Author Archives: mikegurnis

HIGH POINT-WALLKILL VALLEY-KITTATINNY Head coach: Mike Beltran, 18th year (139-203-23 career record). Division: Charette Last year: High Point-Wallkill Valley had a solid season in 2020-21, as it finished 6-5-1 overall with a 5-2-1 record in the Charette Division. It fell to eventual Charette Cup champion Bernards-Somerville-Middlesex in the semifinals, 5-1. Key losses: Devin Haines, D;Continue reading “High Point-Wallkill Valley-Kittatinny 2021-22 preview: Addition of Kittatinny helps program’s depth”

WEST MORRIS WOLFPACK Head coach: Phil Togno, fifth year (31-66-9 record) Division: Haas Last year: West Morris finished 0-14-1, and lost to Mountain Lakes-Boonton 5-2 in the Haas Cup semifinals. Key losses: Andrew Spina, F; Lucas Garrido, F. Top returners: Dylan Babb, F, Jr.; Paul Bietka, F, Sr.; Jake Calhoun, F, Jr.; Ben Cappan, F,Continue reading “West Morris 2021-22 preview: Wolfpack look to bounce back from winless year”

MORRISTOWN-BEARD CRIMSON Head coach: Bruce Driver, 21st year (309-78-19 career record). Division: NJIGHL and WIHLMA Last year: In limited action, Morristown-Beard was dominant in 2020-21, as it finished with a perfect 6-0 record. It reached the NJIGHL Cup final, but the game was not played due to COVID-19 issues so it was declared co-champions withContinue reading “Morristown-Beard 2021-22 girls preview: Crimson reload for run at multiple titles”

MOUNT OLIVE-HOPATCONG-HACKETTSTOWN Head coach: Ryan Tatarka, first year. Division: Haas Last year: Mount Olive-Hopatcong-Hackettstown had a strong 2020-21 season, in which it reached the Haas Cup final where it dropped a heartbreaker in overtime to Mountain Lakes-Boonton, 3-2. It finished 7-4-1 overall with a 5-3-1 divisional record. Key losses: Jason Bonante, D; Dante Duteau, G;Continue reading “Mount Olive-Hopatcong-Hackettstown 2021-22 preview: Cioce brothers lead strong group”

ROXBURY GAELS Head coach: Jon Benbow, 18th year (206-165-39 career record). Division: Halvorsen Last year: Roxbury finished 7-7 overall with a 3-5 record in the Halvorsen Division. It reached the Halvorsen Cup final, where it lost, 5-0 to Madison. Key losses: Ryan Callahan, G; Randy Depalma, F; Kyle Jenkins, D; Jake Kooyenga, F; Nick Thomas,Continue reading “Roxbury 2021-22 preview: Defensemen key for young roster”

PARSIPPANY REGIONAL (Co-op of Parsippany Hills and Parsippany) Head coach: Anthony Egidio, sixth year Division: Charette Last year: Parsippany Regional went through a difficult 2020-21 season, finishing with an 0-11 record. Top returners: Kyle Kirk, D, So.; Giovanni Nigro, G, Jr.; Anthony Santangelo, F, Sr.; David Zilinskis, D, Sr. Newcomers: Billy Edwards, F, Fr.; NicholasContinue reading “Parsippany 2021-22 preview: Looking to bounce back after winless season”

MENDHAM MINUTEMEN Head coach: John Kovacs, 25th year (384-327-59 career record between Morris Knolls and Mendham) Division: Halvorsen Last year: Mendham finished 4-3-2, with a 4-2-2 record in the Halvorsen Division. It had won three of its final four games heading into the Halvorsen Cup, but unfortunately the program had to drop out of theContinue reading “Mendham 2021-22 preview: Loaded with experience, Minutemen look to reclaim Halvorsen Cup”

MOUNTAIN LAKES-BOONTON Head coach: Clint McDonough, fifth year (42-27-11 career record). Division: Halvorsen Last year: Mountain Lakes-Boonton claimed its second-straight Haas Cup, as it defeated Mount Olive-Hopatcong-Hackettstown 3-2 in overtime in the final. It finished with an 11-2 overall record, with a perfect 9-0 mark in the Haas Division. Key losses: Emre Andican, F; FinnContinue reading “Mountain Lakes-Boonton 2021-22 preview: Strong senior class key for Lakers”

POPE JOHN LIONS Head coach: Ryan Brown, 15th season (176-110-35 career record) Division: Gordon Conference Last year: Pope John finished 2-5-2 in a shortened season. It did not qualify for the Gordon Cup. Key losses: Lucas Buchanan, F (transferred to Trinity Pawling) Top returners: Matt Hughes, F, So.; Emporio Ienciu, F, Jr.; Jack Kelmer, D,Continue reading “Pope John 2021-22 preview: Lions hope experience pays off in challenging Gordon”

MORRIS KNOLLS-HILLS Head coach: Tim Kepler, sixth year (68-37-11 career record) Division: Mennen Last year: Morris Knolls-Hills finished 6-6-1 with a 3-3-1 Mennen Division record. It topped Randolph, 4-1 in the Mennen Cup semifinals, before falling to Morristown-Beard 3-1 in the final. Key losses: Gehrig Eckoff, F; J.D. Florio, D; Timmy Kepler, D; Jason Kwestel,Continue reading “Morris Knolls-Hills 2021-22 preview: Heavy turnover for back-to-back state champions”