KINNELON-JEFFERSON-SPARTA (KJS UNITED)
Head coach: Jeff Myhren, 17th year (176-131-47)
Division: Halvorsen
Last year: KJS United finished 5-12-3, with a 3-4-2 record in the Halvorsen Division. It fell, 4-1 to Morristown in the semifinals of the Halvorsen Cup.
Key losses: Mitchell Fradkin, D (2 g., 10 a.); Andy Stefancik, D.
Top returning players: Dillon Fleksher, F, Sr.; Ilya Klevtsov, F, Sr.; Anthony Pandiscia, F, Jr. (9 g., 3 a.); Anthony Prunty, F, Jr. (7 g., 5 a.); Adam Stefancik, F, Jr.; Joey Kopec, F, Jr.; Aiden Ferguson, D, Sr.; Connor O’Neil, D, Sr.; Rylan Gibbons, G, Jr. (.920 sv%).
Potential incoming impact players: Mike Pandiscia, F, Fr.; Brian Sisti, G, So.
Burning question: Can this tri-op finally break through?
The first two years for this tri-op have been a struggle, with it winning four and five games, respectively. This year has the potential to be a different story with a strong returning cast of young players that gained valuable experience over the past couple of seasons.
Outlook: Continued growth will be the key for KJS United this season.
It’s easier for a program to grow when it knows it can rely on its goaltender, and KJS has that in junior Rylan Gibbons, who posted a .920 save percentage last season. A pair of strong forwards in Pandiscia and Prunty, as well as defensemen Aiden Ferguson and Connor O’Neil, give this team a nice core of players to build around going forward. If everything breaks right this year, this is a team that could make some noise in the Halvorsen Division.
E-mail Mike Gurnis at michaelgurnis@gmail.com
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