February 22, 2012

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The “Shore Scoop” with Brian Deakyne

2-12-2012

On Monday, the seeding committees will decided the rankings for the Shore Conferences Handchen Cup and Dowd Cup, with both tournaments starting later in February.

Here’s the predictions for what the seeds might turn out to be in the Handchen Cup.
Handchen Cup – Top 4 teams in Shore A, top 4 teams in Shore B

1. Middletown South
This is an extremely tough pick. A lot will come down to the Brick Township-Middletown South game on Sunday, but the Eagles have been too strong over the home-stretch of the season to not pick. Between forwards Chris Connor, Zach England and Tyler Ralph, Middletown South has been a force to reckon with since January. Overall, the Eagles were slow out of the stretch, but have been the hottest team in the conference since. They are still not entirely healthy, missing the powerplay quarterback Matt Littenberg with a concussion, but once they are, they are a sure-fire favorite to win this tournament.
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2. Brick Township
As stated above, this is a toss-up. Brick was the best team in the Shore Conference last season, winning 18 straight games, but they fell to Red Bank Catholic in the Handchen Cup finals. This team has showed signs of being just as good, but a few setbacks have hurt their post-season resume. In their first meeting with Middletown South, the teams ended in a tie, but the Dragons have also tied Red Bank Catholic, and Brick Memorial, hurting their chances for a number once seed. Either way, expect a Brick-Middletown South finals match-up.
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3. Wall Township
They’ve ridden under the radar all season, but now they have been exposed. Since a 1-0 loss to Cranford in late January, the Knights have been on a tear, rolling to first place in a competitive Shore B. Their 14-4-3 record has been impressive, along with wins against Howell, St. John Vianney, and Toms River North. Wall can go a long way in this tournament, expect them to make a big splash.
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4. Toms River North
All season long, they have been the favorite. Behind a flourish of impressive goal-scorers, the Mariners’ have put together one of their best records in recent time. Their 13-5-2 record pits them in second place in the division, and gives them a favorable ranking for the post-season. Joey Campisano has made a case of the best scorer in the entire Shore Conference, totaling 56 points through Saturday. The Mariners have taken care of all the teams they should have, although they are lacking prominent wins, including losses to Middletown South and Red Bank Catholic over the last few weeks.
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5. Red Bank Catholic
It all depends on what team shows up. Throughout an up-and-down season, the Caseys have had teams that have been spot-on, such as in their 4-3 win over Middletown South and a 3-3 with Christian Brothers Academy. There have been rough stretches and a ton of ties for RBC, as well, but when they focus and bring their top-game, they can play a good role as a dark horse in this tournament.
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6. St. John Vianney
It’s been an odd season for St. John Vianney. After years of struggles, the Lancers have posed a threat all season, but none more than they have over the past two months of the season. SJV recently popped Howell, 7-2, and have also boasted wins over Toms River North and Middletown South. They don’t have one prolific scorer, but with a team that has an obvious ability to take down a team, they can be dangerous.
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7. Brick Memorial
It seems to be the Brick Memorial way. After dismissing Adam and Tyler Person from the team in December, the Mustangs have looked to keep their head above water. They play a viciously strong defensive style, and wait for their chances. It paid off this past weekend, tying Brick Township, 5-5, doing their best to earn a bid for the state playoffs in March. Brick Memorial has a dangerous ability to knock off a top team, anchored by discipline and defense. Expect them to trap their opponents, clog the shooting lanes, and wait, for a long time, for their chance to strike.
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8. Howell
It’s been a constantly up-and-down season for the Rebels. Early, it was bad. Playing without a big-time scorer for the first time in their short history, things seemed tough for the Rebels. Then, behind Mike Kochenash, Howell put together some impressive wins, including one over Middletown South in the Bridgewater Holiday tournament. The Rebels have struggled lately, falling to St. John Vianney, tying Toms River South, and dropping a ton of divisional games. The Rebels do have a small chance to knock off a big-name team, although it is highly unlikely.

2-4-2012

The Dark Horse of Shore D…

After the first week of the season, nothing.

After two weeks, still nothing.

Then, after the third week, life was forming.

A year after the Marlboro Mustangs stole the Shore Conference, winning the Dowd Cup and leading the state in wins, it was a tough start for Wayne Anderson.

Since Jan. 3, however, no team has been better than the Mustangs in the entire conference, winning nine straight games and putting themselves in contention to make a late-season run.

Marlboro has one game left on their regular season schedule, although more are likely to come before they enter the Dowd Cup near the end of February. Sitting at 11-6, Marlboro will likely be near the bottom of the seedings, but with the run they are currently on, anything can happen.

The Shore D has been swallowed all season by the two-team race for the divisional crown between Point Pleasant Boro and St. Rose. Now, a third team has rejuvenated life into the division, giving them three solid teams that can go a long way in the playoffs.

Through their nine game win streak, the Mustangs have beaten Point Pleasant Boro — avenging their last loss of the season on Jan. 3 — and have scored at least three goals in every game.

With the win over the Panthers, the Mustangs have split the season series with them, along with the Frozen Roses, giving themselves credentials that the seeding committee will have to take into account.

After their slow start, Marlboro is ready to stun the Shore Conference once again. This time, it will be a little different.

 

Manasquan Gets Signature Win…

Deja vu, anyone?

After blowing a 1-0 lead in their first meeting with Rumson-Fair Haven, Manasquan nearly squandered a 3-0 lead in the second meeting with the Bulldogs, but this time they were able to hold on for the win.

A much, much needed win for Jim Fagen’s Blue Warriors.

After dropping four out of their last five games over the last two weeks — falling below .500 — the Blue Warriors answered for wins over Toms River East and Rumson-Fair Haven to get back over .500 and give themselves some confidence going into the playoffs.

Fortunately for Manasquan, their division seems to be the weakest out of the four, so they will be in good shape for the Dowd Cup in February.

Their win over the Bulldogs was definitely impressive, handing RFH just their second loss of the season. At the end of the day, it was simply a win on home ice, but below the surface, the win meant a whole lot more.

For a team who has struggled to get a big-time win — a win that could prove to people that they can play with anyone — this one meant a lot. Manasquan was lead by their goalie Bronson Ligouri, who made 13 of his 29 saves in the third period, allowing Manasquan to hold on for the win.

Ligouri was just as big in the first game against the Bulldogs, where RFH drastically out-shot the Warriors, and Manasquan was held shot-less for the entire second period.

Manasquan likely won’t lose any of their final three games this season, and if anything, this win was the one that put them put in the post-season.

It proved a lot: Manasquan can score, play defense. But most importantly, the Warriors can win a big game — something they will need to do in February and March.

Knights Riding Hot Streak Into First Place…

There hasn’t been a quieter first place team in the Shore Conference.

In fact, three weeks ago, the fact of Wall Township being in first place in the Shore B would be unheard of.

At the point in time, Toms River North was the team to beat in the entire conference, beating teams rather handily, and looking to be a top seed in the Handchen Cup in February.

Since January, the Knights have won 8 of their ten games, tying one and losing to Cranford, catapulting themselves to the top of the division at just the right time.

The Knights impressive run has given them a 13-4-2 record, and a 5-1-2 mark within the Shore B, putting them in a prime position to make a late playoff run for the first time since 2009.

Then, Wall, played in the Dowd Cup, which was played between the Shore B and Shore C teams. There wasn’t even a Shore D. Remember that?

Now, head coach Mike Dianora has a chance to lead Wall back to the top of the division and Shore Conference, and as everyone knows, anything can happen come playoff time.

Wall scores five goals a game — which is good enough for 22nd in the state — becoming a premier scoring team in the conference.

The Knights final three games are against teams that won’t be playing in postseason play in the division. Freehold Township, Toms River South and Jackson Memorial all have sub-.500 records. If Wall can take care of their business and finish the regular season with a 16-4-2 record, they will look good for the seeding committee and will likely have a favorable seed in the Handchen Cup.

With the right match-up, anything can happen.

 

Does Shore A Have 4 Teams That Can Reach The Finals?

All season, it’s been the same names,

Brick Township and Middletown South.

Certainly with good reason, the Dragons and the Eagles have been the highlight of the Shore A in 2011 and 2012, but they might not necessarily be shoe-ins for the Handchen Cup finals later this month.

It’s extremely likely that they will go first and second in the seedings — which will be released in two weeks — due to the fact that they have both been very dominant, particularly late in the season.

And yes, the fact of the matter is that the chances are in their favor for reaching the finals, but nothing in the Shore Conference is ever engraved.

The other two teams that are inching towards cementing themselves in the Handchen Cup — Red Bank Catholic and Brick Memorial — have made late-season pushes to prove they too belong to be in the discussion.

Late this week, Brick Memorial avenged a 5-0 loss to the Caseys by topping them, 3-2, at Red Bank Armory. The Mustangs are playing without Adam and Tyler Person, who were removed from the team earlier in the season. They have been below .500 since December, but they have a chance to get hot at the right time. The final three games will be telling for them, playing Brick Township, Middletown South, and Christian Brothers Academy to close the season.

The Caseys’ have struggled all season with their inexperience, but they have shown flashes of brilliance. A week after falling to Middletown South, 6-4, RBC beat first-place Brick and tied CBA, proving themselves as a team that can go places in the post-season.

RBC is anchored by their senior goalie Chet Tooker, who has had incredible games all season. Tooker has the ability to close anyone out, and that can be a scary thought in the Handchen Cup.

The Shore A, as usual, is stacked with talent. The different about these teams this season is that anyone can beat anyone. Expect one, if not two, of these teams to be in the Handchen Cup final late in February, and expect the team to hoist the cup to be from this talented division.

1-28-2012

Brick, Middletown South Emerging as Top Shore Teams

For all intents and purposes, its the favorable matchup for the Handchen Cup Final

Brick Township and Middletown South have been the top two teams, overall, throughout the entire Shore Conference all season, and that’s expected to continue through the postseason next month.
The Dragons and Eagles had their first divisional battle this week, ending in a 4-4 tie, on Sunday at Jersey Shore Arena in Wall.
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Both teams are tied in the win column with nine, although Middletown South has two more losses, playing for a good chunk of the season without it’s core star players.
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Brick has remaining games against Red Bank Catholic, Brick Memorial, and a final game against the Eagles on Feb. 12 to close out their season, where they will likely be the top seed in the Handchen Cup again. Last season, the Dragons rolled through the regular season behind an 18-game win streak, but fell to the Caseys in the Handchen Cup final.
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Expect Brick to be the unanimous top-seed when they are released in a couple of weeks, and, accordingly, expect the Eagles to grab the two-seed, setting up two more potential battles between these two powerhouses.
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The Dragons and Eagles match up extremely well in the middle of the ice, but the winner of their final game with each other, the division, and likely the Handchen Cup, will come down to goaltending.
Jake Lampiasi has done a good job in between the pipes for the Dragons, helping people get over the loss of Eddie Rafferty — who posted incredible numbers over his four years in green and white — and his play will be key down the stretch.
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Likewise, Shubhro Bose has been strong in net for Middletown South, doing his best job to fill in for long-time netminder Chris Marsillo, who graduated last year.
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If these two goalies continue to play solidly, expect a fight for the ages between Brick Township and Middletown South with everything on the line.

1-28-2012

Wall, St. John Vianney Posing as Serious Threats

The only three-team divisional race just got a lot tighter.

Despite leading the Shore B all season long, Toms River North’s lead in the division got closer and closer to Wall and St. John Vianney throughout January.
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Then, they finally broke through.
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Wall held a lead in the division by percentage points for a day after tying the Mariners on Jan. 18. Since, Wall has lost to Cranford, 1-0, falling back into second place in the division.
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Even with the Knights is St. John Vianney, whose 10-4-2 record is identical to Wall, but they won a decisive 5-4 game over Toms River North this past week, cementing themselves as serious contenders within the division.
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The Lancers will play Wall on Jan. 31 in a game that will, for better or worse, decide the solid two-seed in the division, and probably earn a four or five seed in the Handchen Cup.
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SJV has won three straight games, pulling themselves ahead of Howell, who sits in fourth in the division, and closer and closer to Wall and TRN, setting up a fight to the finish between those three teams.
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Early in the season, they all beat each other, making every game from here-on-out important and relevant. Aside from Wall, The Lancers have another game left with Howell after the Rebels wiped them, 4-1, in December.
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Toms River North won’t play Wall or SJV again this year in the regular season, and they only have four regular-season games left.
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In the Shore Conference’s heaviest divisional battle, everything will be decided in the next three weeks.
1-28-2012
Five games into the season, everything was shining brightly in Manasquan, despite it being roughly six months away from beach weather.
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The Big Blue Warriors, after dropping their opening night game to Old Bridge, had won four in a row, and was set to become one of the Shore Conference’s strongest teams — especially in the two lower divisions.
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Since then, Manasquan has lost 7 of their last 10 games, dropping them below .500, but keeping them in playoff contention, due to the weakness of the Shore C.
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With Rumson-Fair Haven running away with the division lead, Manasquan has five games left to prove they deserve to be playing in the Dowd Cup next month. More importantly, they have work to do to qualify for the state playoffs as well.
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By rule, to qualify for the state playoffs, a team must have a .500 record, or be deemed worthy of an at-large big. Due to their strength of schedule, an at-large bid is extremely unlikely for the Warriors, who still have games against Rumson-Fair Haven and Ocean Township on their schedule.
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Sophomore phenom Connor Grogan has had a strong season, posting a team-high 28 points, although it is a bit of a drop from his Shore Conference-leading 84 points from last year.
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Charles Mills has played key role, offensively, for Manasquan as well, totaling 21 points through Jan. 27.
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In their last game to Rumson-Fair Haven, Manasquan held a 1-0 lead through the second period, but were held shot-less in the second period, and eventually lost, 2-1.
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Manasquan has only four players who have put up at least ten points this year, a number that will need to climb as the team hits February.
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If the Warriors lose their next few games, it could be impossible for them to have a chance to make a state playoff run.
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Then again, if they win their next few games: watch out, they can come after anybody in their division.
1-28-2012
It’s reminiscent of Marlboro.
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Last year’s Shore Conference powerhouse lead the conference and state in regular season wins, but when the playoffs came around, they didn’t last long.
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This year’s top dog in the Shore D is St. Rose seemed to be following the same trail as the Mustangs, but their nine-game win streak was snapped this week when they tied Red Bank Regional, 1-1.
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After a 5-4 win over Seton Hall Prep following the tie, the Frozen Roses dropped back-to-back games to Rumson-Fair Haven, 5-3, and St. Joes Metuchen, 4-2, cooling off a bit from their hot start. They still lead the Shore Conference with 15 wins and their 15-4-1 record is still good enough for second place in the division, behind Point Pleasant Boro.
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The Panthers, like St. Rose, had their 11-game win streak ended this week when they tied Ocean Township, 3-3. Unlike the Frozen Roses, however, Point Pleasant Boro has nine regular season games left over the final month of the season, whereas St. Rose only has three after playing a much more condensed schedule through December and January.
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Still, the two teams will play their defacto divisional championship game on Feb. 10. The game will likely decide who will win the division and will also likely plant the winner at the two-seed for the Dowd Cup and the loser at the three-seed — both being favorable match ups.
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Losing now is a good thing for St. Rose. It’s always better to lose late in the regular season than early in the playoffs. The Mustangs weren’t used to losing last year when they hit the state playoffs. In fact, they didn’t even know what it was like to trail, so them going down early put a huge weight on their shoulders. Despite the vast inexperience of this Frozen Roses team, they seem to be able to handle adversity well, and that will go a long way come postseason play.
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Just as it has been all season, these two teams will continue to scratch and claw their way to the finish line.
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When they get there, however, a new chapter will begin.

1-19-2012

Two Team Race Continues in Shore D

At some point, it just becomes unfair for St. Rose.

For the team that leads the Shore Conference in wins with 14, it’s only fate that has them set up in second place, preparing for the best two-team battle for a division crown down the stretch.
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The Frozen Roses 14-2 record is still second to Point Pleasant Boro’s 10-1 record due to winning percentage.
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The two teams account for two of the three total teams within the entire Shore Conference that have at least 10 wins. The only other team is Toms River North.
The Panthers won their only game of this week, keeping their first-place record in-tact with a convincing 5-0 win over Southern Regional. The shutout recorded by the Panthers was the first of the season.
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St. Rose topped Southern Regional, Red Bank Regional and St. John Vianney this week, upping their win total three more times, and solidifying themselves, even more, as one of the top teams throughout the conference.
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St. John Vianney is battling for first place in the Shore ‘B’, so St. Rose’s 5-2 trouncing of them proves they can play with just about anybody, especially between the Shore ‘C’ and Shore ‘D’.
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Both teams have been on a tear as of late — St Rose holds a nine-game win streak and hasn’t lost since Dec. 23, and Point Pleasant Boro has won ten straight games after their opening night loss to Wall.
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Right now, it’s tough to decide whose better, and it truly seems that the division is going to come down to their final meeting on Feb. 10.
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The Shore ‘D’ is usually the division that people pay the least attention to, but this year, it not only possesses the best divisional battle, but maybe two teams that can reach the Dowd Cup final and go much more beyond that.

1-18-2012

Winning Continues in Rumson

The Bulldogs extended their Shore ‘C’ division lead this week with two wins over Toms River East.

Rumson-Fair Haven, however, has caught a break, playing in the only division that has just one team over the .500 mark.
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In fact, other than the Bulldogs 9-1 record and Manasquan’s 6-6 mark, there is no team that is at .500, making the run to a divisional title seemingly effortless for RFH.
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Captain Gary Cali and Brian Robinson have carried the work load throughout the season, offensively, but the name of the game for the Bulldogs is their defense, anchored by defensemen Chris Hubler and goalie Dominic Padula.
Rumson-Fair Haven has put up an average of 4.7 goals-per-game, but their 1.9 goals-allowed-per-game have been the key note, leading RFH to their early season dominance, something they will hope to continue for the rest of the way.
Cali leads the team with six goals through January, and Hunter Rotchford has been a big-time contributor for the offense as well.
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For the remainder of the season, RFH has the schedule on their side. Their toughest match-up is against St. Rose, who leads the Shore Conference in wins, on Jan. 23, but other than that, it’s hard to see the Bulldogs losing to anyone else.
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Expect RFH to continue to control the Shore ‘C’ — better than any team has controlled any other division — en route to a division crown.
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The Frozen Roses and Point Boro Panthers are teams that could become threats to Rumson-Fair Haven in the Dowd Cup, but there is still time for a lot to happen.

1-18-2012

Balanced Attack Leading Mariners to Division Lead

Finally, teams have figured out how to stop Toms River North.

Well, sort of.
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Fourteen games into the 2011-2012 season, Joey Campisano has been premiered as one of the top scorers throughout the Shore Conference, totaling 52 points and netting 35 goals for the first-place Mariners.
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As teams begin to zero in on Campisano, Toms River North has turned to other methods of scoring, helping them to there early 10-3-1 record, cementing themselves as the favorite in the Shore ‘B’ battle through January.
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CJ Pirrello has stepped up with teams shadowing Campisano, On Friday night, Pirrello netted four goals for the Mariners as they buried Howell, 5-2. In the previous three seasons, Toms River North had gone 0-6 against the Rebels before sweeping the season series this time around.
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Pirrello is third on the team in points with 24 on 13 goals and 11 assists.
Defensemen Adam Gottesman has played a vital role from the point, adding 33 points to the Mariners colorful attack.
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He anchors a solid power play that will likely play a role in telling how far this inexperienced Toms River North team will go. They might be experienced in years, but few players on this team — including youthful head coach Christian Cranston — has seen much of the playoffs.
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After this loss to Middletown South, 6-4 — just their third loss of the season — on Sunday, Toms River North has a few important games left on the schedule, division-wise, but as the regular season winds down, they should clinch their first ever Shore ‘B’ title rather easily.
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Their next two games are against Wall and St. John Vianney, the two teams that pose the most serious threats at challenging the Mariners, but if they can win both of those games, they will be in good shape come playoff time.
And once playoff time comes, where the Mariners finish will depend on how well they play as a team.

1-18-2012

With Starters Back in Lineup, Middletown South in Top Form

When the Eagles skated off the ice after a 4-2 loss to the Howell Rebels on Dec. 29, things looked bleak.

Captains Jimmy Burns and Tyler Ralph watched Middletown South drop two out of three games of the Bridgewater Holiday tournament, standing along the rink, dressed in shirt and ties and their Eagles wind-breaker thrown over the top of it.
Dismay was written — seemingly tattooed —  across their faces.
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Now, three weeks later, Burns and Ralph have turned around the season for the Eagles, making an immediate impact and sending Middletown South to the top of the pack in the division.
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Aside from their 4-3 loss to Red Bank Catholic in Burns and Ralph’s return on Jan. 8, the Eagles have reeled off three straight wins, two against parochial catholic schools, vaulting Middletown South to a prominent second place in the Shore ‘A’.
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Ralph scored all four goals for Middletown South in their 4-3 win over CBA on Jan. 9 — the first time the Eagles have beaten the Colts in ten years. Then, with Burns playing for a tournament team in Michigan, Ralph delivered again on Sunday night, leading Middletown South to a big 4-3 win over Shore ‘B’ leading Toms River North.
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Then, on Tuesday night, the Eagles exploded for their best win of the season: a 6-4 thumping over Red Bank Catholic.
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The first line of seniors Ralph, Zach England and Chris Connor were the difference, scoring all six goals for the Eagles, including Connor’s two third period goals to lead Middletown South to the win.
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Middletown South will play Middletown North this week in a rivalry game that will be held at the Amerihealth Pavillion at Prudential Center, and, after that, they will take on Brick Township for what will be the defacto divisional championship game.
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The Eagles and Dragons have yet to play each other this year, and both games will come over the last month of the regular season, before an almost definite meeting in the Handchen Cup tournament down the road.
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Middletown South had a shaky start, but the way they’re playing, it doesn’t seem as anyone can beat them.
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Perhaps head coach Stan Gutt said it best: “We’re here in the Shore Conference, and we’re not going anywhere.”

 

1-10-2012

Middletown South On The Rise…

The pieces are finally together for Stan Gutt.

After playing for nearly a month without his two top goal-scorers,
Jimmy Burns and Tyler Ralph returned to the ice in a 4-3 loss to Red
Bank Catholic earlier this week.

A day later, Ralph scored three goals for the Eagles in a big 4-3 win
over CBA — Middletown South’s best win this season and proof that
they can play with anyone.

Middletown South has been strong on the back-end with the Burns-Ralph
combination on the bench, due in large part to senior goalie Shubhro
Bose. Bose has been on the bench for his first three seasons behind
long-time net-minder Chris Marsillo, but now he has proven that he can
be the top-guy down the stretch in 2012.

Forwards Zach England and Chris Connor have picked up the offensive
slack in Burns and Ralph’s absence, although for that month-long
stretch, the Eagles were playing with virtually one offense line that
can put the puck in the net.

Now, Ralph and Burns have been placed on a second line together,
giving Middletown South a ton of depth and the ability to switch lines
in and out, keeping fresh legs on the ice at all times.

Defensemen Matt Littenberg has been quarterbacking the power play, and
with a monster shot from the point, the only similiar blue-liner that
compares to him within the division is Brick’s Brian Murphy.

As of Jan. 10, Brick held a lead over Middletown South in the Shore
‘A’ race, but with all the horses aligned, expect the Eagles to make a
spirited run at Brick for the division, and eventually, the Handchen
Cup next month.

 

How Good Is Toms River North?

Until this week, it was tough to become a believer of the Mariners.

They have talent, without doubt, but what they had lacked all season
has been a marquee win that separates them from the rest of the
division.

Then, Monday night, they proved just how worthy they were.

In an impressive 4-3 win over Brick Township, the Mariners silenced
all of their critics, downing a team that has been atop the Shore
Conference, record-wise for the last two seasons, and aura-wise, for
the last 30-plus years.

The win was big for the youthful Toms River North head coach,
Christian Cranston, especially considering that his Mariners’ dropped
a tough 8-2 loss to the struggling Brick Memorial Mustangs at the
tail-end of December.

The Shore ‘B’ has been the closest divisional race through the first
month, compared to the other Shore Conference divisions, but Toms
River North took a huge step in proclaiming themselves as the top-dog
with their win on Monday.

Wall, St. John Vianney and Howell have all been battling with each
other for the 2-4 slots in the division, although it seems evident
that all four will make the Handchen Cup, those  teams will be much
more concerned with seedings than the actual division standings.

Howell appeared to be the dark horse, especially after a dominant 4-2
win over Middletown South in the Bridgewater Holiday Tournament on
Dec. 29. Jackson Memorial rallied for four straight goals against the
Rebels on Friday night, exposing their vulnerability.

Wall and St. John Vianney match up well against each other, but both
have a loss to Howell which could come back to haunt them. The two
teams tied, 3-3, in their lone match-up earlier this season.

The Mariners have meetings with Howell, St. John Vianney and Wall in
three of their next four games. Over the next few weeks, it will be
known if Toms River North is ready to claim their first Shore ‘B’
divisional title, or if they still have work to do.

Balance Is The Key For RFH

There was a lot on the line Monday night.

Three days removed from their first loss of the season — a 5-2
handling to Point Pleasant Boro — the first-place Bulldogs had a lot
to prove when they took on second-place Manasquan at home.

Through the first two periods, Rumson-Fair Haven proved just about
everything they could have, they just couldn’t put the puck in the
back of the net.

RFH out-shot Manasquan by a 24-4 margin through two periods, holding
the Blue Warriors to no shots through the entire second period and
held them shot-less for a 17-minute stretch the bled into the third
period.

Once the third period came around, the Bulldogs continued to control
the game, scoring two goals over the first four minutes to take the
lead and never look back.

Hunter Rotchford put in a rebound 29 seconds into the period and Brian
Robinson scored on a breakaway three minutes later, giving Rumson-Fair
Haven the lead and a controlling win.

Of all the teams in the Shore ‘C’, the Bulldogs are the most balanced.
Having a number of players that can put the puck in the net is a
lethal weapon, especially in the post-season, and RFH will look to
capitalize on that.

Captain Gary Cali controls the offense, although he has significant
help all around him. Rotchford, Robinson and Enzo Lucarelli are all
players who can put the puck in the net. They all have a great ability
to crash the net and look for rebounds, making this team a favorite
for the Dowd Cup as February approaches.

Defensively, the Bulldogs are lead by their goalie, Dominic Padula,
and defensemen Chris Hubler. They are a solid defensive group that
often limits their opponents to under 20 shots a game — a terrific
formula for winning.

If head coach Chris McCafferty continued the winning tradition and the
hard-working technique at Rumson, expect to see the Bulldogs playing
hockey deep into March.

 

Point Pleasant Borough & St. Rose Battle For First Place

For all intents and purposes, the Shore ‘D’ is a two-team race

St. Rose leads the Shore Conferencein wins, with 11, but sits behind
Point Pleasant Boro because of winning percentage. The Panthers are
9-1.

There’s no team that’s hotter than the Panthers right now. After their
opening night loss to Wall, 6-4, Point Boro has reeled off nine
straight wins, propelling them into first place in the division.

That steak includes wins against Manasquan, Wall, Rumson-Fair Haven,
at St. Rose, giving them an early lead on the second-place Frozen
Roses early in January.

It’s been a long time since the towns that are more famous for their
beaches and summer-affairs have been relevant in the hockey world, but
it’s about time that people realize how good they are.

The Panthers have scored at least three goals in every game, proving
that they can put the puck in the net, and when an opponent is forced
to score at least three goals a game, winning becomes a tall task.

They 4.5 goals-per-game, and on average, they allow 2.6
goals-per-game, meaning they usually win by two goals, a phenomenal
handicap for high school hockey.

If it weren’t for the Panthers, St. Rose would be the hottest team in
the Shore Conference right now. After back-to-back losses to Point
Pleasant Boro and Marlboro, the Frozen Roses have reeled off six
straight wins, leading them to the most wins in the conference.

Statistics-wise, there’s no better team across the Shore than St.
Rose. They are averaging 6.15 goals-per-game, which is good enough to
slate them as the fifth-best scoring team in New Jersey. Defensively,
the allow just 1.77 goals-per-game, which is 21st-best across the
state. St. Rose has been on a decline the last five years or so, but
Pete O’Neill has this St. Rose team going in the right direction, and
they have the numbers to beat anybody.

The Panthers and Frozen Ruses won’t play their second meeting until
Feb. 10, and certainly, a lot can change until then. If these teams
continued to dominate the way they have until now, expect that game to
be for all the marbles.

Until then, we’ll just sit back and see who will take over the Shore
‘D’ over the next month.

 

12-27-11

Brick Proves To Be Best At Shore… Early On

They’re doing it again.

Maybe they won’t reel of 18 straight wins like they did last season, but Brick Township is opening their season with vengeance, much like they treated the Shore all of last season.
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The Dragons are 5-1 through December, with their only blemish coming at the hands of a 4-2 loss to Christian Brothers Academy in a game that could have gone either way. They opened the season with wins against Brick Memorial, 2-1, and Monsignor Donovan, 8-3, and since the loss, they have beaten Middletown North, 7-3, Wall, 5-2, and St. John Vianney, 7-0.
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The Dragons toughest test may come in their next game, Dec. 27, when they hit the road to take on Red Bank Catholic at the Armory. That game is followed by a re-match with CBA, this time in Brick, in an attempt to get revenge on their Dec. 7 loss.
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Behind Brick, Middletown South is quietly the second-best team in the Shore ‘A’. Despite losing their two best players for a significant amount of time (Jimmy Burns, concussion, Tyler Ralph, knee infection), the Eagles have been able to maintain a solid core of players putting together a good hockey team, behind great play from forwards Zach England and Chris Connor, and great play in net from goalie Shubhro Bose, who sat behind Chris Marsillo for the past three seasons.
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The Eagles are 4-3, with their significant wins coming over Brick Memorial, 7-1, and Howell, 4-1, and they are currently playing in the Bridgewater Holiday Tournament. Middletown South, the five-seed, nearly edged Ridge in the opening round, but England’s potential go-ahead goal with just under six minutes remaining in the third period was waved off because it bounced off his foot. They will have two more games in the tournament, and will likely end with a good record.
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Red Bank Catholic has struggled to adjust from losing a ton of scoring from last season. With a 2-2-2 record, they are good enough for third in the Shore ‘A’, but their January schedule will reveal just how good they really are. Their last two games, could not have been any more different. The Caseys’ were blasted, 10-0, by CBA on Dec. 19, and, a day later, they were able to rebound and tie Morris Knolls. Look for head coach Ken Carlson to change something in January as Red Bank Catholic hopes to make a run at Middletown South and Brick atop the division.
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The Shore ‘B’, as expected is still wide open between the top four teams. Toms River North has the early edge, holding a 6-1-1 record, and is closely followed by St. John Vianney, 5-2-2, Wall, 4-2-1, and Howell 4-4. As long as these four teams continue to beat each other, the division will remain in a scramble towards the end of the season, as all four teams will look to make the Handchen Cup.
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The Mariners beat Howell on opening night, tied the Lancers later, and lost to Wall. They haven’t fallen any further than third in the division, but, with just one loss, they are the top man in the race right now.
St. John Vianney tied Toms River North and Wall in back-to-back games, before getting controlled by Howell a game later. They have had two straight wins against Monsignor Donovan and Toms River South, vaulting themselves up to second place.
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The Knights tied St. John Vianney, lost to Howell, then beat Howell two games later, along with a win over Toms River North. Of the four teams, they look the most complete with potent scorers and solid defensive standing, highlighted by junior goalie Troy Klahre. Expect them to make a push in January to become the team to beat in the division.
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A week ago, Howell was in first place in the division. They have dropped three straight to Wall, Middletown South and Pope John, dropping to 4-4 and in fourth in the division. They beat Wall in the first game, and, earlier beat St. John Vianney, convincingly, 4-1, before their tough stretch of games. They are playing in the Bridgewater Holiday Tournament, so look for them to get their balance back after the tournament and into January.
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When February rolls around, and the conference tournaments take place, these games will play a big factor. The question is the Shore ‘B’ isn’t about the amount of talent, but instead, who will take control as the top team next month?

 

 

12-27-11

Beach Teams Stunning Shore…

It was bound to happen, eventually.

After years of struggling and watching the perrenial schools dominate the Shore Conference, it was a matter of time before the towns surrounded by sand and water were good at hockey again.
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This year, Point Pleasant Boro and St. Rose, along with Manasquan, have put together impressive opening months of the season.
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Of those three teams, the Panthers are the hottest right now, reeling off five straight wins after an opening-night loss to Wall, including their last two wins: a 5-4 thriller over Manasquan and a 3-2 victory of St. Rose. Point Boro is sitting in first place over St. Rose, with a record of 5-1, proving to be the head of a very competitive Shore ‘D’.
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St. Rose has been equally impressive this year, with a 6-2 start to their season. After starting out strong, winning their first five games of the season, the Frozen Roses have dropped two out of their last three games, falling from first in the Shore ‘D’ to second, but there is a long season to go, and, they will need to consistently build off each game if they want to keep themselves at the top of the Shore ‘D’, much as the Panthers will need to do the same.
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Manasquan has been one of the more exciting teams to watch, early on. They opened the season going 4-1, winning four straight games, but have hit a wall since, dropping three games to St. Rose, 4-3, Point Pleasant Boro, 5-4, and Southern Regional, 2-0. They currently sit in 3rd place in the Shore ‘C’, behind Rumson-Fair Haven and Southern Regional. It should be a good season for the Big Blue Warriors, but they will need to right their ship and get back on the winning side in 2012.
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Now, about Rumson-Fair Haven.
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The Shore Conference’s only undefeated team left, the Bulldogs will enter 2012 with a stronghold on the Shore ‘C’. At 5-0, they hold a commanding advantage over second-place Southern, but it could change. Of the five wins, their closest margin of victory was their 3-2 decision over Marlboro on Dec. 17. They have had a pair of 6-2 wins over Freehold Boro and Manalapan, a 4-1 advantage of Red Bank Regional, and an 8-0 win over Jackson Liberty.
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In early January, the Bulldogs should face their toughest test of the season, thus far, when they face Point Pleasant Boro and Manasquan in back-to-back games. Both teams should provide a tough test for the defensive-based Rumson-Fair Haven team, and those games will show a lot about who has the edge in the lower divisions of the Shore Conference.
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It would be hard-pressed to say that Rumson-Fair Haven will finished undefeated, with the amount of talent in the Shore ‘C’ and Shore ‘D’, but, expect them to be right there near the top at the end of the season, and make a run in the Dowd Cup. The Bulldogs haven given themselves an early advantage, and if they beat the teams they should beat, and skate along with Southern Regional and Manasquan, they should win the Shore ‘C’ this February.

 

 

12-12-11

Nothing Has Been A Certainty…

Throughout the first week and a half of the season, the Shore Conference has been chock full of surprises, coming in all divisions, and it has proven that nothing can be decided in the pre-season.
After CBA’s shocking 8-0 abusing from Delbarton, they have rebounded impressively with wins over Shore powers Middletown South and Brick.
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Brick Township appears to have a strong team once again, anchored by their sophomore line of David Kearns, Andrew Reiss and Ryan Mooney, as they sit at 3-1, with a 4-2 loss to CBA as their only flaw.
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In the Shore ‘B’, Wall is making a run to be the early season front-runner. The Knights stand at 2-0-1 with wins over Point Pleasant Boro, Toms River South and a tie with St. John Vianney. This week, Wall will have a home-and-home series with the second-place team in the Shore ‘B’: Howell. Since their 6-3 loss to Toms River North — their first ever to the Mariners in school history — Howell has reeled off three straight wins against Vernon, St. John Vianney and Jackson Memorial, with wins against Vernon and Jackson Memorial coming via the 10-goal mercy. The Knights and Rebels haven’t played a seriously meaningful game since February, 2009, when Howell beat Wall, 9-7, in a wild Dowd Cup final in their first season. If either team can sweep the series this week, expect them to take the lead and run with it, early on, in the division.
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Rumson-Fair Haven has taken the lead role in the Shore ‘C’ so far with a 3-0-0 record. They have been lead by senior captain Gary Cali, who had two goals in their dominant 4-1 win over Red Bank Regional, Thursday night in which they out-shot the Bucs, 39-8. RFH has a strong offensive attack that could land them in first place throughout the season, and even in post-season play. Behind the Bulldogs, Manasquan has come out firing. Sophomore stand-out Connor Grogan is leading the charge for the Big Blue Warriors, who stunned 2011 Dowd Cup champions Marlboro, Saturday night, with a 12-2 mercy. After a 5-4 loss to Old Bridge in their opener, Manasquan has reeled off three straight wins and will be making a run for their first Shore ‘C’ title.
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The story of the Shore ‘D’ has to be Marlboro being win-less through three games. After dominating the division a year ago, the Mustangs have fallen to St. Rose, Kinnelon and Manasquan, totaling just five goals over the three games. Clearly, the Mustangs are missing some key players from a year ago, but it will be interesting to see how they rebound within the division. Likewise, St. Rose is taking control of the division, much like Marlboro last season, starting 4-0, with an impressive 3-2 win over Marlboro to open the season. The Frozen Roses has also taken down Manalapan, Ocean Township and Jackson Liberty, outscoring their opponents 28-6. If St. Rose can keep this up, they will have, for the first time in a very long time, a strong, playoff-caliber team that can fight for a conference championship.

 

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12-6-11

What a Difference a Year Makes

One calender circulation from the worst season in the Griffins’ stories history, Monsignor Donovan has made great strides in building their program up.
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As they entered the second intermission — trailing Brick 3-2, Tuesday afternoon – the chances of them re-gaining the lead they had were slim. But for first-year head coach Brian Klimakowski, the end result wasn’t about winning the game.
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Brick is a team that annually roles three talented lines. Most nights, their third line can match up favorably with other teams first lines. Monsignor Donovan has nine skaters this year — they would be lucky to roll two lines by the time the third period comes through.
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Brick Township scored five third period goals to cruise to a win that might seem lopsided. It wasn’t. Last season, the Griffins’ didn’t stand a chance with any top-notch Shore Conference team. Now, two games into the season, they are playing in close games with Brick Township, fell 5-0 toMiddletown South in their opener, and have games against Middletown South, Middletown North,Christian Brothers Academy, and Red Bank Catholic looming.
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The fact of the matter is: welcome to the Shore ‘A’ schedule. Until the divisional re-alignment, which will begin next season, there isn’t time for Monsignor Donovan to wish they had an easier schedule. Despite their early 0-2 record, the Griffins can become relevant in the Shore Conference this season.
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Meet Alex Millicone: the best goalie in the Shore Conference that you’ve probably never heard of. In a loss against Middletown South on Friday night, Millicone recorded over 60 saves, an incredible feat. Tuesday afternoon, he stopped 49 against Brick, and, despite a tough third period, he was the reason why the Griffins’ had a lead in the second period, and he was the reason why Monsignor Donovan was in the game for the duration of the second period, when they went on an eight-plus minute period without registering a shot. The best part about Millicone is that he’s only a junior. Expect big things out of him this season, and he will be a big factor next year as well.
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Despite not having a lethal scorer, the Griffins have shown they do have a few players that could put the puck in the net. Whoever might step up on any given night, Klimakowski will take. In their 8-3 loss against Brick, they simply ran out of gas without the availability of depth.
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Simply put, the renovation process for the Griffins isn’t going to happen overnight, and with their schedule, it likely will not happen this season. Klimakowski has talent to work with, and, so far, the difference is evident between this year’s squad, compared to last year’s.
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A timetable cannot be marked, but soon, soon, Monsignor Donovan will be among the top in the Shore Conference, once again.

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12-1-2011

SHORE D PREVIEW

Last season’s play within the Shore D division was summed up by one word: Marlboro. One of the five teams from the Freehold Regional High School District that opened programs just four years ago, Wayne Anderson’s Mustangs’ flew to a 21-win season, leading the public state teams in wins, and proving to be a force throughout the season, despite playing in the Conference’s lowest division.

Other teams, such as Ocean Township and St. Rose had promising seasons, but they simply didn’t stack up to Marlboro.
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This year, Marlboro looks to be strong coming back for another divisional title, but let’s see who might play a factor in that position all season.
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Pre-Season Favorite: Marlboro
This one is a no-brainer. The Mustangs are returning their second-leading scorer from last season, Michael Dorfschneider, who notched 54 points for Marlboro. They will also be returning scorers junior Steve Sabatini, who added 18 points last year and junior defensemen Ryan Levy. That trio alone could provide a ton of offense for a team who many are expecting to have a great offensive season. Levy will need to play just as soundly, defensively as he does on the offensive side of the puck, in an effort to help Marlboro remain unbeaten in divisional play, just like they did last year. Sophomore Alan Feld will be back in net after an incredible freshman campaign. Look for Marlboro to be head and shoulders above the rest of the division this season.
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Sleeper Team: Point Pleasant Borough
After a year in which they flew under-the-radar in the Shore Conference, expect the Panthers to make some noise this year. Most people aren’t even aware that Point Boro plays at Ocean Ice Palace — alongside Brick Township and Brick Memorial. This year, they have a couple key players who can put the puck in the net. Colin Freer is back for his senior season after posting 29 points last year. He will have offensive help from Connor Bokup and Cater Koltz, who all saw significant time on the ice last year and put up good numbers. The Panthers will have Steven Kovaleski manning the blue line for them as well, so look for Point Pleasant Borough to be a solid all-around team this year and make some noise.
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Offensive Player to Watch: Stephen Rue, Ocean Township
Stephen Rue carried the Spartans in his junior year last season, scoring 16 goals and finishing with 34 points for Ocean Township, who finished second in the regular season division. He will be surrounded by a heap of young talent again this year, so if the Spartans are expecting anything big to happen, Rue will be playing a major role.
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Defensive Player to Watch: Donald Duddy, St Rose
For a team that is looking to re-vitalize their program, it will work from the inside-out for St. Rose this year. Their defense will need to pick up their game, as the Purple Roses finished .500 last year with 10 wins and 10 losses. Donald Duddy will need to be strong on the defensive side of the ice. He saw a good amount of time last year as a junior, notching 14 points. Duddy will need to be productive again this year if St. Rose wants to have a good chance to be successful.
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Goalie to Watch: Alan Feld, Marlboro
Alan Feld played one of the biggest roles for the Mustangs last year, allowing just over two goals-per-game in his freshman campaign as Marlboro had their best season in school history. For the Mustangs to repeat that success — and even take it a step further into the playoffs — Feld will need to keep his GAA around two and make sure that they have a chance to win every game that they play in. If he is able to do that, they will be set for another big season.
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Storyline of the season: Where is the balance in the division?
Everyone knows about the players and season Marlboro had, but, many question what it meant, comparing the teams they played to the competition of the teams in the Shore ‘A’ and Shore ‘B’. For Marlboro and the rest of the division to earn a respected reputation, teams like Red Bank Regional, St. Rose and Jackson Liberty will need to have stronger seasons and prove that they can all play with the rest of the teams in the division. They all had mediocre or sub-par season last year, so bounce back years for all of those programs are a must.

 

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11-30-2011

SHORE C PREVIEW

Coming off a year in which, like most Shore Conference divisions, two teams took over control, things appear to be a bit slimmer and much more even this time around at Shore C.
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Rumson Fair-Haven took the crown last season, posting a 16-5-1, finishing just ahead of an offensive-powered Manasquan team, who finished 15-6-2.
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As both of those teams appear to be ready to challenge for the Shore ‘C’ title once again, let’s dive into this year’s division:
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Pre-Season Favorite: Manasquan
It’s almost impossible to pick not pick the Blue Warriors as a favorite this year. Behind Connor Grogan, who was unbelievable as a sophomore last year — posting a Shore Conference-high 84 points for Manasquan, they were able to win 15 games, and brought supremacy back to the Blue Warriors, who had 136 goals last year. Partnered with forwards Chris Miller, who notched 84 points and Charles Mills, who added 54 points last year, Manasquan has a chance to be a big-time favorite within the division and the conference this year. If Manasquan can play solid defense and keep the puck out of their own zone, they will be tough to beat this year.
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Sleeper Team: Manalapan
This pick may be surprising, but the Braves are finally ready to explode. With a handful of youth talent that they have been nursing over the past two seasons, Manalapan is ready to move off their 2-14 record from a season ago and work towards being a contender in the Shore ‘C’. Junior Andy Vovk will be a healthy leader for the Braves’, after putting up 31 points last year as a sophomore on a team win which he didn’t have much help. Sophomore Dan Nathanson and junior Braden Rakovititch will likely split time in net, but both have proven to be stable goaltenders. If Vovk can get some help, offensively, watch out for the Braves to surprise a lot of people this year.
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Offensive Player to Watch: Connor Grogan, Manasquan
It would be hard-pressed to keep the standards for Connor Grogan as high as his statistics indicated last year, but that just might be the case. Of his 84 points, he notched 51 assists, proving that it wasn’t all about his goal-scoring ability and that he is a sure-handed passer. If Manasquan wants to improve past last year’s 15-win season, Grogan will need to be just as good this year — if not better — along with his linemates. Manasquan is hopeful for another huge year out of Grogan, he undoubtedly has the power to do it.
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Defensive Player to Watch: Corey Dineen, Toms River East
Corey Dineen will need to play a huge role, defensively, for the Raiders if they want to be relevant in the Shore Conference this year. The senior captain had a good season last year, but will need to pick up his game as he looks to propel Toms River East out of the misery they have been in the last few years. He will be working with first-year coach Bruce Kocenski and they will be looking to keep the puck out of the net. If Dineen is a leader and a solid defensemen this year, the Raiders will — at the very least — have a chance to score some goals and right their program.
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Goalie to Watch: Dylan Rotchford, Dominic Padula, Rumson-Fair Haven
This is a case of two goalies, simply because it is unaware which can out-play the other for the sole starting position. Both junior Dylan Rotchford and sophomore Dominic Padula have the ability to take over games, and this year, they will need to do just that in an effort to defend their title from a season ago. The tandem should be expected to continue to swap starts until one seems to out-play the other, but both have a great knack for playing between the pipes, and both should have great seasons this year.
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Storyline of the season: The future of Freehold Boro
At the conclusion of last season, there were numerous rumors that the Colonials ice-hockey program would be gone, or merging with another team somewhere in the area. Eventually, those rumors died off and head coach Brian Simpson began preparing for his fourth-year behind the bench, as he has been the only coach since the Freehold Regional High School District brought in hockey four years ago. Still, if the Colonials don’t have a good season, there could be lack-of-interest, and talk about dropping the program, once again. Freehold Boro will need solid play from their returning players, after losing a good handful starters last year. It’s simple for Freehold: win and you stay.

 

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11-27-2011

SHORE B PREVIEW

Last season, the Shore ‘B’ was, for all intents and purposes, a two-team race between Toms River South and Howell.

After they split the season series — with the away team winning each time — the Indians pulled away to take the division. Both teams advanced to the semi-finals of the Handchen Cup, but fell in their second-round match-ups, as were expected.
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This season, the Shore ‘B’ appears to be much more talented than a season ago, and there should be a higher level of competition between all the teams, not just Howell and Toms River South.
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Let’s take a look at who we will be keeping an eye on throughout the season, and who could make some noise in post-season play.
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Pre-Season Favorites: Toms River South
Although the Indians are losing a couple of big-time players from the past few years, they still appear to have a head on everyone else in the division at this point. Jay Malone, who had a school record of 233 points in just under 100 games will be sorely missed, along with goalie Pat Kerney, who, after a very impressive 2010-2011 season, will be leaving TRS to play Junior B Titans. Still, the Indians have a strong scorer in Todd Unger, who served as Malone’s right-hand-man last year, adding over 50 points to his impressive season, and Tommy Raulerson shouldn’t have any problem picking up for Kerney in net. Toms River South has built one of the better programs over the past few years in the Shore Conference, and don’t be surprised if they find ways to win under head coach Bill McKinnon again this year.
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Sleeper Team: Jackson Memorial
Don’t sleep on the Jaguars. After a season to forget in 2010-2011, including a fight at the conclusion of their last game, Jackson Memorial has shown early on that they are intending on turning their program around, and hopefully, they can be competitive again this season. The Jaguars let go of head coach Pete Morris and replaced him with Steve Palmer, who will be looking to rejuvenate a program that could certainly use it. With their top scorer from last season returning in Kevin Miller, Jackson Memorial has the tools that can certainly make them relevant come February, and, although they may not be fighting for a divisional title or conference title, they just may make a run late in the season.
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Offensive Player to Watch: Mike Kochenash, Howell
If there is one thing the Rebels have grown accustomed to over their first three seasons, it’s having a prime-time scorer. From Dave Ramos, who joined the 100-point club just one game into his second high school season, to Eddie Pyskaty, who nailed home 75 points last year, playing his first season as a forward, and Mike Liero, the third Howell player in as many seasons to join the 100-point club, Bill Daley has always had the luxury of having a player who can put the puck in the net. This year, the focus in that aspect will be on Mike Kochenash. A transfer from CBA after his freshman year, Kochenash was impressive last year, scoring 28 goals to compliment Pyskaty and Liero and had 49 overall points. This season, Kochenash will be the go-to guy for Daley and his Rebels. He may not have the scoring ability of the players before him, but if he is given the time and talent, Kochenash might be able to lead Howell further than any of those other players did.
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Defensive Player to Watch: Tim Gelatt, St. John Vianney
There wasn’t much to be happy about for the Lancers last year, but freshman defensemen Tim Gelatt was one of the few happy surprises. In his freshman campaign, Gelatt posted three goals and seven assists, and quickly became regarded as the top defensemen for SJV. This year, Stephen Scanapicco will be just as reliable on Gelatt, who will be a youthful leader on a team that will be filled with inexperience, playing against good competition. For the Lancers to have any kind of chance in 2011-2012, Gelatt will need to anchor a defense that struggled last year and will need to produce timely offense as well. Watch this kid, he’s got all the tools to be a prime-time Shore Conference defensemen.
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Goalie to Watch: Troy Klahre, Wall
Troy Klahre was a consistent force for the Knights in his sophomore season. Despite his smaller size and stature, Klahre proved to be good enough to lead Wall to a plus-.500 record, even with the offensive struggles that they had. This year, look for the Knights ability to put the puck in the net to work to their advantage, and it will make Klahre a better player as well. With a solid defense in front of hi, Klahre has the ability to take over games, although he can’t do it by himself. With some help, the Knights have a chance to be a defensive force and can make a name for themselves in the Shore Conference for the first time since 2009, when they reached the Dowd Cup final.
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Storyline of the Season: Who Will Take the Lead?
In a division that is expected to be one of the best among the four Shore Conference groups, this one is wide-open. It will be interesting to see who will take the initial lead in the division and if they will be able to run with it. Howell and Toms River South will likely be at the top, but Wall, Toms River North and Freehold Township all will be looking for bounce-back performances after last season. If any of those three can top Howell or TRS early in the season, look for a late-season multi-team race within the division. If it comes down to Howell and TRS once again, these two teams will soon become divisional rivals, and will look to battle it out every year.

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11-25-11

SHORE A PREVIEW

The Shore Conference ‘A’ division is annually stacked with talent from top to bottom, and this year, there’s no difference.
Last year, Brick Township re-juvenated their program under long-time coach Bob Auriemma, winning 22 games, including an 18-game win streak and just one regular season loss. Behind star players like defenseman Patrick Kearns, forward Matt Gumina and goalie Eddie Rafferty, the Dragons were able to blow past everyone in the division, including Red Bank Catholic twice, CBA, and Brick Memorial twice.
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Red Bank Catholic caught the Dragons, however, in a thrilling Handchen Cup final, handing Brick Township their just their second loss of the season. Middletown South put their stamp on the season when they ousted Brick Township in the NJSIAA Public ‘B’ state semi-finals, after the Dragons beat the Eagles twice in the regular season.
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Now, let’s see how the top division in the Shore Conference should pan out this season.
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Pre-season favorites: Brick Township
It would be tough to go against Brick to have another incredible year. Although they are losing the top three players, listed above, from last season, their second line consisted of three freshman in David Kearns, Andrew Reiss and Ryan Mooney, all who should be prepared to have huge sophomore seasons. There is a question mark in net, but it is likely that junior Nick Lantieri will be expected to fill the big shoes of Rafferty. The Dragons will have solid defense in front of him, however, with Kearns’ defensive pairing, Brian Murphy returning, along with Tyler Iannorone, who was part of the second defensive pairing last year. Expect another big season for the Dragons.
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Sleeper Team: Monsignor Donovan
It doesn’t mean they are going to make any kind of run towards post-season play, but expect a much improved season out of the Griffins. Coming off a year that could not have been any worse, at 1-21, Monsignor Donovan has pulled in the former Howell assistant coach, Brian Klimakowski, who has been exposed to winning for the past three seasons with the Rebels. It’s unaware exactly who is going to step up and who will play prominent roles for the Griffins, but expect Monsignor Donovan to be relevant in the division this year as they begin to re-build their program.
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Offensive Player to Watch: Trevor Grossman, Red Bank Catholic
The Caseys’ are bringing back a host of a talent on both sides of the ice this season, and it begins with Trevor Grossman. Last year, Grossman was part of a Red Bank Catholic team that had seven players with at least 20 points, and his 36 from last year will be a team-high of returners for this year. What makes Grossman so dangerous, however, is the talent that he has around him. With scorers like Jack Donleavy and Christian Constantino, he should have no problem getting the puck on his stick and putting it in the back of the net.
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Defensive Player to Watch: Jimmy Burns, Middletown South
In a season filled with surprising turmoil, Jimmy Burns was the main-stay for Middletown South last year. He played everywhere for the Eagles, and provided the team with 21 points for a squad that made a late-season run in the NJSIAA public ‘B’ playoffs, falling to top ranked Chatham in the finals. Burns anchored that run and will be expected to do the same as a senior, proving he can put the puck in the net from the blue line. Most importantly, he will have to be strong, defensively in front of first-year goalie Shubhro Bose, who is replacing three-year starter Chris Marsillo.
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Goalie to Watch: Tim Schiess, Brick Memorial
This is someone that nobody knows anything about. Last year, Schiess didn’t get any playing time as a freshman because of Kevin Talty, the long-time reliable Brick Memorial net-minder. However, Schiess did see significant time in two games — a 7-1 loss to Brick Township where head coach Chip Bruce pulled the entire starting line-up off the ice after two periods, he allowed one goal in the last period, and a 6-0 loss to Ridge in the second round of the NJSIAA Public ‘A’ state finals, he relieved Talty after one period and allowed no goals. Expect him to be a force as a sophomore and lead Brick Memorial past mediocrity in 2011-2012.
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Storyline of the season: Can the Person brothers keep their cool?
If Adam and Tyler Person focused on playing hockey, the Brick Memorial Mustangs will have a great year. It seems apparent that there is turmoil between the brothers and head coach Chip Bruce, but, as seen in some games last year, these are two of the most talented players in the Conference. If they both work together and decide to let their play do the talking, the Mustangs will be right up there with Brick Township, Red Bank Catholic and Christian Brothers Academy. Too often last season, when Brick Memorial went down, the Person brothers looked to get into a fight. If they can drop that habit, Brick Memorial will have a good season.
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Match-up of the Year: Brick Township vs Red Bank Catholic
These two teams still sit atop the division, just like they did last year. More than likely, they will see each other at some point in the Handchen Cup, whether it be in the final like last year, or earlier. They play twice in the regular season, and those will be huge match-ups, as well. Last year, Brick won both regular season meetings, but the Casey’s got the better of them in the Handchen Cup final. Expect this to be a heavy-weight battle all season, and  the team who wins head-to-head will become the divisional winner.

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