh Irwin and Parker Lech – will also provide some depth next year as seniors, and Southern Regional will be a team on everyone’s radars.

Matawan Regional

Vince Guarino

Jay Graber

Mater Dei Prep

Dominick Giudice

Dino Mangiero

Southern might be set up for the future, but before getting that far, there is still the present to focus on. The Rams fell to ninth-seeded Marlboro-Holmdel in the opening round of the Shore Conference Tournament Handchen Cup, a Marlboro team they edged out by one point to win their third divisional championship this season.

Middletown North

Robert Kelly

Steve Bush

Middletown South

Nick Bonfiglio

Steve Antonucci

Monmouth Regional

Eric Pietz

Dan Wendel

The loss stings, but Wasilewski and the Rams are looking forward to making some noise in the Public B state tournament.

Neptune

Bilal Henderson

Tarig Holman

Ocean Township

Brian Fisher

Don Klein

Raritan

Kevin Lind

Anthony Petruzzi

Red Bank Catholic

Kevin Bauman

Frank Edgerly

Red Bank Regional

Sam Wasserfall

Dave Schuman

Rumson-Fair Haven

James Greeley

Jerry Schulte

Shore Regional

Joe Graci

Mark Costantino

Saint John Vianney

Gage Moellmann

Joseph Martucci

Wall Township

Ian Ackerman

Anthony Grandinetti

“We have to approach it like any other game really,” Wasilewski said. “Our next game could very well be our last, but we have too much faith in this group to think they can’t have the opportunity to make a run.”

Southern endured a three-game losing streak after returning from the holiday break, failing to score in two of those games. The Rams bounced back from the slide with a three-game winning streak against a few quality opponents in Manalapan, Marlboro and Central Regional.

It is stretches like that, Wasilewski hopes, that will rally this team in the state tournament.

“We hit our low point during that losing streak, and then came out and played well against some good teams,” he said. “Sometimes you have to lose to be able to win.”

The Rams will learn their opponent for the first round of the Public B tournament on Feb. 18.

Photos by Emily Brehme

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“We’ve prepared all season playing some great teams, and now everyone we play will be one of those great teams,” Wasilewski said. “We are all chasing after the same thing.”

Coach of the Year: Anthony Grandinetti, Wall Township Team of the Year: Wall Township Tuggle Award: John Foreman, Manasquan

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Jay Patock Unsung Hero Award: Will Dal Pra, Red Bank Regional

THURSDAY MARCH 19TH 2020 for more information call 732-740-7428

Page 12 Jersey Sporting News • 2/18/20 - 3/9/20

Young Trinity Hall Team Embraces a Culture and Finds Success on and off the Ice

By Robert Solomon

TINTON FALLS - With any young program, a culture must be established. In high school sports, the culture must be created and carried out not just by the coach, but also by the players. The coach lays out a path, but the players must set out on the journey. This year the Trinity Hall girls ice hockey team is that program.

The Trinity Hall ice hockey team was established last year as the first and only all-girls ice hockey team in Monmouth County, according to head coach Frankie Francese. There are presently between 15 and 20 girls high school ice hockey teams in New Jersey but the sport is not a sanctioned sport by the NJSIAA. “Our Head of School, Mary Sciarrillo, always wanted a girls ice hockey team since the school opened five years ago,” explained Francese. “She is extremely supportive of the girls developing in the classroom and on the field (or ice).”

Theresa Kiernan, Director of Advancement and Admissions added, “As a school in its earliest years, we have always been responsive to our student body. Led by a small group of students who are experienced ice hockey players, Trinity Hall played its inaugural ice hockey season last year and has continued to build this season to state-wide success. Student-athletes interested in the rigorous academic program we provide are thrilled to be able to play hockey for their high school, with their school friends, in an incredibly supportive and celebratory manner.”

Like most new programs, there were growing pains. Last year, the team’s record was 2-4. The team included only seven available skaters and a goalie. Of these eight, four were experienced and four never played before.

every goal scored turns into a team celebration because the girls understand that everyone contributes to our success.”

Francese has a great relationship with the team. “They know there are times to be serious and times to have fun. We are serious in practice and when we watch film, but the time to have fun is when we are playing the games,” he said. “Having fun is important, that’s why it’s called a game. Having fun gives us the best chance to win. They are going to remember how they felt playing with their teammates rather than the score on the scoreboard.”

This culture seems to be working for Trinity Hall as they are currently 8-2 and ranked second in New Jersey. Both of those losses came against the No. 1 team in the state, Morristown-Beard. Francese considers Morristown-Beard to be the team’s main rival. “It’s not because we don’t like each other, but because of the strengths of the programs,” he said.

“Their record has been a reflection of the hard work of the athletes as well as the addition of new members,” said Gabriella Sorrentino, Assistant Sports Editor for the Trinity Hall Tribune.

Francese said, “My preseason goal was to develop a program that would be competitive with other state programs and to develop a culture that would create friendships and lifelong bonds. Not only have we met those goals but the girls have been responsible for exceeding them.”

This year is different, as there are currently 13 skaters and two goalies on the team, as well as a new coach in Francese. Although he has never coached a high school team before, he does have experience coaching U18 travel hockey locally.

The team seems to be embracing this culture. “They are a welcoming and fun group of girls. They are such talented athletes and yet humble. It makes this team so special,” said Francese. “There is a wide span of abilities but everyone is supportive of each other. The more experienced girls are welcoming to the girls just starting to play the sport.”

Francese is no stranger to the team, as his daughter plays for him. “I really wanted to coach the Trinity Hall team because I believe in the values of the school and the culture they have developed. They work hard in everything they do and they have a strong respect for one another,” he said. “I have a passion for coaching ice hockey and I was really excited to be given the opportunity to work with these talented athletes.”

Like any team, Trinity Hall has its strengths and its weaknesses. The team has a high skill level, good chemistry, speed and a never-give-up attitude, according to Francese. “We also need to continue to work on and improve our attention to details.”

"Every skater on the ice contributes to a Trinity Hall goal," emphasized Francese, who focuses on the team philosophy and culture. Although individuals on the team have impressive stats, he emphasizes that a person cannot just look at stats to determine who the best players are. “Everyone contributes to the team effort.”

Trinity Hall is led by captains Carolyn Litwin and Reily Francese. They are the only seniors on this young team.

Trinity Hall’s next game is against Randolph. This is the last game before the tournament begins at the end of the month. To continue winning, the Trinity Hall team must stick to its game plan and pay attention to the details according to Francese. “We need to continue to play a strong defensive game and take the chances when we think we should,” he said.

The culture Francese brought focuses on a team first mentality. “One of the things I specifically tell the girls is that every person is important to the team,” he explained. “If you attend a Trinity Hall ice hockey game, you will quickly notice that

Their top goal scorers are sophomore Elisabeth “Biz” Clements (8 goals) and freshman Alyssa Laurino (7 goals).

Sophomores Adriana Crepaldi and Anna Clements, Biz’ twin sister, are tied with the team lead in assists with nine each and are among the top assist leaders in New Jersey. “They are very unselfish players with high hockey IQs,” said Francese.

Starting goalie Maddie Reynolds is also only a sophomore. “This is a young team with a high ceiling,” he continued.

Sophomore defenseman Noelle Turek was named NJ Devils High School Girls Player of the Month for January. “She was so excited but humble about it and she was happy to share it with her teammates,” said Francese. “She said the reason she won was because she had the best teammates.” This is consistent with the Trinity Hall team culture.

This award was even more special for Turek as she sat out her freshman year with a torn ACL. “She came back and worked really hard to get back onto the ice with her friends,” said Francese.

Sophomore Molly Riggi is among the state leaders in game-winning goals. “She is a playmaker. When you need a big goal, you can count on Molly to take the puck and make something happen,” said Francese. Riggi's success is a combination of her high skill level and usually the result of a key play made by one or more of her teammates.

TRINITY HALL’S #5 ALYSE BORRAS Photos by Tom Smith

After the regular season, Trinity Hall will be participating in the inaugural NJ Girls Ice Hockey Invitational Tournament, which was organized by William Librera, former Chatham Athletic Director, with some assistance from the NJSIAA. “We saw a growth of girls ice hockey and we wanted to work with the NJSIAA to promote the sport,” said Librera. Currently 12 teams are committed to play.

In December Librera left his AD position at Chatham to become principal at Watchung. “I plan to fulfill my duties to the end of the tournament and pass the baton on to someone else who can take it to great heights in the future,” said Librera.

The final game is scheduled for March 4 at Codey Arena in West Orange. The NJSIAA is providing the venue.

“They have been kind enough to help promote the tournament and by offering a venue to host the final game of the tournament,” Librera said. There is a good chance that Trinity Hall will face off against rival Morristown-Beard in the tournament final.”

“It has been an honor for me to help develop the culture of the ice hockey program,” said Francese. He sees Trinity Hall becoming a girls ice hockey powerhouse in New Jersey. He also feels top young hockey players will want to play for Trinity Hall and the team will always be in competition for the top spot in the state.