Author Archives: mikegurnis

47TH MENNEN CUP FINAL 1-Morris Knolls-Hills (13-6-1) vs. 3-Morristown-Beard (12-11-1)Monday, 7 p.m. at Mennen Arena Previous meetings: The teams split the season series this season, with each game being lopsided. Morris Knolls-Hills took the first meeting on Dec. 3, 7-1, before Morristown-Beard picked up a 9-4 win on Jan. 10. CUP HISTORYMorristown-Beard– 13-time Mennen CupContinue reading “Preview of the 47th Mennen Cup final: Morris Knolls-Hills vs. Morristown-Beard”

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12 IndependentWest Morris vs. Livingston at Codey Arena, 5:45 p.m.

By Mike Gurnis Morristown’s top line of Francis Zaklukiewicz, Jack McKenna, and Liam Wilson has been working to rebuild its chemistry after McKenna made his return to the lineup recently after missing roughly a month-and-a-half of action. On Friday night in the team’s biggest game of the season thus far, that trio was at theContinue reading “Feb. 11 Cup semifinals: Morristown’s top line shines, Bernards rolls”

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11 Halvorsen Cup semifinal1-Morristown vs. 4-KJS United at Mennen Arena, 5:45 p.m. Charette Cup semifinal1-Bernards-Somerville-Middlesex vs. 4-Morris Catholic-St. Elizabeth at Mennen Arena, 7:45 p.m. GirlsMorristown-Beard vs. Kent Place at Barnabas Health Hockey House, 4 p.m.Madison at Princeton Day, 4 p.m.

By Mike Gurnis What a difference a year makes. The 2020-21 season saw West Morris endure a 0-14-1 campaign, and with most of that team returning, it was reasonable to expect improvement this season. The question, of course, was how much of a jump it would make. With the additions of freshmen Ben Barnhill andContinue reading “Feb. 10 Cup semifinals: Willmott’s big night keys West Morris”

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10 Gordon Cup first round2-Delbarton vs. 7-Princeton Day at SportsCare Arena, 4 p.m. Halvorsen Cup semifinals2-Mountain Lakes-Boonton vs. 3-Mendham at Mennen Arena, 4:15 p.m. Haas Cup semifinals2-West Morris vs. 3-Vernon at Mennen Arena, 6:15 p.m. Charette Cup semifinals 2-Newton-Lenape Valley vs. 3-High Point-Wallkill Valley-Kittatinny at Mennen Arena, 8:15 p.m. Regular seasonPope John vs.Continue reading “Morris/Sussex area schedule for Thursday, Feb. 10”

By Mike Gurnis MARTINEZ’S HEROICS HELP MORRIS KNOLLS-HILLS SURVIVE IN OTMorris Knolls-Hills threw everything they could at Chatham goalie Michael Park. Park, a senior, did everything in his power to propel his team to an upset victory, turning aside 46 of 49 shots. But in the end, it was Morris Knolls-Hills sophomore Jack Martinez whoContinue reading “Cup semifinal recap, Feb. 9: Knolls-Hills survives in OT; Morristown-Beard, Mount Olive prevail”

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9 Mennen Cup semifinals2-Randolph vs. 3-Morristown-Beard at Mennen Arena, 4 p.m.1-Morris Knolls-Hills vs. 4-Chatham at Mennen Arena, 7:45 p.m. Haas Cup semifinals1-Mount Olive-Hopatcong-Hackettstown vs. 4-Park Regional at Mennen Arena, 5:45 p.m.

All four MCSSIHL Cup tournaments are slated to get underway this week, beginning with some semifinal games on Wednesday. Here’s a look at each tournament, with my predictions on how things will unfold. MENNEN CUPLast year’s champion: Morristown-Beard (back-to-back titles in 2019-20 and 2020-21)Seeds and schedule: Can be found here. Semifinals1-Morris Knolls-Hills over 4-Chatham3-Morristown-Beard overContinue reading “Predictions for all four MCSSIHL Cup tournaments”

The 23rd annual Haas Cup is set to get underway this week. The top four teams in the division standings qualify for the tournament, which will begin this week with semifinal match-ups on Wednesday and Thursday. Mountain Lakes-Boonton won the Haas Cup for the second year in a row last winter, but has since movedContinue reading “Haas Cup seeds and schedule, 2021-22”