West Morris 2021 preview: Patience key for young roster

WEST MORRIS WOLFPACK

Head coach: Phil Togno, fifth season. 31-52-8 record at West Morris, 123-142-17 overall career record.

Division: Haas

Last year: West Morris went through an up-and-down season in 2019-20, as it finished with a 10-12-2 record. Its season came to an end at the hands of Gill St. Bernard’s in the first round of the Haas Cup.

Key losses: Nick Francione, Angelo Palome, Kyle Roe, Cameron Veno.

This year’s squad: West Morris figures to have a very young roster this year, with only two seniors in forwards Andrew Spina (4 g., 3 a.) and Lucas Garrido (3 g.). The forwards will include juniors Spencer Drodzowski, Steven Cardinal, and Paul Bietka, along with sophomores Matt Healy (3 g.), Dylan Babb, Jake Calhoun, and Quintin Valetto. It will also look to a talented group of freshmen in Zach Knoph, Nick Dargel, Tommy Togno, Michael Ferry, and Ben Cappan to step up with immediate playing time.

On defense, junior Max Michalski (1 g., 5 a.) will lead the way and will be joined by junior Brendan Donlon, sophomores Jimmy Thompson and Will Lindquist, as well as freshman Jake Salamone.

In goal, the Wolfpack will count on sophomore Phil Togno, who saw the bulk of the starts last season as a freshman and will look to build off a solid first season.

Outlook: It’s really going to come down to how quickly this team can come together. It is going to be without some key players from a year ago, and while there is a promising incoming freshman class of six players coming in, it is going to be very difficult to break through in a very deep Haas Division. With how young this team is it’s hard to know exactly what to expect right off the bat- especially with a very difficult couple of opening games- but the future is certainly bright.

2021 SCHEDULE

Jan. 21– Gill St. Bernard’s (Mennen Arena), 8:15 p.m.

Jan. 25 — Mountain Lakes-Boonton (Mennen Arena), 4:30 p.m.

Jan. 27 — Park Regional (Mennen Arena), 4 p.m.

Jan. 30 — Vernon (Skylands Ice World), 4 p.m.

Feb. 3 — Mount Olive-Hopatcong-Hackettstown (Mennen Arena), 7:45 p.m.

Feb. 11 — Gill St. Bernard’s (Mennen Arena), 8:15 p.m.

Feb. 15 — Park Regional (Mennen Arena), 6:30 p.m.

Feb. 18 — Mountain Lakes-Boonton (Mennen Arena), 8:15 p.m.

Feb. 20 — Mount Olive-Hopatcong-Hackettstown (Skylands Ice World), 4:15 p.m.

Feb. 24 — Vernon (Mennen Arena), 4 p.m.