On March 2, the boys hockey team fell to Middletown North, 3-1, ending a successful season. The defending Group 4 State Champions finished with an 18-4 record, but were unable to reclaim the state title. Despite the outcome, the team persevered with an impressive record and numerous comeback wins while maintaining an unbreakable team bond.
With the loss of key seniors from last season, the Blue Devils knew there would be an adjustment period. Senior assistant captain and goalie Troy Conover said, “We knew we had lost a lot of firepower on offense after the grade above us had graduated, so this season meant we had to get gritty and outplay teams physically, which became our new style of play.” Conover added that the team was tested both physically and mentally as they aimed to defend their state championship. “This season was supposed to be our back-to-back year to win a state championship, and the entire year, we had very high expectations, which put some pressure on us.”
However, head coach Joseph Bertucci said he doesn’t like to compare seasons “because every year is a new challenge with different goals and obstacles.” Bertucci said he is proud of the players’ effort this season, despite the pressure to win the state title again.
Coming off their 21-4 championship season last year, the Blue Devils began this season with four straight wins, only letting up to Bridgewater-Raritan 4-1 on Dec. 23. After that, they won the Mike Reynolds King of the Hill Tournament on New Year’s Eve. Conover said it was “an amazing experience since we were playing on a scenic outdoor rink and beat a very good opponent, Randolph.”
Bertucci echoed Conover. “We are extremely proud of winning the King of the Hill tournament against some top teams in the state.” That momentum continued throughout January, as the Blue Devils won six more consecutive games, including the Union County Tournament. Senior co-captain Andrew Lisnock said it was one of the most memorable moments of the season for him. Lisnock won the Union County Tournament MVP and had a hat trick in the county final against Governor Livingston. Conover said, “The atmosphere is so fun to play in, and winning in front of all your friends is a great feeling.”
After that confidence-boosting win in late January in counties, the team fell to Delbarton 7-0, the No. 1 ranked team in the state. Bertucci said, “We faced a challenging schedule. We had eight games against top 20 teams.” After that loss, they won four consecutive games and had momentum as they advanced to the McInnis Cup final against Livingston. Going into the game, the Blue Devils had confidence as they had beaten the Lancers twice already, including a huge comeback game on Jan. 30. Lisnock noted this as his most memorable moment of the season, as they had a third-period surge to come back after being down 2-0 for the first two periods and winning 4-2.
Despite that exciting win against the Lancers in January, Westfield could not seal the deal and lost 3-2 in the McInnis Cup finals on Feb. 18. This stung, especially since the Blue Devils won the cup the past two seasons.
The team flew through the first round of the state tournament, and mercy ruled Cranford 10-0. They then defeated Rumson-Fair Haven in the state quarterfinal round, 6-1. Their goal of defending their state title was within reach. However, the expectations and pressure got to them, and they could not beat Middletown North in the semifinal round, losing 3-1.
Lisnock said, “When we lost, it hit us hard,” citing the team’s closeness off the ice. Conover agreed, “We are a very tight-knit group off the ice, and we are the kind of team that feels like a friend group when we’re hanging out together.” Bertucci said he emphasizes this off-ice bond as a pillar of the program’s success. “A goal going into next season is to continue to promote and strengthen our team bond, a culture we are extremely proud of.”
Lisnock said this season meant a lot for the program. “It really shows the younger players that not everything is a given, and you need to work for every championship you win. I feel like a lot of people thought that because we won it all last year that it was going to be given to us.”
Despite the upsetting outcome, the team remained resilient and strong because of their camaraderie and trust. Bertucci said, “We have established our team as a state perennial powerhouse and continue to get better. We are hoping to build off this success and learn from some meaningful games to continue our success.”
Bertucci is confident going into next season. He said, “After wrapping up the season with our exit meetings, I am positive we are going to work hard this offseason to be the team that will continue the success of Westfield hockey.”
