By Mike Gurnis
The West Morris train keeps rolling.
In the entire MCSSIHL, only Randolph- considered one of the top public school teams in the state- has scored more goals than the Wolfpack. It has averaged over six goals per game en route to a 9-1-1 start, which is the team’s best start since 2010-11.
Its only loss was to Chatham, of the Mennen Division, last week. Aside from Chatham, only one team has managed to contain the Wolfpack’s high-powered and deep offense, when Gill St. Bernard’s played to a 1-1 tie with the Wolfpack just nine days ago.
After just scoring one goal on 41 shots against Gill St. Bernard’s goalie Luc Jansson in the first game, the squad was determined to break through this time around. The seemingly overwhelming depth and skill of West Morris shined through, as it scored five goals in the second period to blow it wide open en route to an impressive 8-0 win over Gill St. Bernard’s at Mennen Arena.
The win firmly put West Morris, the two-time reigning Haas Cup champions, in the drivers seat for the top seed with a 5-0-1 divisional record. It holds a two-point advantage with a game in hand on Gill St. Bernard’s (4-2-1 divisonal record), with four games remaining.
“The top seed was definitely one of our objectives when we started out the season,” West Morris coach Phil Togno said. “We just want to make sure that we keep playing our best hockey. We’re really trying to promote a development mindset and be better today than we were yesterday, and be better tomorrow than we are today. The kids seem to buy into that. So, hopefully, we peak somewhere in March. If we can win a division, it would be the first time since 2014 that West Morris has won a division. It’s really big for this senior class to try to accomplish that goal.”
Freshman Rhone Armijo recorded his first career hat trick in the win, as he broke open the scoring 30 seconds into the second period to give his team the edge. The floodgates opened from there, with Ben Barnhill scoring on the power play 2:40 later, and then Michael Ferry put home a rebound 27 seconds after Barnhill’s goal.
In total, five different players found the back of the net for the Wolfpack, and nine ended up on the scoresheet altogether. This is a team with three players in double-digits in goals (Rhone Armijo, Ben Barnhill, and Zach Knopf), and six players who have 10 or more points. It was able to overwhelm a Gill St. Bernard’s squad which only had 12 skaters available to begin with- and was without the team’s top scorer in Julian Tramontano.
“I think especially since the state has compressed the schedule, having depth is a true blessing,” Togno said. “We try to incorporate that depth into the game in making sure that we can play at a certain speed. To have three lines that can really move the puck and be dangerous, is really tough for other teams to go against. We have depth on the blue line and certainly up front. It’s a luxury to have, and we’re going to need that depth to accomplish our goals.”
Armijo’s arrival this season has been a big part of West Morris’ success, as he has used his size and speed to create chances for him and his teammates throughout the year. He’s added another offensive threat to a team which already had plenty of them going into the year.
“Except for his wisecracks when he breaks my chops on the bench,” Togno said of Armijo with a laugh. “As a freshman, that’s a little unheard of. That normally happens your senior year. But the kid is like a sponge. He really takes the game seriously, takes his game seriously, and takes his development seriously. He’s always asking questions on the ways he can improve his game. Last night at practice, we worked on some lateral things where he can move laterally across the ice and generate that speed that he has. He was doing that tonight and he was able to pot a couple of goals just by moving east to west across the ice.
“He’s a coachable kid, and when he gets feedback, he utilizes it immediately. He’s a real special player and he’s fun to have.”
What shouldn’t get lost in the talk of all the offensive and defensive depth West Morris has, has been the play of freshman goalie Michael Treiber.
He had the difficult task of stepping in after the graduation of Phil Togno from the last four years, and has been rock-solid for his team this year. In eight starts, he already has four shutouts- including Saturday night’s game.
“It means a lot,” Treiber said of the win. “Gill St. Bernard’s is probably the best team (in our division). Getting this win, 8-0, shows how we are. It shows that we can beat teams like Gill and just go from there.”
He has bounced back from an admittedly tough opening performance against Montville, in which he gave up six goals in a 9-6 win. But he feels he really found his confidence in the team’s third game of the year, when he earned his first career shutout with a 16-save performance in a 6-0 win over Park Regional.
“It was tough at first,” Treiber said. “My first game against Montville wasn’t the greatest performance. I was kind of nervous. But coming in against these higher, senior-level players, I definitely got more adjusted. The game against Park (was important). I feel like I faced quality shots and got my first shutout in that game. That’s where I got most of my confidence back.”
Togno added of Treiber, “I can’t say enough about that kid. Goaltending, coming into the season, was a big question mark. To have him come in, and play the way he has played, it’s really calming for the players in front of him. Any time he’s in the pipes, he always gives us a chance to win. It’s just great having him in the net. He’s just a calming presence in the ice and in the locker room. Goalies are born and not made, that’s for sure.”
SCORING SUMMARY
First period
No scoring.
Second period
WMC — Rhone Armijo (Nick Dargel) 14:30
WMC — Ben Barnhill (Zach Knopf, Tommy Togno) 11:50 PPG
WMC — Michael Ferry (Tyler Hill, Karl Alstede) 11:23
WMC — Shiva Kutikat 6:12
WMC — Tommy Togno (Karl Alstede) 1:00
Third period
WMC — Rhone Armijo (Jake Salamone, Zach Knopf) 13:31 PPG
WMC — Ben Barnhill (Zach Knopf) 2:53 SHG
WMC — Rhone Armijo (Tommy Togno) 1:54
Shots on goal: West Morris 30, Gill St. Bernard’s 18
Saves: Michael Treiber (West Morris) 18, Luc Jansson (GSB) 22
Morris-Sussex Hockey Report 