by Boscohockey | Dec 27, 2017
Article courtesy of Greg Tartaglia (Northjersey.com): http://www.northjersey.com/story/sports/high-school/hockey/2017/12/22/don-bosco-defeats-hockey-rival-stay-unbeaten/977709001/
WAYNE – Even when shorthanded, the Don Bosco hockey team seems not to be at too great a disadvantage.
The Ironmen scored two shorthanded goals on the same Bergen Catholic power play Friday at Ice Vault. The tallies came just 1:02 apart in the third period of a 7-2 win over the Crusaders on Rivalry Night.
On the surface, it appeared to be a rare feat.
“Not for this team,” Don Bosco coach Greg Toskos said. “We actually had three shorthanded goals against CBA on Monday.”
The victory at Christian Brothers Academy gave the Ironmen (9-0-1) a season sweep over their NJIHL Gordon Conference American Division opponent. Throw in a win at Delbarton – the school that defeated Don Bosco in last winter’s Non-Public state final – and a road sweep of Massachusetts powers Catholic Memorial and Boston College High, and their unbeaten record seems that much more impressive.
“As a team, everyone’s jelling really quickly, and you can’t ask for more than that,” said Tyler Sedlak, who had two goals and two assists versus Bergen Catholic (1-5-1).
“Everybody loves each other in the locker room, nobody has any grudges against each other, and every day – practice, game, no matter what – everybody gives it their all.”
The theme of brotherhood runs deep at Don Bosco.
Last season, the squad honored a player of the game for each contest with a helmet covered in “TK” stickers – honoring the late Army Maj. Thomas Kennedy, a former Don Bosco player who was killed in the line of duty in Afghanistan in 2012.
This winter, the postgame talisman being passed around is “Artie,” a red and gold field artillery baseball cap. It was sent to the Ironmen by Lt. Colonel John Nawoichyk, a longtime friend of Kennedy’s.
Friday, the hat went to Sedlak, one of a pair of four-point scorers along with Vermont-bound center Mickey Burns (shorthanded goal, three assists).
On a night when Don Bosco wore its “TK” camouflage jerseys, the team also dressed an extra, honorary player: 5-year-old Kai from Washington, D.C., whose father, Tyrone Woods, was a former Navy SEAL that died in the 2012 Benghazi attack.
“I know Kai had a blast, but I think it was even more fun for us to have him around,” Burns said. “He toured our school on Thursday, came to practice that night, and everyone here loved him.”
The youngster got to see the Ironmen score four times on special teams, including power-play tallies from Tsubasa Konishi and John Campomenosi. Net-minder Max Schwarz made 17 saves and was credited with an assist on Sedlak’s shorthanded goal.
The Bergen-Bosco clash will be the only one this season, since the Crusaders have moved down to the Gordon Conference National Division. They played virtually all of their American crossover games early on and notched their win and tie against division foes Gloucester Catholic and St. Peter’s Prep, respectively.
Chris Branch finished with 41 saves for Bergen Catholic, while Will Prinz and Tommy Kleinman supplied the goals.
by Boscohockey | Dec 27, 2017
The Don Bosco Prep Varsity hockey team will be facing off against the Hun School at CitiField on Wednesday, January 3rd as part of the Winter Classic Series, which includes the NHL’s primetime game on January 1st with the New York Rangers taking on the Buffalo Sabres. Puck drop is scheduled for the Ironmen at 4:30pm.
The Ironmen are set to face off against the Hun School at CitiField
by Boscohockey | Dec 6, 2017
The 2017-2018 Don Bosco Prep Ice Hockey team has enjoyed a nice start to their season, going 4-0-1 in their first 5 games of the young season, with an impressive 28 goals for and only 8 goals against.
The Ironmen started the season with a pair to back-to-back 6-1 victories against Pope John and Gloucester Catholic, respectively.
The Ironmen then traveled to Newark to take on the Pirates of Seton Hall Prep at the Prudential Center on November 29th. It was the goalies, however, who stole the spoils for any player hoping to score on the big stage, as the teams ended the game in a scoreless tie.
The sticks woke up once again for Don Bosco in the next game however, putting away Gordon Conference rival CBA 4-1 two nights later.
The aforementioned newly awakened sticks then exploded for 11 goals in a wild game vs. St. Augustine, who received a total of 8pts (2g, 6a) from their senior captain, Mickey Burns. Tyler Sedlak and Tsubasa Konishi each recorded three goals and three assists for Boys in Maroon and White.
Next up, the Ironmen hit the road to take on the Green Wave of Delbarton in a crucial Gordon Conference and Non-Public matchup at Aspen Ice Arena on December 12th at 4:45pm.
by Boscohockey | Dec 6, 2017
It were the goalies who stole the show on the big stage as the Ironmen and Seton Hall Prep Pirates fought their way to a scoreless deadlock after 45 minutes of play at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, home of the New Jersey Devils.
“It was a pretty good hockey game out there,” Bosco coach Greg Toskos said. “I thought Seton Hall came out pretty hard. We knew they were going to be a good hockey team, a much improved hockey team. We controlled a good portion of the play there. The last eight or nine minutes, we were really pressing to get that goal. Their goaltender made some really good saves and he played outstanding.
“But overall, it was a well-fought Gordon Conference game in a fantastic venue.”
The Ionmen hope to find themselves returning to the Prudential Center in the early spring, not to attend a Devil’s game, but for a shot at the state title on March 5th.
“It was a real special night,” Toskos said. “I think the kids really enjoyed it. They enjoyed everything from warming up and kicking the ball around, doing the soccer thing, to having fun. We dressed in the visitor’s locker room here which was awesome. Look, the Devils won three Stanley Cups, none of them were here but it’s still a really special place.”
Tristian Reese during the game at the Pru Center
by Boscohockey | Dec 6, 2017
The Ironmen Go Global as many alumni of the program have started or continued their professional hockey careers during the 2017-2018 season.
Rj Burns in a recent game.
RJ Burns ’11, former Captain of the Ironmen before competing at SUNY Geneseo for 3 years, is currently playing for Söderhamn/Ljusne in the Swedish Division II League. He is enjoying a good start to his season with 7 points in his first 13 games.
Craig Wyszomirski, former Bosco blue line anchor, has recently begun what will be his second full year of professional hockey with Manchester Monarchs of the ECHL, who are affiliates of the Los Angeles Kings. Wyz joined the squad to finish out their season after completing his collegiate career at Merrimack College in the 2015-2016. During the 2016-2017, Wyz and his teammates enjoyed a deep run in the Kelly Cup playoffs, before being knocked out in 6 games during the 3rd round. He was also called up for 3 games to the Ontario Reign, the AHL affiliate.
Chris (Chuck) Carroll ’13, a graduate of Drexel University and former member of the ACHA DI team, is currently lacing up for the Ulm/Neu-Ulm Devils in the Landesliga Bayern.
