Top-seeded Kinnelon-Jefferson-Sparta put together a business-like effort in a 5-2 win over fourth-seeded Madison in the Halvorsen Cup semifinals at Mennen Arena.
Led by a two-goal, one-assist performance from Joey Kopec, KJS booked its spot in the Halvorsen Cup for the second-straight year. It will face third-seeded Mendham in the championship game on Thursday, Feb. 15 at 5 p.m. at Mennen Arena.
The program will go for its first title as a tri-op, and first for any of the schools involved since Kinnelon won the Halvorsen Cup in the 2018-19 season. It lost, 5-1, to Mount Olive-Hopatcong-Hackettstown in last year’s title game.
Madison’s Sam Gero gave his team the lead early in the first period, and it was a slow start for KJS. But Kopec found the back of the net before the end of the period, and it started to take control of the game when Kopec set up Adam Stefancik early in the second. Just a few minutes later, it was Kopec who found the back of the net again. In the final minute of the period, Braydon Sisco put home a power play goal to give his team a commanding three-goal advantage.
Gero struck again early in the third to cut it to two. The Dodgers had a couple of breakaway opportunities, but all were denied by KJS goalie Rylan Gibbons, who stopped 28 of 30 shots.
Michael Pandiscia sealed it with an empty-net goal in the final seconds.
KJS United improved to 14-3 overall on the season, while Madison fell to 7-11.
All eyes now turn to next Thursday’s final between KJS and Mendham, where the teams will meet for the third time in under two weeks. They met last Thursday and Friday in a back-to-back, with KJS winning by scores of 5-3 and 5-1, respectively.
E-mail Mike Gurnis at michaelgurnis@gmail.com
Morris-Sussex Hockey Report 