Here is a look at all six teams in the Mennen Division, as well as two area teams- Delbarton and Pope John- which compete in the Gordon Conference.
GORDON CONFERENCE
DELBARTON
Coach: Bruce Shatel, 19th year (425-58-40)
Last year: 19-6-4, Non-Public runner-up, Gordon Cup runner-up
Key losses: Michael Balzarotti, F; James Falivene, F; James Monahan, F/D; J.P. Nolan, D; Max Williams, F.
Top returners: Jack Benitez, Jr., D; Kai Berezniak, So., F; Ray Berezniak (2 g., 10 a.), So., D; J.R. Cagnassola, Sr., F; Brendan Clark, Sr., F; Brett Cleaves (1.58 GAA, .930 sv%), Jr., G; Ben Conrod (4 g., 13 a.), Sr., F; Mark Darakjy (4 g., 9 a.), Sr., D; Armaan Rigby, Sr., D; Adam Teryek, So., F.
Newcomers to watch: Alex Bosland, D; Sam Hall, D; Trip Pendy, F; Chase Pirtle, F.
Outlook: There was no four-peat for Delbarton, as it lost to Don Bosco in the Non-Public final last year. Shatel’s team always finds a way to reload, and until proven otherwise, Delbarton should be right in the thick of things for the Gordon Cup and Non-Public title.
POPE JOHN
Coach: Ryan Brown, 13th year (168-87-32 career record)
Last year: 14-7-4, Gordon Cup quarterfinalist, NJSIAA Non-Public Round of 16
Key losses: Johnny Cielo, F; Ryan Cielo, D; Mike Quatrella, D; Matt Schoer, G; Steven Spetz, F.
Top returners: Matiss Bars (.900 sv%), So., G; Alex Blaszak (5 g., 10 a.), Sr., F; Drew Buchanon, Sr., D; Lucas Buchanan (10 g., 8 a.), So., F; Jon Meyers, Sr., F; Brady Waitze (6 g., 5 a.), Sr., F.
Newcomers to watch: Chris Abate, Jr., F; Owen Lapinski, Fr., F; Tyler Paluzzi, Fr., G; Sawyer Tantleff, Sr., D; Scott Vanderhoff, Fr., F; Jack Young, Fr., D; Brandon Young, Fr., D.
Outlook: Pope John will have a lot to replace with the graduation of perhaps the top netminder in the state in Schoer, as well as the loss of the Cielo brothers to a Prep school. It’s a younger roster with a lot of new faces- will it be up to the challenge in the Gordon-National division?
MENNEN DIVISION
CHATHAM
Coach: Brendon Herr, fifth year (53-40-7 career record)
Last year: 14-2-2, Public C runner-up, Mennen Cup semifinalist
Key losses: Jack Deletto, F; Matt Keane, F; Nate Marshall, F; Nick Meyer, D; Brian Nall, F; Colin Pierce, D; Zach Pendergrast, G; Evan Schmidt, F.
Top returners: Declan Curry, Jr., F; Will Ewald, Sr., G; Korbin Kleinle, Jr., D; Brandon Lupi, Jr., F; Danny Mahoney (3 g., 10 a.), Sr., D; Ryan Sordillo (7 g., 10 a.), Jr., F; Spencer Spagnuolo, So., D;
Newcomers to watch: Jeffrey Burke, Fr., D; Doyle Curry, Fr., D; Ronan Curry, Fr., F; Jennifer Olnowich, Sr., G.
Outlook: Chatham will have its work cut out for it after graduating a strong group which reached the Public C final two straight years. However, it’s important to keep in mind that Chatham dealt with an incredible amount of injuries last year which put younger players in a position to step up, which should serve this team well experience-wise.
MADISON
Coach: Dave Hansen, 15th year (210-122-24 career record)
Last year: 17-4-5, Mennen Cup champions, Public C quarterfinalist
Key losses: Ryan Catlin, F; Jack Downs, F; Kyle Pruzick, F; Dave Renzulli, F; Jason Siedem, F; Ian Skinner F; Jett Tom, F; Matt Ubertaccio, G.
Top returners: Jon Bear, Sr., F; Jacob Erickson (5 g., 6 a.), Sr., F; Liam Fry, Sr., D; Matty Gero (4 g., 13 a.), Jr., D; Johnny Hamwee, Jr., D; Sean Hoover, Sr., F; Matt Leone, Sr., F; Cormac McNamara (2 g., 4 a.), So., F; Aidan Niceberg (8 g., 11 a.), Jr., F; Liam O’Hearen, So., D; Alvin Rhee, Sr., F.
Newcomers to watch: Jack Hunter, Fr., F; Chris Piacenti, Fr., F; Tyler Shannon, Fr., F; Keaton Tom, Jr., G.
Outlook: Coming off its first-ever Mennen Cup title, Madison was hit hard by graduation as a strong senior class is gone, along with an elite-level player in Siedem gone to junior hockey. The Dodgers still have some talented players back and figure to be in the middle of the pack in the division.
MORRIS KNOLLS
Coach: Tim Kepler, fourth year (44-25-7 career record)
Last year: 14-9-3, Public A state champions, Mennen Cup semifinalist
Key losses: Kyle Conklin, F; Ty Franchi, G; Sean Murray, F; Joe Rabeno, D; Kieran Regen, F; Andrew Rush, G; Tikhon Ryerson, D; Robbie Singley, D; Jacob Walsh, F;
Top returners: James Betz (6 g.,4 a.), Sr., F; Derek Coleman, Sr., D; Jake Diloretto, Jr., F; Gehrig Eckoff, Jr., F; Dylan Idland, Jr., F; Timmy Kepler, Jr., D; Jason Kwestel (7 g., 18 a.), Jr., F; Jason Moskowitz, Sr., D; Andrew Ryan, Jr., F; Gavin Walsh, Sr., D.
Newcomers to watch: J.D. Florio, Jr., D; Elliot Marken, Fr., G; Jake Quinn, Jr., F; Jeffrey Quinn, Jr., F; Kyle Thornton, So., F.
Outlook: The reigning Public A state champions will have a lot of holes to fill from graduation, most notably in goal with the graduation of Franchi and Rush. Still, a strong veteran core on the blue line as well as a solid forward group led by Kwestel should still keep this program in the mix both in the division as well as Public A.
MORRISTOWN
Coach: Bobby Jones, 12th year (163-121-32 career record)
Last year: 2-16-4, lost in Mennen Cup first round
Top returners: Patrick Bozza, So., D; Stefan Brockmann (5 g., 7 a.), Jr., F; Conor Critchley (7 g., 9 a.), Sr., F; Ryan Daniolowicz, Sr., F; Kobi Day, So., D; Stephen Grimes, Jr., F; Chris Herity, Jr., F; Connor Herity, Jr., D; Nikko Inserra, Sr., D; Jack Keller (3 g., 7 a.), Jr., D; Kevin Lynch, Sr., G; Jack McKenna (4 g., 13 a.), So., F; Dylan Peck, So., G; Nick Romano, So., F; Harry Santen (4 g., 8 a.), So., F; Francis Zaklukiewicz, So., D.
Newcomers to watch: Chris DelMonte, So., F; Aedan Gray, So., D; Chris Kay, Fr., D; Jack Langan, So., D/F.
Outlook: Morristown had one of its most difficult seasons in a long time last year with a young roster. While this year’s team will be light on upperclassmen (just seven juniors/seniors), it is a talented group that seems poised to take a big step forward after a last-place finish in 2018-19.
MORRISTOWN-BEARD
Coach: Scott Greene, second year (10-13-3 career record)
Last year: 10-13-3, lost in Mennen Cup first round, reached Non-Public second round
Key losses: John Cohen, G; James Cunningham, F; Joe DePoalo, D; Dylan Dertouzos, F; Matt Dertouzos, D; Matt Karrat, F; Colin O’Connor, D; Connor Tartaglione, F.
Top returners: Ryan Brown, Sr., F; Cam Fernandez (6 g., 14 a.), Jr., F; Seth Kaplan (15 g., 18 a.), Jr., F; Andrew Low (8 g., 14 a.), So., F; Tommy Matthews (9 g., 12 a.), Sr., F; Billy Moloney (1 g., 9 a.), So., D; Tom Polaski, Sr., D; Evan Sanford (2 g., 7 a.), Sr., F; Nicholas VanTassell (11 g., 17 a.), So., F.
Newcomers to watch: Roman Berger, Fr., F; Hollis Humphries, Fr., F; Noah Jones, So., D; D.J. Layden, Sr., D; Jake Ochab, So., D; Rowan Posner, So., F.
Outlook: The 2018-19 campaign was an uncharacteristically down year for the Crimson, as it went through a transition during Greene’s first year at the helm. This year’s group figures to take a big step forward with a talented core returning led by Kaplan, VanTassell, Detre, and Moloney.
RANDOLPH
Coach: Rich McLaughlin, 27th year (437-185-64 career record)
Last year: 21-5-2, Mennen Cup runner-up and NJSIAA Public B runner-up
Key losses: Austin Cross, D.
Top returners: Kyle Barbera (15 g., 19 a.), Jr., F; Matthew Cislo (1 g., 7 a.), Jr., D; Gavin Einfeldt (1.27 GAA, .923 sv%), Sr., G; Nick Gallo, (18 g., 17 a.) Jr., F; Justin Harper (9 g., 7 a.), Sr., F; James Mattson (17g., 10 a.), Jr., F; Mike Sofia (5 g., 14 a.), Sr., D; J.T. Zangara (19 g., 30 a.), Sr., F.
Outlook: Coming off back-to-back Public B final losses, Randolph returns almost all of its lineup from a year ago and figures to be as strong and deep as ever. The Rams should be the favorite for both the Mennen Cup and Public B titles once again.
