Each week of the 2021-22 season, The Morris-Sussex Hockey Report will honor its Three Stars of the Week. We will also have our rankings of the Top 5 teams in the area. You can find out who made the cut this week below.
THREE STARS OF THE WEEK (Jan. 2-8)
Tanner Clemson, Bernards-Somerville-Middlesex, F, Jr.
Clemson has burst onto the scene for BSM as the team’s top scorer this season, and continued that this week by recording 12 points in three games for his team. He had two goals and three assists in a 9-4 win over Montville, followed by a hat trick and two assists in a 12-2 win over High Point-Wallkill-Kittatinny. He added a goal and an assist in a 3-3 tie with Newton-Lenape Valley. In total, he has 11 goals and 13 assists this season for unbeaten Bernards-Somerville-Middlesex (6-0-2).
Eddie Karpinski, Park Regional, D, Sr.
Karpinski came up huge for Park Regional in a big Haas Division win over Gill St. Bernard’s on Saturday. He had a goal and four assists in his team’s 6-4 win over the Knights. He has eight goals and 13 assists this season for Park.
Leah Stecker, Morristown-Beard girls, F/D, Sr.
Stecker recorded the 100th point of her career in her team’s 9-0 win over Westfield on Tuesday. She netted four goals in the game, and now has 55 goals and 45 assists in 52 games in her impressive high school career. She has seven goals and three assists for the 4-0 Crimson thus far in 2021-22.
To nominate players for the Three Stars of the Week, coaches are asked to e-mail Mike Gurnis at michaelgurnis@gmail.com by 12 p.m. each Sunday.
TOP 5 RANKINGS
1-Delbarton (10-1-1)
Last week: 1
The Green Wave have rebounded nicely since suffering its only loss to Don Bosco Prep on Dec. 14, as it has rattled off five wins in a row now including this week’s Gordon Conference wins over St. Peter’s Prep and Gloucester Catholic. It has a big back-to-back this week, when it takes on Bergen Catholic on Tuesday before traveling to face the state’s No. 1-ranked team in Christian Brothers on Wednesday.
2-Morris Knolls-Hills (8-3-1)
Last week: 2
After a rough showing at the Ice Vault Holiday Classic, Morris Knolls-Hills snapped a four-game winless streak with a 5-1 win over Roxbury this week. It resumes Mennen Division play on Monday when it takes on Morristown-Beard in a huge game which could go a long way towards determining who finishes in first place. It also has a league tilt with Madison on Thursday.
3-Pope John (3-4-5)
Last week: 3
Pope John had a pair of losses this week to state-ranked Princeton Day, along with Glen Rock. The Lions will look to bounce back in a pair of Gordon Conference games this week against St. Peter’s Prep and St. Augustine on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively.
4-Morristown (6-3-2)
Last week: 4
The Colonials dropped a tough 2-0 decision to Mahwah on Thursday in the team’s only action of the week. It will face Chatham on Sunday night and will resume Halvorsen play on Monday against Roxbury.
5-Morristown-Beard (6-5)
Last week: 5
Morristown-Beard is still struggling to gain traction this season, as this week it lost to two of the state’s top public schools in Northern Highlands and Livingston. A big Mennen win against Madison was sandwiched in between those losses though, and the Crimson will have two big divisional games on the docket this week against Morris Knolls-Hills on Monday and Randolph on Thursday.
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