High school ice hockey in New Jersey
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Ice Hockey is currently played by approximately 161 high school varsity teams in NJ. Teams are divided into conferences: the Gordon Conference, Big North Conference, New Jersey Ice Hockey League, Morris County Secondary School Ice Hockey League, Union County Ice Hockey League, Skylands Conference, Greater Middlesex Conference, Colonial Valley Conference, Shore Conference, Independents, and Prep Schools. Most of these leagues are divided into divisions. A State Championship Tournament is organized at the end of the season by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association.[1]
Divisions
[edit]Hockey is one of the few sports in the state with "rolling divisions". The divisions can change every year depending on the performance of the teams and new teams formed. The divisions are arranged by geography and skill level. Typically, the last place team in a higher division will be moved into the lower division, with the first place team of the lower division moving into the higher division.
Gordon Conference
[edit]- American Division
- National Division
Big North Conference
[edit]- Patriot Division
- Freedom Division
- Stripes Division
- Stars Division
New Jersey Interscholastic Ice Hockey League
[edit]- McInnis Division
- Kelly Division
- McMullen Division
Morris County Secondary School Ice Hockey League
[edit]- Mennen Division
- Halvorsen Division
- Haas Division
- Charette Division
Skyland Conference
[edit](no divisions)
Greater Middlesex Conference
[edit](no divisions)
Colonial Valley Conference
[edit]- Colonial Division
- Valley Division
Shore Conference
[edit]- Shore A North
- Shore A Central
- Shore A South
- Shore B North
Independents
[edit](no divisions)
Independence League (prep)
[edit](no divisions)
source.[2]
State Tournament
[edit]The NJSIAA crowns state champions in four categories; Private, Public A, Public B and Public C. Through 1994, public and private schools played in one state tournament; however, private schools dominated the tournament due to their ability to recruit the best players in the state without geographical limitation. Beginning in 1995, the NJSIAA held separate private and public tournaments, crowning a private and public champion, with these champions playing each other for the overall state championship. In 2005, the NJSIAA eliminated the overall state championship game because a public school had won only once, in 1997. Similarly, in 2008, the Public Tournament was divided into A and B categories based on school enrollment as the smaller schools generally were unable to compete with the larger schools. The public tournament was divided once again in 2018 to include Public C.[3] In the 2021–2022 season the Public C tournament would pivot again to comprise the growing number of cooperative teams in the state. The initial Public C season would have forty-three co-op and tri-op teams competing for the state crown.[4]
To qualify for the State Tournament, teams must have played a minimum of 10 games and compiled a record of .500 or better record by a date set by the NJSIAA, usually around February 15. Teams within four games of .500 may petition for an at-large selection to the Tournament. The NJSIAA may select a maximum of 3 public and 2 private teams for an at-large berth. All members of the Gordon Conference earn automatic entry to the Private Tournament.[5]
In recent years, Delbarton and Randolph have been the dominant private and public hockey programs in the state. Delbarton has appeared in 13 of the last 19 Private School Championships, winning 8 of the last 12; while Randolph has appeared in 11 of the last 15 Public A Championships (8 of the last 9), winning 7 of the last 11. Coincidentally, these two schools are located just seven miles apart in Morris County.[6]
State Championship History
[edit]State Championship Finals [7]
1976-Brick 3, Chatham Township 2 (OT) 1977-Brick 3, Livingston 2 1978-West Essex 6, Livingston 3 1979-Brick 2, Seton Hall Prep 1 1980-Livingston 1, Brick 0 (OT) 1981-Montclair 6, Brick 5 1982-Livingston 4, Montclair 2 1983-CBA 3, Seton Hall Prep 0 1984-St. Joseph (Montvale) 7, Brick 6 1985-St. Joseph (Montvale) 4, Brick 2 1986-Brick 2, Delbarton 1 1987-Montclair 4, Delbarton 2 1988-Montclair 2, St. Joseph (Montvale) 1 1989-Delbarton, St. Joseph (Montvale) - Game Cancelled/Co-Champions See Frozen Flashback 1990-Brick 2, Montclair 1 1991-ST. JOSEPH (Montvale) 3, Delbarton 2 (OT) 1992-Delbarton 3, St. Joseph (Montvale) 2 (OT) 1993-Toms River North 6, Delbarton 2 1994-CBA 6, Don Bosco Prep 1 1995-CBA 4, Montclair 1 1996-CBA 5, Brick 0 1997-Brick 4, Seton Hall Prep 0 1998-Seton Hall Prep 3, Brick 2 1999-Seton Hall Prep 3, Brick 1 2000-Hudson Catholic 4, Bayonne 2 2001-Bergen Catholic 8, Clifton 1 2002-Delbarton 1, Brick 0 2003-Bergen Catholic 6, Randolph 4 2004-Seton Hall Prep 8, West Essex 0
Public Finals
[edit]1995-Montclair 2, Chatham 1 (OT) 1996-Brick Township 5, Chatham 4 1997-Brick Township 2, Brick Memorial 1 (OT) 1998-Brick Township 2, Montclair 1 1999-Brick Township 5, Randolph 1 2000-Bayonne 6, Summit 3 2001-Clifton 2, Bayonne 1 2002-Brick Township 5, Randolph 1 2003-Randolph 7, Brick Memorial 0 2004-West Essex 0, Ridge 1 2005-Morris Knolls 4, Randolph 1 2006-Randolph 2, Montgomery 1 (OT) 2007-Randolph 5, Bridgewater-Raritan 4 (OT)
Public A
2008-Ridge 5, Watchung Hills 0 2009-Randolph 1, Ridge 0 2010-Toms River South 2, Randolph 1 2011-Randolph 1, Montgomery 0 2012-Randolph 3, Morristown 1 2013-Randolph 4, Bridgewater-Raritan 1 2014-Morris Knolls 3, Bridgewater-Raritan 0 2015-Randolph 2, Howell 1 2016-Morristown 2, Randolph 0 2017-Ridge 2, Watchung Hills 1 2018-Hunterdon Central 5, Woodbridge Twp. 1 2019-Morris Knolls-Hills 6, Hillsborough 1 2020-Morris Knolls 3, Montclair 2 2021-COVID-19 Tournament Cancelled 2022-Ridge 6, Livingston 1
Public B
2008-Kinnelon 5, Jefferson 1 2009-Ramsey 2, Kinnelon 0 2010-West Essex 3, Hopewell Valley 0 2011-Chatham 7, Middletown South 3 2012-Summit 2, Tenafly 1 2013-Chatham 3, Morristown 0 2014-Morristown 1, Ramsey 0 2015-Middletown North 5, Ramsey 4 2016-Ramsey 5, Glen Rock 1 2017-Glen Rock 8, Wall Twp. 1 2018-Northern Highlands 1, Randolph 0 2019-Ridge High School 4, Randolph 1 2020-Randolph 3, Ridge 2 2021-COVID-19 Tournament Cancelled 2022-Northern Highlands 3, Middletown North 1
Public C
2018-Summit 3, Chatham 0 2019-Summit 6, Chatham 2 2020-Summit 5, Ramsey 2 2021-COVID-19 Tournament Cancelled 2022-Governor Livingston 2, Morris Knolls 0
Private Finals
[edit]1995-CBA 5, Delbarton 0 1996-CBA 4, Seton Hall Prep 3 1997-Seton Hall Prep 4, Delbarton 2 1998-Seton Hall Prep 3, Delbarton 1 1999-Seton Hall Prep 1, Delbarton 0 (OT) 2000-Hudson Catholic 2, Seton Hall Prep 1 2001-Bergen Catholic 3, Christian Brothers 2 2002-Delbarton 2, Seton Hall Prep 1 2003-Bergen Catholic 2, Seton Hall Prep 1 2004-Seton Hall Prep 3, St. Peter's Prep 1 2005-CBA 2, Delbarton 1 (OT) 2006-Delbarton 3, Seton Hall Prep 1 2007-St. Augustine Prep 3, St. Peter's Prep 1 2008-Delbarton 5, St. Augustine Prep 1 2009-Delbarton 7, Christian Brothers 0 2010-Delbarton 7, Gloucester Catholic 2 2011-Delbarton 3, St. Augustine Prep 2 (OT) 2012-Delbarton 3, Christian Brothers 2 2013-Delbarton 4, Don Bosco 0 2014-Christian Brothers 4, Morristown-Beard 4 (Co-Champions) 2015-Christian Brothers 4, Delbarton 3 (OT) 2016-Delbarton 3, Christian Brothers 1 2017-Delbarton 2, Don Bosco 1 2018-Delbarton 4, Don Bosco 2 2019-Don Bosco Prep 3, Delbarton 1 2020-Christian Brothers 4, Don Bosco Prep 1 2021-COVID-19 Tournament Cancelled 2022-Christian Brothers 3, Delbarton 0
Career Scoring Leaders
| Name, School, Yr. graduated | Points | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Casey Kutner, Dwight-Englewood (1992) | 379 | 227 | 152 |
| 2-Jim Dowd, Brick (1987) | 375 | 189 | 186 |
| 3-Pat Slocum, Cranford (1996) | 316 | 190 | 126 |
| 4-Chris Bellino, Verona (1993) | 315 | 203 | 112 |
| 5-Pat Verney, Hudson Catholic (1999) | 301 | 117 | 184 |
| 6-Adam Shemansky, Notre Dame (2007) | 278 | 137 | 141 |
| 7-Brett Conrads, Newton (2014) | 277 | 171 | 106 |
| 8-Dave Barbossa, Hudson Catholic (1987) | 276 | 155 | 121 |
| 9-Phil Infusino, West Essex (1990) | 273 | 166 | 107 |
| 10-Bryan Bowser, Notre Dame (1997) | 273 | 139 | 134 |
| 11-Dale Scherholz, Hightstown (2000) | 271 | 153 | 118 |
| 12 (Tied)-Bobby Acropolis, Brick (2000) | 265 | 131 | 134 [8] |
| 12 (Tied)-David Infantino, St. Joseph Regional Prep (1989) | 265 | 133 | 132 |
| 13-Chris Ohlweiler, Chatham Township (1983) | 258 | 124 | 134 |
| 14-John Demers, Notre Dame (1989) | 257 | 179 | 78 |
| 15-Andrew Redvanly, Pascack Valley (2004) | 256 | 156 | 100 |
| 16-Pat DiMarco, TRN (2) & Peddie (1990-4th year) | 256 | n/a | n/a |
| 17-Sean Boylan, Old Tappan (2011) | 253 | 141 | 112 |
| 18-Andy McLaughlin, Seton Hall Prep (1988) | 248 | 113 | 135 |
| 19-Dale Reinhardt, Delbarton (2004) | 246 | 119 | 127 |
| 20-Derek Maguire, Delbarton (1990) | 242 | 110 | 132 |
| 21-Dave Bodson, Bayonne (2000) | 241 | 114 | 127 |
| 22-Glenn Yanotta, Whippany Park (1987) | 238 | 118 | 120 |
| 23-Mike Kronfeld, Tenafly (2006) | 238 | 118 | 120 |
| 24-Charlie Mule, Toms River East (2014) | 237 | 139[9] | 98 |
| 24-Ryan Enrico, St. Peter's Prep (1998) | 237 | 141 | 96 |
| 26-Scheuer, Paramus Catholic (2000) | 236 | 102 | 134 |
Scoring Champions
| Year | Name, School | Points | Goals | Assists | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | John Hanifin, Don Bosco Prep | 98 | 62 | 36 | |
| 1980 | Ed Towers, Morristown Beard | 98 | 53 | 45 | |
| 1981 | Don Julich, Livingston | 89 | 44 | 45 | |
| 1982 | Don Julich, Livingston | 91 | 40 | 51 | |
| 1983 | Chris Ohlweiler, Chatham Township | 88 | 30 | 58 | |
| 1984 | Bruno Bisiacchi, Hudson Catholic | 111 | 66 | 45 | |
| 1985 | Jim Dowd, Brick | 113 | 58 | 55 | |
| 1986 | Jim Dowd, Brick | 98 | 47 | 51 | |
| 1987 | Jim Dowd, Brick | 115 | 62 | 53 | |
| 1988 | Jeff Ohlweiler, Chatham | 112 | 67 | 45 | |
| 1989 | Ken Blum, St. Joseph Montvale | 109 | 50 | 59 | |
| 1990 | Casey Kutner, Dwight-Englewood | 90 | 55 | 35 | |
| 1991 | Bobby Guth, St. Joseph Montvale | 86 | 53 | 33 | |
| 1992 | Casey Kutner, Dwight-Englewood | 110 | 64 | 46 | |
| 1993 | Paul Giblin, Bergen Catholic | 116 | 76 | 40 | |
| 1994 | Brian Martin, Roxbury | 84 | 42 | 42 | |
| 1995 | J.J. Picinic, Bergen Catholic | 104 | 59 | 45 | |
| 1996 | Pat Slocum, Cranford | 115 | 67 | 48 | |
| 1997 | Dave McKenna, Bayonne | 81 | 36 | 45 | |
| 1998 | Adam Dilly, Mendham | 102 | 70 | 32 | |
| 1999 | Dave Bodson, Bayonne | 99 | 40 | 59 | |
| 2000 | Tyler Reinhardt, Livingston | 111 | 52 | 59 | |
| 2001 | Tyler Reinhardt, Livingston | 96 | 51 | 45 | |
| 2002 | Adam Tousant, Hightstown | 82 | 49 | 33 | |
| 2003 | Andrew Redvanly, Pascack Valley/ Matt Feinbloom, Montville | 92 | 49 | 43 | |
| 2004 | Jacob Simon, West Orange | 84 | 30 | 54 | |
| 2005 | J.T. Baxter, Morris Knolls | 89 | 47 | 42 | |
| 2006 | Anthony Yelovich, Clifton | 99 | 52 | 47 | |
| 2007 | Dean Combos, Jefferson | 95 | 51 | 44 | |
| 2013 | Grant Jozefek, Mendham | 103 | 51 | 52 |
References
[edit]- ^ "Ice Hockey". Archived from the original on 2009-04-06. Retrieved 2010-01-09.
- ^ "NJ Hockey".
- ^ "Home". njhockey.org.
- ^ https://www.njsiaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/2021-12/ice-hockey-21-22-final.pdf [bare URL PDF]
- ^ "Ice Hockey". www.njsiaa.org. Archived from the original on 6 April 2009. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
- ^ "Home". njhockey.org.
- ^ "Ice Hockey: Complete history of the NJSIAA championship state finals". 6 March 2022.
- ^ njhockeyhof.com
- ^ "Follow Charlie Mule, Toms River East — 2013-2014 Boys Ice Hockey".