MORRISTOWN-BEARD 5, RANDOLPH 0
Hollis Humphries had two goals and an assist to lead Morristown-Beard to a 5-0 win over Randolph at Mennen Arena.
It marked Randolph’s first Mennen Division loss (5-1-1), and snapped a nine-game overall unbeaten streak dating back to Dec. 27.
Evan Jones dished out four assists for Morristown-Beard, which all but locked up the fourth and final Mennen Cup spot with this win (2-4). Ryan Tartaglione had a goal and an assist, while Nick Squashic and Kevin Fraga each scored. Julian Melendez made 28 saves to earn the shutout.
What it means: Randolph, by virtue of Chatham’s tie with Morris Knolls-Hills (more on that below), can clinch the Mennen Division title with a win over Morristown on Monday. Morristown-Beard, on the other hand, is in very good shape for a Mennen Cup spot. It holds a 4-point lead on Morristown, and needs just one point in its final two games against Morris Knolls-Hills and Morristown to make it official. A loss by Morristown in either of its final two league games also clinches it for Morristown-Beard.
Morris Knolls-Hills 1, Chatham 1
Jack Martinez netted the game-tying goal with 3:42 left to help Morris Knolls-Hills secure its fourth tie in the last five games, as it skated to a 1-1 draw with Chatham at Mennen Arena.
Aidan Marvin made 34 saves for Morris Knolls-Hills, while Nate May stopped 24 shots for Chatham. Luc D’Costa gave Chatham the lead early in the third period after a scoreless first two periods, but Martinez tied it late when his shot from the corner banked in off of a Chatham defender’s skate.
Morris Knolls-Hills is 8-4-4 overall and 3-3-1 in the Mennen (third place), while Chatham is is 10-3-5 with a 5-1-2 Mennen record (second place).
What it means: It is now very likely that these two teams will meet for a third time. Barring a Morristown upset of Randolph, this will probably be the 2-vs-3 match-up. Chatham technically is in first place right now with a one-point lead on Randolph, but Randolph still has one game to play against Morristown, and a win by the Rams bumps Chatham back down to the 2-seed. Morris Knolls-Hills now has a three-point lead on Morristown-Beard for the third seed, although Morristown-Beard has two games remaining, one of which is against Morris Knolls-Hills.
MENDHAM 5, MADISON 0
Mac Goggin recorded a goal and two assists as Mendham took down Madison, 5-0 at Mennen Arena.
Blake Stevens had a goal and and assist, while Gavin Thrun made 16 saves to record the shutout for Mendham (9-6-2). It finishes Halvorsen Division play with a 5-3 record and in a tie for second place with Mount Olive-Hopatcong-Hackettstown.
Bryan Worthington made 34 saves for Madison (4-13, 1-6 Halvorsen).
What it means: Mendham finishes tied with Mount Olive-Hopatcong-Hackettstown for second place, as each have identical 5-3 records in the division. Those two will play each other in the Halvorsen Cup semifinals. The first tiebreaker is “league standing”, which would indicate record against the whole MCSSIHL- to which Mo-Ho-Ha holds the edge with a 7-4-1 record compared to Mendham’s 5-5-1. So, it appears Mo-Ho-Ha will be the 2-seed in this match-up. Madison, on the other hand, is still in the fourth and final Halvorsen Cup spot, and can clinch it with a tie or a win over last-place Mountain Lakes-Boonton on Feb. 9.
AREA SCOREBOARD
West Morris 4, Wayne 4
Pope John 1, Hunterdon Central 1
Girls: Westfield 5, Madison 3
Girls: Morristown-Beard 7, Rye Day (N.Y.) 0
E-mail Mike Gurnis at michaelgurnis@gmail.com
The Morris-Sussex Hockey Report 