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Hockey: Final North Jersey Top 15 rankings for the 2022-23 season

robert aitken jr., northjersey.com
·6 min read

The dust has settled on the hockey season in North Jersey.

While there were no boys state champions from the area, two state finals appearances and a number of strong showings highlighted the postseason.

As we wrap up the latest hockey season, here's a final look at the best teams in Bergen, Passaic, Morris, Sussex and Essex counties.

15. KJS United (14-6-1)

The tri-op of Kinnelon, Jefferson and Sparta turned heads this season and reached the Halvorsen Cup final. But the tri-op fell in the first round of the Public C tournament to Toms River South-Toms River East on Feb. 21. Anthony Prunty nearly tripled his point production in his junior season with 22 goals and 11 assists, and junior goalie Rylan Gibbons allowed only 33 goals in 19 starts.

Wayne Valley/Wayne Hills vs. Passaic Tech in the Passaic County Hockey Tournament final on Thursday, January 19, 2023. PT #15 Mason Katz and #79 Carter Bernice celebrate defeating WV/WH.
Wayne Valley/Wayne Hills vs. Passaic Tech in the Passaic County Hockey Tournament final on Thursday, January 19, 2023. PT #15 Mason Katz and #79 Carter Bernice celebrate defeating WV/WH.

14. Passaic Tech (12-10-3)

The Passaic County champions took big steps in Year 4, reaching the Big North Gold Cup semifinals. The postseason ended prematurely with a first round exit to Princeton in Public A on Feb. 23. Passaic Tech remains young with a strong sophomore class, including leading scorer John Kensicki and dueling goalies Jack Bernice and Mason Katz.

13. Ridgewood (14-9-1)

Following quarterfinal exits in the county tournament and the Big North Gold Cup, the Maroons exited the Public A tournament in the quarterfinals against top seed Westfield on Feb. 27. Sophomore goalie Jack Scali compiled 668 saves, a .937 save percentage and three shutouts. Freshman AJ LoSauro appears to be a scoring option to fill the loss of the graduating Carson Kopff.

12. Morris Knolls-Morris Hills (11-6-6)

The Golden Eagles endured a tough Mennen division and hoped to return to the state finals in Public C. But they couldn't get past Verona-Glen Ridge in the quarterfinals on Feb. 26, falling in a shootout. Junior Luke Dickerson and sophomore Jake McCloud provided a strong 1-2 punch offensively, but losing goalie Aidan Marvin and his .920 save percentage to graduation will hurt.

11. Verona-Glen Ridge (10-10-3)

A rough stretch in the McInnis division made VGR stronger for playoff time. Senior forward Rowan Brennan and senior goalie Eli Gottlieb were difference-makers in the run to the semifinals in Public C before falling to eventual champion Governor Livingston-New Providence on March 1. VGR loses a lot of important senior leadership that made them cup champions and state title contenders in recent years.

10. West Essex-Caldwell (15-7-2)

The Knights were a popular pick in Public C, entering as the No. 2 seed, but they ran into a hot Pascack Valley-Pascack Hills team on Feb. 27 and went home early. The 18 goals and 27 assists by senior Clayton Prial will be hard to replace next season, but impactful sophomores like forward Patrick Devaney and goalie Evan Zieminski will keep the Knights in contention.

9. Bergen Catholic (9-14-1)

After a 1-5 start, many were ready to write off the Crusaders. But Bergen Catholic reached the Bergen County finals and the Gordon Cup semifinals to become a trendy darkhorse pick in the Non-Public bracket. Instead, the Crusaders were stunned by Pingry in the first round on Feb. 23. Losing Ryan Henry in goal will be difficult, but a young group took a lot of steps forward this season.

8. Pascack Valley-Pascack Hills (17-7-1)

After losing in the preliminary round last year, the Panthers reached the Public C semifinals. Senior Aidan Rybacki played great down the stretch and finished his senior season with 818 saves. The Panthers appear to be on the rise as none of the team's 116 goals this season were scored by a graduating senior.

7. Randolph (14-4-4)

It was a memorable year for the Rams, who lost only four games, with three of them coming at the expense of teams that reached at least the semifinals in Public B. Randolph's season ended with a quarterfinal loss to Ramapo on Feb. 27. The Rams bring back a majority of their team next year, including 17 goals and 21 assists from sophomore Jase Zangara.

6. Ramapo (16-8-3)

The Raiders were three minutes away from taking eventual Public B champion Middletown North to overtime in the semifinals on March 1. Instead, the Lions scored the game winner and moved on. Ramapo said farewell to an iconic trio of seniors in Danny Mauriber, Jake Rosolanko and Braeden Guiterman. The three combined for 149 points this season and had career totals of 171 goals and 211 assists.

5. Livingston (14-6-4)

For the second straight season, the Lancers fell victim to Ridge in the Public A state playoffs. In a rematch of last year's state final, Livingston's season ended with a 3-1 loss in the semifinals on March 2. Forward Dillon Schultz will be a hard player to replace but a core that includes junior Zach Silve and sophomore Egor Tarasyuk will keep the Lancers in title contention moving forward.

4. Northern Highlands (21-2-1)

The Highlanders were on top of public hockey in New Jersey, until Chatham dethroned them in the Public B semifinals on March 1. Northern Highlands will return one of the state's best goalies in Daniel Moor, who will be a senior next season, as well as sophomore Brent Beswick (27 goals, 31 assists).

Chatham's Doyle Curry (4) takes a shot on Middletown North's goal during the NJSIAA state ice hockey Public B championship at the Prudential Center in Newark on Monday, March 6, 2023.
Chatham's Doyle Curry (4) takes a shot on Middletown North's goal during the NJSIAA state ice hockey Public B championship at the Prudential Center in Newark on Monday, March 6, 2023.

3. Chatham (16-4-5)

The Cougars erased a four-decade drought and brought home the Mennen Cup, the reached the Public B final as the No. 4 seed. Ronan and Doyle Curry each scored in a 3-2 loss to Middletown North on Monday in the state final at Prudential Center. Chatham nearly won it all despite losing star sophomore Nikita Konevych in the playoffs due to suspension.

2. Don Bosco (17-7-1)

Don Bosco fell one goal shy of a trip to Prudential Center, but fell victim to eventual Non-Public champion St. Augustine on March 2. The Bergen County tournament champions will return a strong junior class next season and saw sophomore Matthew Shpungin (13 goals, 19 assists) break through.

1. Delbarton (21-3-1)

The Green Wave spent the entire season as the No. 1 hockey team in North Jersey. Delbarton led twice during the Non-Public state final on Monday night at Prudential Center, but couldn't put St. Augustine away and lost seconds into overtime. Delbarton said farewell to an incredible senior class, including goalie Jason Kai and leading scorer Duncan Stewart (24 goals).

Also considered: Glen Rock (7-10-5), Mahwah (12-10-1), Morristown Beard (10-13)

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NJ hockey: Final North Jersey rankings for 2022-23 season