Ice Hockey: 2013-14 North Jersey Season in Review

2013-14 NORTH JERSEY HOCKEY SEASON IN REVIEW

This will be the last hockey post of the year (warning: it’s very long), and it includes basically everything you could possibly think of from this memorable 2013-14 season. Among the information below includes a little bit more on our Player, Team and Coach of the Year… extended versions of our first and second team All-North Jersey teams and a Varsity Aces exclusive third team All-North Jersey. Also included: Games of the Year, Upsets of the Year, Freshmen of the Year and Stories of the Year… and finally, a full season archive including every story (blog or newspaper) that I, Jim McConville or Darren Cooper wrote this season.

This was my first season on the hockey beat, and like former Ace Andy Vasquez assured me, I had a blast the past four months. Thank you to all the players, coaches, staffs, parents and fans who made going to work so fun for me. Thank you to Jonathan Yardley, owner of NJhockey.org (Twitter: @NJ_Hockey), who made my job so much easier all season with his incredibly informative site, and thank you to all the guys who run @HockeyAdvantage, a very helpful and information-filled Twitter account for both out-of-area and North Jersey teams all season. I’m already looking forward to next year.

That said, here is the 2013-14 Season in Review…

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Alex Whelan, Ramsey

Player of the Year: Alex Whelan, Ramsey, junior
The stats: Whelan struck for a North Jersey-best 43 goals and 37 assists for the Public B state finalist Rams, including 12 goals and 10 assists in Ramsey’s final eight games — all playoff games — in the Green Cup and state tournaments. It’s the second consecutive season that Whelan has received this honor. He also had the unofficial Goal of the Year.
The quote: “As a 16-year-old, for someone to get all this attention, it’s amazing that it doesn’t affect him. It’s always about the team for him, always about his teammates and his friends. It’s never about Alex Whelan. I’ll go, ‘Alex, you’ve just been nominated for this or just received that,’ and it never inflates his head.” — Ramsey coach Bob Toy
The info: So, the Player of the Year race really came down to two guys — Whelan and Don Bosco’s Cody Calcagno — and really, there was no wrong choice. Calcagno really was just as deserving. From start to finish, though, Whelan displayed such incredible talent night in and night out and was the No. 1 reason — out of many — why Ramsey reached the state finals. I couldn’t even get everything I wanted to say in the Player of the Year story, but talking to Toy a few days ago, he brought up a few other great points about Whelan that went unmentioned. The first, how many players of Whelan’s caliber stick around their public school program for four years — which Whelan will do — instead of opting for junior leagues? “He loves Ramsey and he loves his teammates,” Toy said. “He’s had opportunities galore to go to other organizations and he doesn’t. He’s as loyal as it gets and he’ll stay with Ramsey ’til he’s done here, and that doesn’t happen often with guys like him. His sense of town, his loyalty to his friends since they were 4-5 years old together, that all speaks volumes about Alex.” The other thing that stuck out was how much impact Whelan has defensively for Ramsey. “That’s what makes Alex one of those special hockey players,” Toy said. “He plays all three zones. There’ll be guys hanging around in the neutral zone just waiting for the puck, but that’s not what Alex does. All of his all goals come from hard work. They’re generated from our zone and he’s working in that D-zone.” So now the question becomes, can Whelan three-peat as Player of the Year next year? He’ll almost certainly be in the running, but that’ll be the last thing on his mind. A state championship remains the one thing left missing on Whelan’s already-impressive resumè and that’ll be priority No. 1 next year.

TEAM OF THE YEAR: Don Bosco

Team of the Year: Don Bosco Ironmen
The stats: Don Bosco went 16-5-3, captured its third straight Bergen County tournament title and earned its first ever Gordon Cup title with a memorable 3-2 overtime win over rival Delbarton. The Ironmen played in four different states, seeking out top competition, and beat eventual co state-champion CBA, 2-0, in the Gordon Cup semis. They had six players — Cody Calcagno, John Stimola, Hunter Garlasco, Dylan Healey, Jarred Liscio and Griffin Welch — honored on either first or second team All-North Jersey.
The quote: “Until someone beat Delbarton, they were the champs. This year, we beat them in the regular season, but to beat them in a meaningful championship game like that … I look at it now like we are right there alongside of them as one of the top teams in the state. It makes a difference going forward now. And the way we did it, to win in overtime, to have that kind of celebration, that’s what makes it special. All the kids, the parents, the alumni who were there will remember that game because of the ending and how great it was for our program.” — Don Bosco coach Greg Toskos
The info: It was great season that ended a few games too short if you’re a Don Bosco fan, after the Ironmen were upset in the Non-Public state quarterfinals by St. Augustine Prep. Still, everything above had to be taken into consideration in the choosing of Team of the Year, and Bosco narrowly edged out in-town rival Ramsey for this year’s honor. The Ironmen went wire to wire as the No. 1 team in North Jersey, were believed to be the No. 1 team in the state heading into the state tournament, and were considered Top 5 the entire season. From that lights out defense with Calcagno and Stimola, to running a quality four lines offensively headed by Garlasco and Welch, and the stellar goaltending from either Liscio or freshman Alexei Masanko, Don Bosco proved to be the top team in North Jersey all year.

COACH OF THE YEAR: Bob Toy, Ramsey

Coach of the Year: Bob Toy, Ramsey
The stats: Toy led Ramsey to a 28-3 record, the most wins ever by a public school team in New Jersey, and reached the Public B state finals for the first time since 2009. It was the fifth time in Toy’s seven seasons that the Rams reached the state semifinals. Also, Ramsey captured its second straight Big North Green Cup, went a perfect 19-0 in division play and defeated both Public A state finalists — Morris Knolls and Bridgewater-Raritan — during the regular season. Toy also surpassed the 150-win milestone in just seven seasons and will enter next season with a 152-31-14 career mark.
The quote: “For us to play Don Bosco, Morris Knolls, Randolph, Bridgewater-Raritan, Kinnelon, Glen Rock, Mendham, it’s difficult. We might not have run the table, but we were in every game we played. Some people can focus on what we didn’t do, I’ll focus on what we did do. I couldn’t be any prouder of these kids for what they accomplished this season. It’s not only about winning, it’s about establishing a culture and in that culture you establish a winning attitude. That’s the essence of Ramsey hockey.” — Ramsey coach Bob Toy
The info: Like with the Whelan story, I was forced to leave out some interesting stuff on Toy and how he came to become such a defensive-minded coach. This season alone, the Rams surrendered just 24 goals in 31 games. Toy grew up a defenseman and he’s always liked keeping the scores low because “it always comes down to defense, it always does,” he said. “Some coaches like to go all offense, the run-and-gun approach,” Toy said. “And that’s fine. Everyone has their style. They’ll go, ‘Alright, if you score four, we’ll score six.’ I’m not that kind of coach. We demand a lot from our forwards defensively, which typically sacrifices goal-scoring a bit, but that’s what I grew up with. I’ve always subscribed to the theory that if you want to contend, you better be good in your own D-zone. We’ve built from the cage out here, and I’ve been fortunate since I’ve been here to have some great goaltenders back there. It might not be the flashiest, but you’re going to win your fair share of games.” With Whelan, Nick Botta, goalie Tyler Harmon — and plenty others — returning next year, expect Ramsey to be in contention for multiple titles once again.

Also considered: Greg Toskos, Don Bosco; Dan Frey, West Milford; Sergio Fernandez, Glen Rock; Brian Monteverdi, Bergen Catholic; Mike Lucchesi, Ridgewood; Brian Sharkey, River Dell/Westwood; Dean Portas, Fair Lawn; Denis Jelcic, Paramus/Lyndhurst.

First Team All-North Jersey

F: Alex Whelan, Ramsey, jr.
The now two-time North Jersey Player of the Year and Quinnipiac commit led the area in scoring for the Public B state finalist Rams, striking for 43 goals and 37 assists. In the state tournament alone, Whelan delivered nine goals and five assists.

F: Hunter Garlasco, Don Bosco, jr.
Defenses beware anytime Garlasco has the puck on his stick, as the Ironman junior displayed arguably the best vision in North Jersey this season for the Bergen County and Gordon Cup champions. He finished with eight goals and a team-best 23 assists.

F: Matt Roy, Glen Rock, sr.
The electrifying and dynamic goal scorer erupted for 31 goals and 33 assists — both team-highs — for the Big North Silver regular season and Cup champions. He’s heading to Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn., this fall to further pursue his music career.

F: Dylan Healey, Don Bosco, sr.
A dangerous second-line forward for the Ironmen who led the team in goals scored with 10, while playing in the ultra-competitive Gordon Conference. Scored two crucial goals in Don Bosco’s 4-1 regular season win over Delbarton — its first victory over its rival in years.

F: Connor DiTomaso, Ramsey, sr.
The captain of Ramsey’s 28-win state finalist finished with 18 goals and 30 assists, including a pair of goals in the Rams’ 5-3 win over Ramapo in the Big North Green Cup to help capture the program’s second straight title.

F: Hunter Ledwith, Kinnelon, sr.
The go-to scorer for the Colts — the Mennen Cup semifinalists and Public B quarterfinalists — finished with 20 goals and 16 assists, both team-highs.

D: Cody Calcagno, Don Bosco, sr.
Both the Bergen County tournament and Gordon Conference MVP, Calcagno was the consensus top defensive player in North Jersey this season, anchoring a unit that surrendered just 35 goals in 24 games. Added six goals and 12 assists, including a goal in the Ironmen’s Gordon Cup win over Delbarton, and finished with a team-high plus-minus rating of 30.

D: Brandon O’Callahan, Ramsey, so.
The super sophomore solidified himself as the cornerstone of a defensive unit that surrendered a minuscule 24 goals in 31 games, including holding opponents to one goal or less 26 times (16 shutouts). Was also involved offensively, adding four goals and 11 assists.

D: Matt Jorgensen, Glen Rock, sr.
One of the top scoring blueliners in North Jersey, Jorgensen — a repeat first-teamer — struck for 17 goals and added 30 assists for 23-win Glen Rock, the repeat Silver Cup champion and Public B quarterfinalist.

D: John Stimola, Don Bosco, sr.
Often-times paired with Calcagno on the back line, Stimola was an integral part to Don Bosco’s physical and hard-hitting defense en route to the Gordon Cup and Bergen County titles. Only registered six penalty minutes all year.

G: Gennaro Anzevino, Bergen Catholic, sr.
There weren’t many goalies who saw as many shots (627) as Anzevino did this season, yet he still maintained an impressive .935 save percentage. Also was in net for wins against CBA and Delbarton (58 saves) this season.

G: Tyler Harmon, Ramsey, so.
Had big shoes to fill replacing Justin Larkin and did so admirably, helping lead the Rams to the Public B state final while going 18-3 in net with a 0.77 goals against average, a .948 save percentage and a school-record 11 shutouts.

Second Team All-North Jersey

F: Nick Botta, Ramsey, jr. — Notched 23 goals and 20 assists on the first line for the Public B state finalists, including 12 goals and 10 assists in Ramsey’s eight total playoff games during the Green Cup and state tournaments.

F: Danny Reidel, Wayne Hills, jr. – One of the top players in Passaic County this season, Reidel finished with a team-best 29 goals and 24 assists for the 15-win Pats.

F: Mike Buckel, Glen Rock, sr. — Finished as Rock’s second-leading scorer, behind only Roy, with 24 goals and 25 assists.

F: Griffin Welch, Don Bosco, jr. — Struck for nine goals and 11 assists, and scored the team’s biggest goal of the year — in overtime against Delbarton in the Gordon Cup final. Seemed to have a knack for scoring big goals in big spots.

F: Alex Linton, Ridgewood, sr. — Despite taking on more of a defensive role this season, Linton still finished as Ridgewood’s leading scorer with 17 goals and 16 assists, including the memorable game-winner against Paramus Catholic in the Gold Cup final.

F: Justin Ritter, Fair Lawn, sr. — Was vital to the Cutters’ second-half turnaround, which led to a state tournament berth, and finished with 27 goals and 18 assists. After starting the year 2-7, Ritter was part of Fair Lawn’s 9-3-1 run to end the season.

F: Joey Fenui, West Milford, jr. — After missing the first five games with a concussion when West Milford went 0-4-1, Fenui led the charge of a late-season turnaround finishing with a team-best 28 goals and 16 assists. The Highlanders finished 12-9-3 overall, including a PCT title.

F: Brian D’Erario, Paramus Catholic, sr. — Emerged as the Paladins’ (16-6-2) biggest playmaker this season, striking for 21 goals and a team-best 28 assists for the Gold Cup finalists.

D: Anthony Pedulla, Ramsey, sr. — A key component to Ramsey’s top-ranked defensive unit who also contributed offensively with four goals and 15 assists, often putting ripped shots on net from the blue line.

D: Sean Johnson, Ramapo, sr. — It was Johnson who led the charge to Ramapo’s run to Green Cup finals, as the senior captain was heavily involved in the Raiders’ comeback win in the semifinals over Wayne Hills. Finished with 3 goals and 17 assists.

D: Joey Ferrante, Fair Lawn, so. — Only a sophomore, Ferrante emerged as an important piece to Fair lawn’s second-half turnaround. Ended the season as the team’s third-leading scorer with 15 goals and 16 assists.

D: Chris Butryn, Ramsey, sr. — The third Ramsey defensemen to be honored on first or second All-North Jersey, and just as important as the first two. Added five goals and 10 assists from the back line.

D: Kevin Booth, Paramus Catholic, jr. — One of the important leaders this year on a Paramus Catholic team filled with new players in new roles ; finished with five goals and 13 assists.

G: Josh Welte, Indian Hills, jr. — Had some of the most impressive individual performances of the season en route to finishing the year with a 2.02 goals against average while stopping 91.8 percent of the shots he saw. Limited Ramsey to one goal twice.

G: Jarred Liscio, Don Bosco, sr. — The program’s all-time winningest goalie owned a 1.33 goals against average and a .944 save percentage. Was in net for the Ironmen’s Gordon Cup victory over Delbarton, where he made 21 saves.

Third Team All-North Jersey
Appears only on Varsity Aces

F: Griffin Privitera, Old Tappan, jr.
F: Chris Dressler, West Milford, fr.
F: Greg Jandoli, Don Bosco, sr.
F: Jason Ruggiero, Ramapo, sr.
F: Alex Linquito, Indian Hills, sr.
F: Mark Williams, Fair Lawn, jr.
F: Jason Vanderlinden, Tenafly, sr.
D: Joe Brown, Bergen Catholic, sr.
D: Steven Schapiro, St. Joseph, sr.
D: Cameron St. John, Ridgewood, sr.
D: Jake Bernstein, Tenafly, jr.
D: Tom LaMacchia, Glen Rock, so.
G: Brandon Rosario, Glen Rock, so.
G: John Pitera, Paramus Catholic, so.
G: Ross Mantione, West Milford, sr.

* * *

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Chris Dressler, West Milford

Freshman of the Year: Chris Dressler, West Milford forward
The talented newcomer with size and speed burst on to the high school scene this season with 23 goals and 17 assists, including five goals and four assists during the Highlanders’ three-game Passaic County tournament run — with wins over Clifton, Wayne Hills and DePaul — which culminated in a surprise championship as the No. 4 seed. Dressler was selected as a first team All-Passaic selection and appears like he’ll be a mainstay there over the next three years.

Runner-up: Alexei Masanko, Don Bosco goalie
During preseason, Don Bosco coach Greg Toskos spoke very highly of the depth the Ironmen had in net behind starting goalie Jarred Liscio. And throughout the year, Masanko showed why. The freshman phenom earned some big starts throughout the year and has already developed a reputation as a big-game goaltender, defeating Delbarton in the regular season (28 saves) and shutting out CBA in the Gordon Cup semifinals (25 saves). He also had a pair of shutouts against Bergen Catholic.

Honorable mentions: Jake Kinney, Glen Rock; Brandon Murray, Glen Rock; J.P. Kelly, Ridgewood; Ryan Carius, Ridgewood; Nick Carnevale, Paramus Catholic; Christian Brunnelle, Paramus Catholic; Joey Ragno, River Dell/Westwood; Kyle Picinic, Tenafly; Max O’Herlihy, DePaul, Maros Adamec, Wayne Hills.

* * *

GAME OF THE YEAR: Don Bosco 3, Delbarton 2 (OT) – Gordon Cup Final

Game of the Year: Don Bosco defeats Delbarton, 3-2 in overtime, in the Gordon Cup final, punctuated by Griffin Welch’s game-winner
They said it: “So, everyone’s in the locker room [before overtime] getting all fired up and asking everyone, ‘Who’s going to get to it?’ and ‘Who wants it, who wants to be the hero?’ Then I go outside and see Griffin [Welch] sitting by himself with his head in his shirt. I go, ‘Griff, you all right, man?’ He goes, ‘Don’t worry, coach. I got it.’ ” — Don Bosco coach Greg Toskos
The info: This game really had everything (blog story), and when you factor in what was at stake, it was no doubt the Game of the Year. Griffin Welch had a career night, really leaving his mark on all three Ironmen goals (assisted on one, drew the penalty which led to the other), capped by the overtime game-winner. Goalie Jarred Liscio made some great saves against a relentless Delbarton attack. Cody Calcagno had a huge momentum-swinging go-ahead goal with just six seconds left in the second period and, of course, the ending was as good as it gets. Don Bosco had already beaten Delbarton in the regular season, but as Toskos said last week, this Gordon Cup win over the Green Wave has put these two Non-Public powers on equal footing going forward.

Game of the Year Runner-up: Ramapo caps wild third-period, three-goal comeback with shootout victory over Wayne Hills to advance to Green Cup final. The Raiders won the shootout, 2-1, getting the game-winner from Stephen Schwab.
They said it: “Wow. This is an unreal feeling, I’ll say that much. I did feel the pressure [of being Ramapo’s final shooter] and I was definitely nervous. There aren’t really any words to describe this feeling I have right now.”
The info: It’s still pretty crazy to me how Stephen Schwab tweeted about USA Hockey’s T.J. Oshie’s shootout heroics in the Olympics one day, then two nights later the sophomore was pulling off similar shootout heroics of his own in the PCT semis. The blog story I wrote really chronicles Ramapo’s third-period comeback in greater detail, but the Raiders trailed, 3-0, with just six minutes left. Not only that, but the Raiders took a penalty after going down three. Everything started turning though on Sean Johnson’s shorthanded goal. Connor Russo followed to bring’Po within one, and Sean Soderlund notched the clutch game-tying score with just 20.5 seconds. Aside from maybe Bergen Catholic’s five-goal third period against Delbarton (which I’ll be getting to), this was the wildest period I saw all year.

Game of the Year third-place: Ridgewood comes from behind against Paramus Catholic in the Gold Cup final to win, 3-2, after trailing, 2-0, capped by Alex Linton’s game-winner with 1:02 left in regulation.
They said it: “Early on, we were just talking on the bench about trying to stay positive and keep them from letting their minds getting away from the task at hand. It was early in the game when we went down two, so there was a lot of hockey left. We had a choice to make then, we could tank it, or we could keep fighting and try scratching and clawing our way back into it. And PC certainly made us do that. They’re such a good defensive team that it was so hard. I mean, we had nine shots I think going into the third [PC outshot Ridgewood, 21-16, for the game], just because they play such smart defense, they keep everything in front of net, they protected the front of the net so well. Just to keep our minds right and stay in that game, and to eventually win it, says a lot about the character of these kids (Blog Story).” — Ridgewood coach Mike Lucchesi.

Honorable mentions:
Ramapo over Indian Hills, 2-1, on Dec. 20 – Ramapo’s Sean Soderlund sends home game-winner on beautiful pass from Sean Johnson with 41 seconds left in front of 1,500.
Ramsey over Indian Hills, 1-0, in Green Cup semis — Thanks to Frank Steffe, Ramsey finally solves Indian Hills goalie Josh Welte early in 3rd for game-winner to advance to Green Cup final.
Kinnelon over Wayne Hills, 7-6, on Dec. 23 — In desperate need of a win early in the year, Kinnelon’s Hunter Ledwith struck for the game-winner with 58 seconds left in a wild back-and-forth contest. By the way, Kinnelon beat Public B state champion Morristown twice this season, both late in the year. The Colts beat the Colonials, 5-4, on Feb. 10 and 1-0 on Feb. 17. The Feb. 17 loss was Morristown’s last of the season, before rattling off five straight wins to capture the state title. Kinnelon also beat Non-Public co-champion Morristown-Beard, 5-1, on Dec. 7 and tied Public A champ Morris Knolls, 3-3, on Jan. 18. Colts were very good this year.
River Dell/Westwood earns 1-1 tie vs. Paramus Catholic — River Dell/Westwood goalie Chris DeTitta denies Paramus Catholic breakaway as time expires to earn hard-fought tie in Gold division clash.
Ridgewood over Paramus Catholic, 1-0, on Jan. 8, — Ridgewood freshman J.P. Kelly breaks scoreless tie with game-winner off pass from Ryan Carius with 4:23 left to put Ridgewood in the driver’s seat for Gold division title. Goalie Mickey Legg makes 20 saves for the shutout.
Morristown defeats Ramsey, 1-0, in Public B state final — Yes, it was a Ramsey loss, but man, was this a heck of a game featuring two of the best defenses in the state. The Rams surrendered the game-winner with just 33.8 seconds left.
Chatham defeats Kinnelon, 4-2, in Public B quarterfinals — Another local team loss, but this, too, was an awesome game. Kinnelon led, 2-1, with 7:19 before a third-period rally from defending state champion Chatham. 
Pascack Valley over Northern Highlands, 7-6 in OT, in Silver Cup quarterfinals — A wildly entertaining, back-and-forth contest which ended with a leaping goal from Pascack Valley’s Matt Truglio right in front of the net early in overtime.
Bergen Catholic defeats Summit, 2-1, on Dec. 29 – Crusaders’ Evan Wisocky strikes for game-winner off assist from Tyler Antonucci with 10.5 seconds left to give Bergen Catholic much-needed early-season win.
Ramsey defeats Morris Knolls, 1-0, on Dec. 26 — Looking back now, what a great win for Ramsey against an eventual state champion. Nick Botta sent home the game-winner with 3:25 left.
(Disclaimer: Mostly all of games of the year considered were games that I, or Jim McConville, was in attendance for.)

UPSET OF THE YEAR

Upset of the Year: Bergen Catholic stuns Delbarton, 6-3, in regular season contest
They said it: “We talked about our attitude and approach. Whether it’s Bishop Eustace or Delbarton, how we prepare is all equal. We knew this a big game, but our preparation stays the same no matter who we’re playing. The kids bought in, and hopefully they continue doing so.” — Bergen Catholic coach Brian Monteverdi.
The info: I mention it in the blog story here, but this game took place right after Don Bosco captured the Bergen County title, and, in a way, the Crusaders kind of stole some of the Ironmen’s thunder on this night. The Crusaders struck for five third-period goals and received a hat trick from Kyle Marano and another outstanding performance from goalie Gennaro Anzevino (58 saves on 61 shots!) to send shockwaves throughout the state. It was the first regular season loss to a New Jersey opponent that Delbarton had suffered since Jan. 14, 2009 — over five years — and the easy pick for Upset of the Year in North Jersey. Bergen Catholic, by the way, defeated two eventual state champions this season with its 3-2 win over Morris Knolls on Dec. 1 and its 2-1 win over CBA on Dec. 11. They also gave Public B state champion Morristown a good game on Dec. 23, before losing, 3-2.

Runner-up: Paramus Catholic defeats Morris Knolls, 4-3, on Dec. 29
They said it: “It was good to rebound like we did today, facing another team considered to be Top 20 in the state. I think there absolutely was more pressure on us after the DePaul game. Anytime you lose, you don’t want to start a streak of it. You want to get back to playing well and feeling good about yourselves so there was a little more pressure on us from a coaching perspective as well as a team perspective.” — Paramus Catholic coach Keith Bland.
The info: This happened one night after Paramus Catholic suffered an unexpected 6-3 loss to DePaul. Looking back now, what a win this was for the Paladins against the eventual Public A state champions in Morris Knolls. Matt Lepinski scored twice in the win and John Pitera was impressive in net, like he was all year, on this night.

Third-place: No. 4 West Milford shocks top-seeded Wayne Hills, 3-2, in Passaic County semifinals
They said it: “I’m so proud of these guys. We were rolling two lines all game and I kept telling them, you never know if the next shift is your last shift. The fact that we had anything left in the tank at the end, wow.” — West Milford coach Dan Frey
The info: Freshman Chris Dressler delivered the game-winner 9:32 into overtime to send the Highlanders to the Passaic County final. At the time, West Milford had been playing better than it started the season, but this win really sparked the Highlanders’ second-half turnaround. West Milford battled back in this one from a pair of one-goal deficits, with Joey Fenui striking for a pair of game-tying goals. The win marked the Highlanders’ second of what turned out to be a nine-game unbeaten streak. West Milford finished the year 12-9-3 after starting the season 1-6-1.

The Champions List

Bergen County: Don Bosco

Passaic County: West Milford

Big North Green: Ramsey

Big North Gold: Ridgewood

Big North Silver: Glen Rock

Gordon Cup: Don Bosco

* * *

Story of the Year: St. Joseph’s Steven Schapiro winning biggest battle of life

Story of the Year: St. Joseph senior Steven Schapiro returns to the ice after winning battle with cancer
They said it: “When I was first diagnosed, I was devastated. I thought there was nothing left,” Schapiro said, before pausing momentarily while getting choked up. Once I accepted it and collected myself, I just set my mind on pushing through this just like I do with everything else. I honestly thought I’d never be able to play hockey again. And that really stuck with me, because hockey is my life and has been since I was little. I was just sitting there thinking about how far I’ve come with hockey and then to be set back so far… my dedication to the game is what helped me beat this.”
The info: Sitting down with Schapiro and hearing him speak about his journey back to the ice was one of the most emotional interviews I’ve ever done. His coach, Larry Mahurter, was shocked Schapiro returned so quickly. In fact, he didn’t even really think Schapiro was going to play at all this season. Once Schapiro came back, he picked up right where he left off, anchoring the Green Knights defense with his physical, hard-hitting style of play. Before Schapiro’s return on Jan. 4, St. Joes was 4-4-1. After his return, the Knights went 11-5 and advanced to the Silver Cup final. At the time of the interview, Schapiro said his college search had been temporarily put on hold because of all the cancer treatments. I wish Steven and his family nothing but the best going forward.

Story of the Year II: Ramsey’s DiTomaso brothers enjoy success on ice, floor
They said it: ”It’s awesome for [James] and it’s awesome to see him succeed so much. He’s got those gold medals. On our [high school] team, we’ve wanted to win that state championship more than anything in the world, and that’s what this pretty much is to them. It’s amazing for them.” – Ramsey’s Connor DiTomaso on his brother James winning a gold medal on his Special Olympic floor hockey team.
The info: I forget what game it was, maybe the Green Cup final or one of the state games, but James DiTomaso was standing outside the locker room during pregame. The team was in the locker room and the door swung open. Connor, James’ brother and senior captain, called him in to deliver a pre-game speech. He was hesitant at first, but finally obliged, which drew a huge cheer from the other players in the locker room. James DiTomaso was a significant part of this Ramsey team. I don’t know how many games he missed, if any at all, but it seemed like every time I was there, James was there too, usually rocking a Rams jersey and excitedly celebrating all the many Ramsey goals. It was a great scene when he and his Special Olympics floor hockey teammates were honored for winning a gold medal. It was the kind of prize that the high school team was chasing after all year.

Story of the Year III: Stadium game a thrill for Don Bosco – VIDEO
They said it: ”This was just unbelievable to be out there.” – Don Bosco’s Griffin Welch
The info: An experience of a lifetime for Don Bosco. Not only was the setting as good as it gets, it also featured two legitimate state-title contenders in a huge game in the Gordon Conference standings. Griffin Welch notched the lone goal in regulation for the Ironmen (he really scored some big, big goals this season) and Jarred Liscio was impressive in net. Welch and Hunter Garlasco each scored in the unofficial shootout, too.

Story of the Year IV: Ramsey’s Road to The Rock
The info: No, the Rams didn’t win that coveted state title they set out for, but their run to The Rock was just as memorable as any other part of this 2013-14 season. The lasting image after suffering that heartbreaking 1-0 loss to Morristown is Ramsey’s team huddle as the final buzzer sounded at Prudential Center. They lost, but they remained together. Win or lose, Ramsey always remained a team. There was never any finger-pointing after losses, never any individuals looking for credit after wins. They were faced with the challenge of near-impossible expectations to live up to, and they handled that pressure just about as good as they could have. Like Toy said, to appease everyone, Ramsey would have needed to basically go 31-0 this season. They shutout Mendham, 7-0, in the Public B semifinals… something no team had done all season. They steamrolled their way through the state tournament in the first four games, each win more impressive than the last as they punched their ticket to The Rock. The Rams captured the attention of the entire town of Ramsey and should be proud of all they accomplished. Congratulations to everyone involved. It was a heck of a run.

2013-14 SEASON ARCHIVE

November/December
(11/30) Season Preview: Around the leagues
(11/30) Season Preview: 10 Players to Watch
(11/30) Opening Night Highlights, including the McGill Cup
(11/30) McGill Cup honors fallen hero
(11/30) Mahwah 7, Wayne Valley 0
(11/30) Ramapo 10, DePaul 4
(12/1) Anzano’s hat trick propels Ridgewood past Clifton, 5-0
(12/1) Paramus Catholic off to 2-0 start after 7-1 win over Fair Lawn
(12/1) Lopsided wins highlight Saturday’s action
(12/1) Wayne Hills 5, Lakeland 2
(12/1) Glen Rock 4, Ridgewood 1
(12/3) Paramus Catholic expecting more of the same
(12/7) Wayne Hills defeats Indian Hills, 5-2
(12/7) Ramsey, Wayne Hills remain unbeaten, plus more from Friday night
(12/9) Paramus Catholic, Glen Rock, Tenafly remain unbeaten
(12/11) Don Bosco’s Liscio on solid ice, approaching program’s all-time wins mark 
(12/12) Top 15 rankings on Dec. 12
(12/14) Ramsey 2, Indian Hills 0
(12/14) Wayne Hills 6, Ramapo 1
(12/14) DePaul’s Kyle Scancerella registers nine-point night in win over Wayne Valley
(12/15) Ramsey’s ‘Baby Line’ shoot for title
(12/18) Top 15 rankings on Dec. 18 with Rivalry Night on the way
(12/20) Bergen Catholic off to fast start
(12/20) Ramsey 5, Mahwah 1
(12/20) Wayne Hills 9, Wayne Valley 4
(12/20) Ramapo 2, Indian Hills 1
(12/21) Don Bosco proves its point in 3-0 win over Bergen Catholic
(12/22) Pascack Valley 6, Old Tappan 4
(12/22) Glen Rock’s special teams come up big in 7-0 win over Tenafly
(12/22) Five things to watch for in the holiday tournaments
(12/22) Bergen Catholic shows character in 3-2 loss to CBA
(12/22) St. Joseph 11, Paramus 1
(12/24) Morristown 3, Bergen Catholic 2
(12/24) Kinnelon edges Wayne Hills, 7-6, in wild contest
(12/26) Top 15 rankings on Dec. 26
(12/27) Glen Rock survives scare from Roxbury, wins, 6-5
(12/27) Ramsey’s Nick Botta lifts Rams past Morris Knolls, 1-0
(12/28) Wayne Hills 2, Ridgewood 0
(12/28) Indian Hills irked by 5-5 tie of Brick
(12/29) Ramsey rolls past Kinnelon, 5-0, but seeks more
(12/29) Chatham 4, Bergen Catholic 2
(12/30) Evan Wisocky’s goal with 10.5 seconds left lifts Bergen Catholic past Summit
(12/31) Ramsey edged in clash of public state powers; fall to Randolph, 1-0

January
(1/3) Top 15 rankings on Jan. 3
(1/4) Indian Hills 2, Mahwah 2
(1/4) Ramsey starts fast, defeats Ramapo, 3-0
(1/4) Wayne Hills on the rise under guidance of coach Angelo Serse
(1/5) Bergen Catholic’s Tyler Antonucci leads Crusaders past Gloucester Catholic
(1/6) The weekend wrap (Jan. 3 to Jan. 5)
(1/6) Glen Rock defeats Tenafly, 5-3, under the lights at Englewood Field Club
(1/6) River Dell/Westwood earns 1-1 tie vs. Paramus Cath. behind play of Chris DeTitta
(1/7) Bergen County Tournament seeding predictions
(1/7) Bergen County Tournament seeds announced
(1/8) More on Don Bosco’s upcoming trip to Yankee Stadium
(1/9) Notebook: Bergen Catholic heating up, plus more from around North Jersey
(1/9) Ridgewood proves point as goalie Mickey Legg shines vs. Paramus Catholic
(1/11) Alex Whelan’s hat trick leads Ramsey past Wayne Hills, 4-1 
(1/13) Don Bosco falls to Delbarton, 3-1
(1/15) Top 15 rankings on Jan. 15
(1/15) St. Joseph’s Steven Schapiro winning biggest battle of his life
(1/15) Paramus Catholic 3, Pascack Valley 1 – BCT first round
(1/15) Tenafly 3, Ridgewood 1 — BCT first round
(1/16) River Dell/Westwood picks up program’s first BCT win with victory over Mahwah
(1/18) Bergen Catholic, Ramsey advance to Bergen County tournament semifinals
(1/18) Glen Rock, Don Bosco with lopsided wins to advance to reach BCT semis
(1/18) This ice hockey bond long, strong in Bergen County with L’Heurexs and Leggs
(1/19) West Milford stuns Wayne Hills in PCT semis
(1/20) Inspired Ramsey marches into Bergen County tournament final
(1/20) Don Bosco’s Griffin Welch’s penalty shot goal lifts Ironmen past BC in BCT semis
(1/21) West Milford tops DePaul for Passaic County title
(1/22) Don Bosco, Ramsey clash for Bergen County title
(1/23) Notebook: More BCT Final Preview, plus notes from around North Jersey
(1/23) Bergen County Tournament Final capsule preview — Don Bosco vs. Ramsey
(1/23) Don Bosco 4, Ramsey 1 LIVE blog — BCT Final
(1/24) Don Bosco three-peats as Bergen County champion
(1/24) Cooper on HS Hockey: Hunter Garlasco’s vision big assist to Don Bosco
(1/24) Bergen Catholic shocks Delbarton, clutters top of state rankings
(1/24) Don Bosco 2, Suffern 1
(1/25) West Milford eyeing state tournament after latest victory
(1/25) Friday night’s big winners, including Glen Rock, PC, Liscio, Ramapo, West Milford, Ramsey
(1/25) Paramus Catholic 1, St. Joseph 0
(1/27) Ramsey’s Whelan chooses Quinnipiac
(1/27) Glen Rock’s Matt Jorgensen scores big goal vs. PV, as Rock inches closer to division title
(1/30) Notebook: Glen Rock confident it can win a state title
(1/30) Top 15 rankings on Jan. 30 and Player of the Year watch
(1/31) Don Bosco blanks Bergen Catholic, 4-0

February
(2/1) Stadium game a thrill for Don Bosco
(2/1) Cooper on HS Hockey: Don Bosco players will never forget game at Yankee Stadium
(2/1) Ridgewood downs Hackensack, 9-2
(2/3) St. Joseph offense clicking at the right time
(2/2) Team meeting after loss helping Ridgewood close in on Gold Division title
(2/5) Don Bosco powers its way past Delbarton, 4-1
(2/6) Notebook: Paramus/Lyndhurst making a statement after slow start
(2/8) Ramsey’s DiTomaso brothers enjoy success on ice, floor
(2/8) West Milford beats DePaul, 3-2, in PCT final rematch
(2/9) Kinnelon clinches automatic spot in state tournament with win over Park Regional
(2/10) Indian Hills inching ahead, qualifies for state tournament in win-and-in game
(2/13) Notebook: Fair Lawn rolling
(2/14) Big North Green Cup Preview
(2/15) Wayne Hills rallies pat West Milford in Green Cup quarters
(2/15) Late-season moves paying off for Indian Hills, plus more from Friday night
(2/15) Bergen Catholic rallies to beat Seton Hall Prep, 4-3, in Gordon Cup playoffs
(2/15) Big North Silver Cup Preview
(2/16) St. Joseph survives scare from Old Tappan in Silver Cup quarterfinals
(2/16) Big North Gold Cup Preview
(2/17) River Dell/Westwood and Fair Lawn advance to Gold Cup semis
(2/17) Big North Green Semifinal Previews (Ramsey vs. Indian Hills / Wayne Hills vs. Ramapo)
(2/17) One just enough for Ramsey to move past Indian Hills
(2/18) A comeback for the ages — Ramapo’s late rally capped with shootout victory
(2/18) Ramapo fights to the finish, beats Wayne Hills in Green Cup semis
(2/18) Don Bosco shuts out Bergen Catholic in Gordon Cup quarterfinals
(2/19) Big North Gold Semifinal Previews (Ridgewood vs. Fair Lawn / Paramus Catholic vs. River Dell/Westwood)
(2/19) Gordon Cup Semifinal Preview (Don Bosco vs. CBA)
(2/19) Glen Rock moves past Pascack Valley, 7-3, to advance to Silver Cup final
(2/20) Alexei Masanko lifts Don Bosco past CBA to advance to Gordon Cup final
(2/20) Paramus Catholic gets redemption on River Dell/Westwood
(2/20) Ridgewood reaches Gold Cup final with 2-1 win over Fair Lawn
(2/21) Big North and Gordon Cup Final Previews (Don Bosco vs. Delbarton / Glen Rock vs. St. Joseph / Ramsey vs. Ramapo / Ridgewood vs. Paramus Catholic)
(2/22) Connor DiTomaso lifts Ramsey to Green Cup win over Ramapo
(2/22) Alex Linton goal wins Big North Gold Cup for Ridgewood
(2/22) Glen Rock captures second straight Big North Silver Cup title
(2/23) Griffin Welch the hero in Gordon Cup win over Delbarton
(2/24) Cleaning out the notebook — Championship Game Rewinds (Don Bosco/Ramsey/Glen Rock/Ridgewood)
(2/25) State tournament wrap from Monday’s action (Ramsey/Tenafly/Wayne Hills/Mahwah/Paramus/St. Joseph)
(2/26) State tournament wrap from Tuesday’s action (Paramus Catholic/Glen Rock/Kinnelon/Ramapo/Lakeland/Indian Hills/West Milford/Pequannock/Ridgewood/River Dell-Westwood/Fair Lawn)
(2/26) Glen Rock tops Woodbridge, 3-0, in state tournament
(2/27) Don Bosco, Bergen Catholic advance in state tournament

March
(3/1) Ramsey gives Toy milestone win in state tournament win
(3/1) Glen Rock slithers its way into state quarterfinals
(3/1) Don Bosco gets upset in Non-Public state quarterfinals
(3/2) Bergen Catholic ousted from state tournament by Delbarton, 1-0
(3/3) Final Scoring and Goaltending Leaders for 2013-14 season
(3/3) Kinnelon gains respect in Public B quarterfinal loss to Chatham
(3/4) Poll: Who is North Jersey’s Player of the Year? 
(3/4) Penalties hurt Glen Rock in season-ending, Public B quarterfinal loss to Mendham
(3/4) Ramsey advances to state semifinals for fifth time in seven years
(3/6) Public B semifinal capsule preview (Ramsey vs. Mendham)
(3/6) Public B semifinal story preview (Ramsey vs. Mendham)
(3/6) Rapid Reaction: Ramsey dominates its way to The Rock with 7-0 win over Mendham
(3/7) Rockin’ Rams: Ramsey dominates Mendham, 7-0, in state semis
(3/9) Rainey still relishes Ramsey title in 2009
(3/9) Cooper on HS Hockey: Alex Whelan’s intangibles dazzle teammates
(3/9) The building of a program: How Ramsey has evolved into a perennial contender 
(3/10) Ramsey falls to Morristown in Public B state final on goal with 33.8 seconds left
(3/10) A painful end to a memorable season: Ramsey falls in state final, 1-0, to Morristown
(3/24) Player of the Year: Ramsey’s Alex Whelan
(3/24) Coach of the Year: Ramsey’s Bob Toy
(3/24) Team of the Year: Don Bosco
(3/24) The Record All-North Jersey squads
(3/24) The Record Ice Hockey Final Top 15