These North Jersey hockey teams brought home conference cup titles
Conference championship cups were awarded around the state this week as regular seasons were completed and tournaments decided the last team standing in each conference.
In total, 11 North Jersey teams in boys and girls hockey ended up lifting trophies this week in the last tuneups before the state tournament. Some defending champions prevailed while other programs ended long title droughts. Check out each champion from the area and a glimpse on their road to a title.
Montville - Charette Cup
Following a 2-19-1 season last year, the Mustangs moved down to the Charette division and turned around their fortunes.
Montville went undefeated in the Charette during the regular season to earn the top seed, then defeated Morris Catholic, 8-2, in the semifinals and rolled past Newton/Lenape Valley in the final, 8-3. Matthew Trifari netted five goals in the tournament final, including a natural hat trick in the second period to break a 3-3 tie.
It is the first cup championship for Montville since winning the Haas Cup in 2018.
West Morris - Haas Cup
The Wolfpack won one of the most chaotic cup brackets in the Garden State.
Every game in the Haas Cup went to overtime, including the two involving West Morris. The Wolfpack needed a shootout in order to get past Roxbury, 4-3, on Feb. 7. Six days later, Michael Ferry was the hero in a 3-2 overtime win over Park Regional.
The victory gives the Wolfpack the Haas Cup for the second straight season.
Mount Olive/Hopatcong/Hackettstown - Halvorsen Cup
The tri-op often referred to as MoHoHa appeared in consecutive Haas Cup finals, but was turned aside both times.
But after moving up to the Halvorsen Division and drawing the second seed, MoHoHa beat Mendham in the cup semifinals and took on KJS United in the cup final. On the strength of Frank Diloreto's hat trick, MoHoHa finally hoisted its cup with a 5-1 win on Feb. 14.
It's the first cup for MoHoHa since winning the Haas Cup in 2014, prior to Hackettstown joining the program.
West Orange - McMullen Cup
The Mountaineers enjoyed success in the McMullen division, earning the No. 2 seed in the cup bracket. A 3-2 semifinal win over Millburn pushed West Orange into the final to face top seed Scotch Plains-Fanwood. Dominic Locriccio's goal late in the third period broke a 2-2 tie, giving West Orange a 3-2 title victory on Feb. 15.
It's the first hockey cup title for West Orange since the program won the Kelly Cup back in 2004.
Chatham - Mennen Cup
Perhaps the most surprising turnaround in the state this season was the rise of the Cougars, who won seven total games in the past two seasons.
Chatham won 11 regular-season games heading into the Mennen Cup before fending off Morris Knolls/Morris Hills, 4-3, in the semifinals. Sophomore Matt Nacinavich became the hero with two goals, including the game-winner in a 2-1 overtime win over Randolph in the final.
It's the first Mennen Cup for Chatham since 1981 and the first cup of any kind for the program since Chatham Borough and Chatham Township high schools combined in 1988.
READ MORE:With fast start and new addition, Chatham hockey appears to be back to championship form
IHA - Cohen Cup
The rise of girls ice hockey in New Jersey has grown to the point that two postseason cups have been established. The Blue Eagles of IHA made history on Feb. 15, winning the first-ever Cohen Cup championship. IHA was the No. 2 seed of the bracket and beat Princeton, 10-0 in two periods, during the quarterfinals.
Following a 9-5 win over Chatham in the semifinals on Feb. 13, IHA won the inaugural final with a 5-2 win over Kent Place. Gabriella Capano had two goals in the final to make history.
Montclair Kimberley - Kelly Cup
The Cougars entered the Kelly Cup playoffs as the No. 2 seed and have rolled to a championship crown, winning three rounds by a combined score of 21-3. The latest of those three games was a 6-1 win in the final over Oratory Prep on Feb. 16 at Codey Arena.
Sophomore Nicholas Sykora, son of former Devils great Petr Sykora, was the catalyst in the final with a power play and a shorthanded goal in the second period to build a 3-1 lead after two periods. It was the first cup of any kind for MKA since winning the McInnis Cup in the 2014-2015 season and the first time winning the Kelly Cup since 2002.
Morristown Beard - Librera Cup
Firsts in the state involving girls ice hockey often involve the Crimson. It was no different on Feb. 16 as Morristown Beard faced Pingry in the finals of the first-ever Librera Cup, the top tier postseason cup for girls ice hockey teams. Morristown Beard trailed two different times in the final as Pingry hoped to make history of their own. However, the Crimson erased both leads and took their only lead of the night on a Kailin Kane third period goal in a 3-2 win.
Morristown Beard is the top overall seed in the girls state bracket and hope to finish this season as the first three-time state champion in the sport. The Crimson are coached by former Devils captain Bruce Driver.
Delbarton - Gordon Cup
The Green Wave have stood atop hockey rankings all season long with the hope they'd endure. Delbarton entered the Gordon Cup as the top seed and clashed with Christian Brothers Academy in the tournament final. A strong first period was able to hold up for Delbarton in a 4-2 win on Feb. 16 at Codey Arena.
Trip Pendy started quickly with a goal 29 seconds into the first period to put Delbarton in a lead they'd never lose. Pendy would score on a power play goal in the third period to cap the scoring and deliver the first Gordon Cup title to the Green Wave since the 2017-2018 season. It's a good omen for Delbarton: the last time they won the Gordon Cup was also the last time they finished the year as state champions.
Lakeland/Hawthorne/Waldwick - Big North Silver Cup
Goals can be scored in bunches when Lakeland is involved but nobody could have predicted the wild ending of the Big North Silber Cup final on Feb. 17. It was a pretty tame 1-1 score after two periods in the finals against Clifton/Passaic Valley/Cedar Grove before the teams combined for nine goals scored in the final 15 minutes.
Goals by Charlie Wogisch and Brian Cole in the opening two minutes of the period gave Lakeland a 3-1 lead, but that lead would later be erased and things would be tied at four with less than four minutes to go. Wogisch and Tristan Davison would score seven seconds apart to give them a 6-4 lead with 3:25 to go. A Clifton goal late would make it closer, but Lakeland held on for a wild 6-5 win and their first cup title since being named co-champions of the Hoerner Cup in 2002.
Northern Highlands - Big North Gold Cup
The question has been posed all season long: is there a public school in New Jersey that can solve Northern Highlands. For most of the Big North Gold Cup final on Feb. 17, it looked like Ramapo had finally figured out the recipe to get it done. In the end, the defending state champions did just enough to defend its Big North Gold Cup crown.
Northern Highlands built a 2-0 lead into the second period before goals by Jake Rosolanko and Danny Mauriber pulled Ramapo back to a 2-2 tie after two periods. Things remained tied until Cooper Snee's goal with 5:43 to go put the Raiders up a goal. Will Brown answered back with a goal to tie things again and JT Gandara's goal with 1:46 left in regulation was enough for the Highlanders to escape with a 4-3 win in the Big North Gold Cup final.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NJ hockey: These North Jersey teams won conference cup titles
