MONTVILLE MUSTANGS
Head coach: Anthony Iannone, fourth season (26-33-3 career record)
Division: MCSSIHL- Halvorsen
Last year: Montville went through an up-and-down 2023-24 season, finishing with a 10-10 mark. It fell, 5-1 to eventual Haas Cup champion Gill St. Bernard’s in the Haas Cup semifinals, before losing, 6-3 to Roxbury in the NJSIAA North, Public Play-in round.
Key losses: Montville only graduated three seniors from last year’s team, but they were extremely impactful seniors. Forward Matthew Trifari, the team’s top scorer (27 g., 22 a.) and a First Team All-Haas selection, graduated. It also lost its three-year starter in goal in Alexis Riley (.855 sv%, Second Team All-Haas), and forward Michael Maly (4 g., 7 a.). Additionally, it lost defenseman Aidan Stepien (9 g., 8 a.), who would have been a junior this year, as he transferred to South Kent School, a prep school in Connecticut.
Forwards: The loss of Trifari, who was the engine that drove this Montville offense over the last few years, will be a big one. But, it does have some talented players returning that will look to step up and make up for the loss of his production. Senior Logan Engle (15 g., 23 a.) and junior Cole Riley (18 g., 16 a.) are two players that this team will rely on heavily. Also look for seniors Nicolas Ponikowski, Ryan Wortman, Kaden Clifton, and Paul Kounouklos to contribute. Freshmen Anthony Wegorowski, Justin Martinez, and Ari Robbins will all be stepping into the lineup this year as well.
Defense: The Mustangs will rely on seniors Marco Van De Graaf (2 g., 5 a.) and Connor Howard (1 g., 3 a.) to lead the blue line. Sophomores C.J. Corino and Alex Ponikowski will also be counted on, and look for Wegorowski to see some time on the blue line as well.
Goaltending: Following three stellar years from Alexis Riley in goal, it will be a tough act to follow. But Iannone has high hopes for junior Dylan Hunter to have a breakout year in goal, after posting an .870 save percentage in limited action last year.
Outlook: In the new-look Halvorsen Division, which consists of five teams like Montville which were in the Haas last year, Montville has the makings of a team that should be right in the mix for a Halvorsen Cup playoff spot. While the losses of Trifari, Riley, and Stepien are all major voids to fill, the team will rely on what Iannone says is the largest senior class in his four seasons with the Mustangs. That leadership, combined with continued improvement from the team as a whole, will be vital this season. Another important factor will be the incoming freshmen class. If the trio of freshmen coming in can produce off the bat, Montville should be poised to take a big step this season after a 10-10 campaign last winter.
E-mail Mike Gurnis at michaelgurnis@gmail.com
Morris-Sussex Hockey Report 