Hockey: A New Top Dog — The New North Jersey Top 15 on Championship Friday

It’s Championship Friday in North Jersey, with the Big North set to crown three new champions in the Liberty, Patriot and Freedom Cup finals. Following the excitement tonight at the Ice Vault, red-hot Bergen Catholic will take on Delbarton in the Gordon Cup final on Saturday, as the Crusaders attempt to become the second Bergen County school in as many years to take home the coveted Gordon title (Don Bosco did it last year).

Aside from all that, here’s our latest North Jersey Top 15, where we have a new No. 1 for the first time in quite a while.

NORTH JERSEY TOP 15

1. Bergen Catholic (12-10-1)
Unlike some organizations in New Jersey, the Aces include every game played when deciding on rankings… and for the first time in the two years that I have been on the hockey beat, we have a team other than Don Bosco Prep in the No. 1 spot. The Crusaders of Bergen Catholic, fresh off their back-to-back upset victories over the Ironmen and CBA this week in the Gordon Cup, have taken over as North Jersey’s top dog. If Bergen Catholic — the No. 7 seed in the Cup — can take down the last of the “Big 3″ against Delbarton on Saturday, it will cap an incredible and improbable Gordon Cup championship run.

Prior to this current five-game winning streak the Crusaders are on, Bergen Catholic had gone 31 straight games dating back to last season without recording back-to-back wins. It’s the ideal ‘Getting hot at the right time’ situation for BC. And if four meetings against rival Don Bosco weren’t enough, should both teams win their first-round state tournament games, Bergen Catholic and Don Bosco would meet in the Non-Public state quarterfinals to break what is currently a 2-2 season tie. This revitalized bunch is led by a core group of older players, like seniors Kyle Marano (12 G, 6 A and game-winner vs. Bosco), Tyler Antonucci (5 G, 9 A), Brian Ayers (9 G, 4 A) and Zach Larsen (6 G, 7 A) and juniors Evan Wisocky (13 G, 11 A) and Sasha Miniouchine (5 G, 6 A), but the story of the Crusaders’ second-half turnaround has been the infused youth like sophomores Bryan Hallenbeck (4 G, 6 A), Diarmad DiMurro and Jack Shannon and freshmen Joe Polcaro and Nicolas Arcaroli. The mix of youth and experience, timely goal-scoring and the emergence of junior Sal Farruggia, who has been terrific in net the past month since emerging as the Crusaders’ No. 1 goalie, has catapulted Bergen Catholic to the levels it stands at today.
What’s ahead: vs. Delbarton in Gordon Cup Final on Saturday; vs. No. 7 St. Joseph (Met.) in first round of state tournament

2. Don Bosco (11-8-4)
Can the Ironmen bounce back after their early exit in the Gordon Cup? Coach Greg Toskos said in that 5-3 loss to Bergen Catholic earlier this week, his team used up so much energy rallying back from a two-goal deficit that it just ran out of gas in the deciding third. One day following that demoralizing loss to the Crusaders in the Cup quarterfinals, the Ironmen were awarded the No. 2 seed in the Non-Public state tournament. Whether they deserve that seed or not right now is irrelevant and Bosco is still very much a contender for a state title with two wins over CBA, two wins over Bergen Catholic, one over Bishop Eustace, a season split against St. Augustine and a pair of one-goal losses to top-seeded Delbarton. Don Bosco has seemed to play Delbarton better than anyone in the state in the last two years and it wouldn’t be surprising at all to see the Ironmen and Green Wave square off in the nightcap at The Rock on March 9. Sometimes all it takes is a hot goaltender and when Bosco’s Alexei Masanko (2.18 GAA, 91.2%) is at the top of his game, there aren’t many better than the talented sophomore. And don’t think for a second seniors like Hunter Garlasco, Joe Verboys, Connor Healey, Michael Jordan and Stephen Bressi will be going down without a fight in the final chapter of their high school careers.
What’s ahead: vs. winner of No. 15 St. Joseph (Mont.)/No. 18 Donovan Catholic in state tournament Round of 16

3. Ramsey (20-3-1)
The Rams, who only dropped in the rankings because of Bergen Catholic’s ascent to No. 1, will be going for the Liberty/Green Cup three-peat tonight when they take on second-seeded Wayne Hills and enter as a heavy favorite after being the Patriots, 9-0 and 6-2, in two regular season meetings. Since those back-to-back 1-0 losses to Morristown and St. Joseph (Met.) at the Ice Vault tournament back in late December, Ramsey is 13-1-1 in its last 15, with that lone loss coming against Bosco in the Bergen County final. The defense, statistically, is even better than last year through 24 games, surrendering just 15 goals this season (last year, the Rams had allowed 19 goals through 24 games and ended up allowing 25 on the year). The Rams have posted 14 shutouts and allowed one goal or fewer in 20 of 24 games this season, with goalie Tyler Harmon still leading North Jersey with a 0.70 goals against average and 95.2 save percentage. Alex Whelan, who suffered a scare in the second period during Ramsey’s Liberty semifinal win over Lakeland when he took a knee to the thigh (he played in the third period and appeared fine), leads North Jersey with 64 points (37 goals and 27 assists).
What’s ahead: vs. Wayne Hills in Liberty Cup final tonight; vs. winner of No. 31 Wall-No. 34 Dayton/Brearley in first round of state tournament

No. 4 Glen Rock (17-3-3)
Like Ramsey, Glen Rock is also going for the Cup three-peat tonight when it takes on No. 2 St. Joseph. The Panthers have had the Green Knights’ number since the two teams were aligned in the same division two years ago, going 7-0-1 in eight meetings, including a pair of Cup title victories the past two seasons. Dating back to the 2007-08 season, Rock is unbeaten — 12-0-2 — against the Green Knights and have defeated them, 4-0 and 5-2, already this season. Since that 2-1 overtime loss to Ramsey in the Bergen County semifinals, Glen Rock is 7-0-1, which includes a 5-1 win over Montclair, 2-1 win over Summit and 3-3 tie against Randolph. Led by a trio of Rosario brothers — Justin (16 G, 19 A), Brendan (13 G, 17 A) and Matt (1.98 GAA, 90.7%) — sophomore Jake Kinney (15 G, 25 A) and junior Tom LaMacchia (9 G, 18 A), the Panthers are firing on all cylinders entering the Cup Final and state tournament and are very much a contender for the Public B state title.
What’s ahead: vs. No. 2 St. Joseph (Mont.) in Freedom Cup final; vs. No. 30 Central Regional in first round of state tournament

5. Kinnelon (9-9-3)
Don’t let the record fool you… watch out for Kinnelon in this upcoming state tournament. The Colts, who were recently eliminated from the Mennen Cup by Morristown-Beard, 2-1, just nabbed the No. 5 seed in Public B and, along with top-seeded Chatham, are probably the most battle-tested team in the field. Kinnelon could very well see Mennen Division rival Chatham in the Public B semifinals — with a trip to The Rock on the line — after tying them 2-2 and losing to them 2-0 in two regular season meetings this season.
What’s ahead: vs. No. 28 Sparta in first round of state tournament

6. St. Joseph (15-5-2)
For the sixth straight season, St. Joseph will playing in a Cup final tonight when it takes on top-seeded Glen Rock. But in each of the previous five seasons, the Green Knights ended up on the wrong side of the scoreboard. As I wrote earlier this week, current coach Larry Mahurter actually started St. Joseph’s Cup final losing streak when his Lakeland team defeated St. Joes in the Tri-County Cup final during the 2009-10 season. Mahurter said he believes this year’s squad is a Top 20 team in the state, but still is lacking that validating win. The Green Knights are eyeing tonight’s matchup against Rock as another chance to get that statement victory they’ve been looking for and they will rely on one of the most balanced scoring attacks in North Jersey to do so. A whopping 14 players this season have posted double-digit point totals this season for St. Joes — easily the most in North Jersey (next closest in Ramsey, with 11) — led by sophomore Pete Lombardi (17 G, 14 A), junior Ryan Grieco (14 G, 12 A) and sophomore Dominick Posta (13 G, 13 A). Is tonight the night the streak ends? We’ll find out in a few hours.
What’s ahead: vs. No. 1 Glen Rock in Freedom Cup final; vs. No. 18 Donovan Catholic in first round of state tournament

7. Lakeland (14-7-3)
The Lancers, led by Player of the Year candidate junior Danny Mullin (21 G, 20 A), recently received the No. 16 seed in the state tournament, despite being 13-6-2 at the state cutoff and on a 7-1-1 run in the nine games leading up to the Feb. 9 cutoff, with that only loss coming against Ramsey. That stretch also included a Passaic County championship run and a 4-3 overtime win over Wayne Hills (seeded No. 9 in Public B) in that county final. Three days after the cutoff, Lakeland then tied Ramsey, 3-3. So, Lakeland has reason to gripe about its state tournament seed and, like Bergen Catholic, had a major result not able to be factored in after the cutoff date. I don’t have as much as an issue with Wayne Hills being seeded ahead of Lakeland as I do with the too wide of a gap between Wayne Hills (9), Indian Hills (13) and Lakeland (16), especially when factoring in the seeding committee obviously put major stock in the quality of the Liberty Division considering West Milford received an at-large bid. All three teams should have been grouped closer together and seeded ahead of Montville (14) and Roxbury (15).
What’s ahead: vs. No. 17 West Morris Central in first round of state tournament

8. Wayne Hills (12-6-2)
The Patriots have been on a roll as of late, rattling off a five-game win streak (Wayne Valley, Ramapo twice, Indian Hills twice) since their 1-4-1 run in the middle of January. The 1-0 win over Indian Hills on Feb. 8 (one day before state cutoff), 2-1 win over Morristown and 3-3 tie vs. Glen Rock is what likely catapulted the Pats to the No. 9 seed in the state tournament. But before Wayne Hills begins its state tournament, it will take on top-seeded Ramsey in tonight’s Liberty Cup final. Rumor has it, though, that leading scorer Danny Reidel (20 G, 19 A), who has 10 points  (5 G, 5 A) in two Liberty Cup games, could be out for tonight’s matchup against the Rams with a key club team tournament game. Obviously, Wayne Hills is not the same team without Reidel.
What’s ahead: vs. No. 1 Ramsey in Liberty Cup final tonight; vs. No. 24 Jefferson in first round of state tournament

9. Paramus Catholic (13-6-3)
The Paladins have waited one full year for tonight’s chance at redemption against Ridgewood after falling to the Maroons, 3-2, in last year’s Cup final. There have been a pair of regular season meetings against Ridgewood, but those pale in comparison to what will be at stake tonight in the Patriot Cup final. Rather quietly, the Paladins have been one of the hottest teams in North Jersey in the past month, going 7-1-1 in their last nine games, with the lone loss coming against Glen Rock in the Bergen County quarterfinals. Anchored by John Pitera in net (1.95 GAA, 91.2%) and Matt Rainey (11 G, 16 A) and Anthony Caporrino (10 G, 11 A) up front, Paramus Catholic will look for its second Cup title in the last three years after winning the Gold Cup championship in 2013. The Paladins also recently received the No. 17 seed in the upcoming Non-Public state tournament and, should they get past No. 16 Seton Hall Prep, they’d get a rematch against top-seeded Delbarton in the Round of 16 after falling to the Green Wave in that round last year, 3-0.
What’s ahead: vs. No. 2 Ridgewood in Patriot Cup final tonight; at No. 16 Seton Hall Prep in first round of state tournament

10. Indian Hills (13-7-2)
After playing so well for so long, Indian Hills has hit a bump in the road in the past 12 days, falling to Wayne Hills twice. It was the Braves’ 1-0 loss on Feb. 8 that likely cost them a few spots in the state tournament seeding, where they received the No. 13 seed. Eight days later, Indian Hills fell victim to the Patriots again, 8-3, costing them a spot in tonight’s Liberty Cup final. Do the Braves have one last run in them? If they can get past No. 20 Hopewell Valley in Round 1, a likely Round of 16 matchup against No. 4 Middletown North will await. After that, Indian Hills could potential see No. 5 Kinnelon.
What’s ahead: vs. No. 20 Hopewell Valley in first round of state tournament

11. Mahwah (11-10-1)
Healthy and back at full strength with Tyler Gutierrez and Marty Kapoian together again leading a young squad, Mahwah could be a dangerous No. 19 seed in Public B. They gave Lakeland literally all it could handle in the Liberty Cup quarterfinals before falling to the Lancers, 4-3 in overtime.
What’s ahead: at No. 14 Montville in first round of state tournament

12. Ridgewood (8-8-3)
The agonizing wait ended for Ridgewood on Wednesday at the state seeding meeting — and the Maroons had to have been happy with the result. Not only did Ridgewood, at 7-8-3 at the cutoff, receive an at-large bid, it received the No. 14 seed and a first-round home game against No. 19 Pascack Valley. Considering the Maroons were 16-5 at the cutoff last year and received the 11-seed, getting the 14-seed at 7-8-3 came as a bit of a surprise, but clearly the committee rewarded them significantly for a brutal non-division schedule. But before Ridgewood takes a crack at states, it will first take on top-seeded Paramus Catholic in tonight’s Patriot Cup final in a rematch of last year’s 3-2 classic, won by the Maroons. It will actually be the third straight year Ridgewood and PC square off in the Cup final and fifth straight year the Maroons have reached this point. With a 10-day layoff since their last game and perhaps looking ahead a bit, Ridgewood needed overtime to handle River Dell/Westwood in the semifinals before prevailing, 4-3, on J.P. Kelly’s shorthanded overtime game-winner.
What’s ahead: vs. No. 1 Paramus Catholic in Patriot Cup final tonight; vs. No. 19 Pascack Valley in first round of state tournament

13. West Milford (8-10-3)
The Highlanders, thought to be on the outside looking in regarding the state tournament, received an at-large berth to the Big Dance on Wednesday as the state committee evidently put great stock in the quality of the Liberty Division this season. Led by two of the most prolific scorers in the state in senior Joey Fenui (26 G, 25 A) and sophomore Chris Dressler (29 G, 16 A), West Milford could present a challenge in a state tournament when facing teams not as familiar with the dynamic duo as some of its other Liberty Division rivals. As has been the issue with the Highlanders for most of the year, however, there has been little offensive production outside of Fenui and Dressler, who have accounted for 55 of the team”s 81 goals this season (67.9 percent).
What’s ahead: at No. 12 Brick Township in first round of state tournament

14. Tenafly (11-9-2)
The Tigers were eliminated from the Freedom Cup after a 7-0 loss to Glen Rock in the semifinals, but now must re-focus their attention to the state tournament, where they recently received the No. 27 seed. After a 1-6 start, coach Andy Escala turned things around in late December and guided the Tigers to a 9-2-1 to earn the automatic berth into the state tourney. Senior Eric L’Heureux leads North Jersey in assists with 28.
What’s ahead: at No. 6 Summit in first round of state tournament

15. Northern Highlands (10-10-1)
The Highlanders fell to St. Joseph, 5-0, in the Freedom Cup semifinals but still have the state tournament remaining after receiving an automatic berth. Northern Highlands, led by David Dachille (14 G, 13 A), Dylan Koh (12 G, 6 A) and Eric Brubaker (6 G, 12 A), received the No. 23 seed in the state tourney.
What’s ahead: at No. 10 Madison in first round of state tournament