Author Archives: mikegurnis

MORRISTOWN-BEARD CRIMSON Head coach: Bruce Driver, 21st season. 303-78-19 career record. Division: Morristown-Beard normally competes in the WIHLMA (Women’s Interscholastic Hockey League of the Mid-Atlantic) which includes teams from Pennsylvania and New York, but with interstate competition shelved due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the league has taken a one-year pause. In its place, it willContinue reading “Morristown-Beard girls 2021 preview: Reigning champs look to continue tradition”

PARK REGIONAL (Whippany Park/Hanover Park co-op) Head coach: Tom Levis, 26th season. 285 career wins which include seven Haas Cup titles. Division: Haas Last year: Park Regional had an outstanding regular season in 2019-20, in which it finished with a 17-3-4 record. It rode an 18-game unbeaten streak to take the Haas Division regular seasonContinue reading “Park Regional 2021 preview: Trio of DePinto, Karpinski, Schauder to lead the way”

CHATHAM COUGARS Head coach: Kevin Hannon, fifth season Last year: Chatham finished with a 7-9 0verall record, with close losses to Princeton Day, Morristown-Beard, and Kent Place. It qualified for the first-ever girls state tournament, where it topped Madison, 5-1 in the first round before being eliminated by Trinity Hall in the quarterfinals. Key losses:Continue reading “Chatham girls ice hockey 2021 preview”

MORRIS KNOLLS-HILLS Head coach: Tim Kepler, fifth year. 62-31-10 career record. Division: Mennen Last year: Morris Knolls-Hills claimed its second-consecutive Public A state title and fourth in Morris Knolls program history, as it edged Montclair, 3-2 in overtime at Prudential Center. It finished with an 18-6-3 overall record and won 10 of its final 11Continue reading “Morris Knolls-Hills 2021 preview: Strong core with championship pedigree returns”

MADISON DODGERS Head coach: Joe Cecala takes over as Madison’s head man after an extremely successful 16-year tenure by Dave Hansen, which included over 200 wins and Haas, Halvorsen, and Mennen Cup titles. Cecala has been an assistant under Hansen since 2011. Division: Halvorsen Last year: Madison took a step back one year after winningContinue reading “Madison 2021 preview: New coach, high hopes in Halvorsen Division”

MORRISTOWN-BEARD CRIMSON Head coach: Scott Greene, third season. 30-18-4 career record. Division: Mennen Last year: The Crimson experienced a resurgence last season after a below .500 year in 2018-19. It featured one of the top offenses around and rode that to a 20-5-1 record after starting the year 0-2. It claimed the Mennen Division titleContinue reading “2021 season preview: Experienced Morristown-Beard ready for another big year”

This week, the USHL Phase I and II Draft was held, with Phase I for “futures” players on Monday, followed by Phase II for all junior hockey age-eligible players that have not been protected by a USHL team on Tuesday. The overall draft process saw two players from Morris County get selected. Morristown-Beard sophomore NickContinue reading “Two Morris County players selected in USHL Draft”

Alex Laferriere, who was a standout during Chatham’s run to the Public C final in the 2017-18 season, made the NHL’s final Central Scouting rankings which were released on Wednesday. The 18-year old Harvard commit was ranked 61st among North American skaters in the final scouting list leading up to the 2020 NHL Draft. WhileContinue reading “Chatham’s Laferriere listed on final NHL Central Scouting rankings for 2020 Draft”