Ice Hockey: Ramsey’s Bob Toy is The Record Coach of the Year

This is an extended version of the 2013-14 North Jersey Ice Hockey Coach of the Year story featuring Ramsey coach Bob Toy, including lines that were cut because of space restrictions…

Hanging on the wall of Ramsey coach Bob Toy’s home office is the all-important whiteboard, and just last week, it was time for necessary revisions to be made on it.

Scribbled on the dry-erase board is the Rams’ depth chart, and, as Toy said, “the hardest part every year is erasing the seniors.”

It was back to work last week for Toy, who had already started preparations for the 2014-15 season — just days after Ramsey fell in the Public B state final to Morristown, 1-0.

Toy, The Record Coach of the Year after guiding the Rams to a public school state record 28 wins and their fifth state semifinals appearance in seven years, remains determined to get the program back to Prudential Center for another chance at the program’s second state championship. 

Though Ramsey fell painfully short of its ultimate goal in 2013-14, Toy said the Rams measure success in a number of areas — not just wins and losses.

“We had our end-of-the-year dinner and the seniors all spoke,” said Toy, who owns a career mark of 152-31-14. “They talked about the culture of the program and what it means to be a Ram. These kids are role models for younger kids, kids who were at the Prudential Center last week, kids who want to be those guys when their time comes.

“The guys feel part of a brotherhood, part of a family. As a coach, when you hear comments like that, you know you’re doing things the right way.”

With extremely high expectations placed on Ramsey, Toy’s defensive-minded approach (24 goals allowed in 31 games) led the Rams to an unbeaten record in the Big North Green, capped by their second straight Green Cup title.

Ramsey also gave Don Bosco all it could handle in the Bergen County tournament final and beat both Public A state finalists — Morris Knolls and Bridgewater-Raritan — during the regular season.

“For a team to achieve everything out there, you have to be perfect,” Toy said. “We had to go 31-0, win the county, win the Big North, win the Green Cup, and then win a state title. But there a lot of good teams out there, and just by competing, you’re going to get beat sometimes.

“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.”