The 55th season of Don Bosco Hockey opens Friday night, November 29th (6:00 pm, Ice Vault) as the defending NJSIAA Non-Public State Champions begin their title defense for the first time in history vs the Pirates of Seton Hall Prep. Gone is a senior class that won four straight Bergen County Titles, a Gordon Cup and 3 straight State Finals appearances. In its place, the Ironmen return a veteran core of 12 players led by seven Seniors, including Captains Hunter McGee (45 GP, 15-25-40), Will Fortescue (73 GP, 4-23-27) and Robbie Greenleaf (59 GP, 10-8-18), looking to leave their own mark and continue to build on the successes of the last season.
In addition to its three Captains, Seniors Troy Clement (47 GP, 3-7-10), Sean Kenny (19 GP, 1-1-2), Arthur Tsimerman (19 GP, 3-6-9) and Liam Heffernan will anchor an offensive attack that also returns key contributors in Juniors Connor Sedlak (54 GP, 21-19-40), Zach Hammond (37 GP, 14-9-23) and Sophomore Matt Imbriano (17 GP, 2-4-6). Joining Bosco’s attack are newcomers Freshman Ryan Fine, Sal Guzzo, Eric Vivinetto, Ty Oller and Junior Joe Caldiero.
Forward Connor Sedlak looks to make a play during 2019 Gordon Cup Final
On the back end, Captains Hunter McGee and Will Fortescue are joined by Juniors Michael Rubin (36 GP, 1-9-10) and Jake Geraci (39 GP, 2-20-22). First year players, Juniors Brendan Flaherty and Drew Hansen, along with Sophomore Lukas Klemm and Freshman Drew Fortescue will also play key roles throughout the 2019-2020 season. Anchoring the Ironmen in net will fall on the trio of Juniors Kevin Rose, Damien Blando and Freshman Ethan Marich.
Junior Michael Rubin leads the rush
Opening night will be a special night for the entire program as the Ironmen will raise their first ever State Championship banner, closing out last seasons campaign while looking ahead to a successful title run that 14 year Head Coach Greg Toskos can’t wait to get started. “We’ve played three pre-season games and the Seniors have done a good job of leading the way, establishing our team identity and showing the new guys what is expected of them,” said Toskos, “We know we have a bullseye on our backs and we should, but the expectations remain the same year in and year out. Getting better each day we’re together and working through tough situations has been a hallmark of our teams in the past and we expect it to be no different this year.”
Year in and year out, Don Bosco plays as tough as a schedule as there is in the state and 2019-2020 will be no different. The Ironmen open with 5 straight Gordon Conference opponents, including a state finals rematch with Delbarton December 1st. Prior to heading up to Boston to take on out of state rivals BC High and Catholic Memorial, Bosco will face-off against Gordon Conference opponents Pope John, St. Augustine, CBA and Gloucester Catholic before a Rivalry Night game vs Bergen Catholic (12/23) to close out 2019. As DBP rings in the new year, they will restore an old rivalry game against longtime Non-Conference foe Suffern, while Princeton Day, Portledge School, Morristown Beard and Lawrenceville Prep round out the rest of the Non-Conference schedule.
Come out and support your 2019-2020 Don Bosco Ironmen at the Ice Vault or follow along via social media accounts; Twitter: @DBIronmenHockey and Instagram: @boscohockey and check back frequently to our website for articles and videos updated all season long.
2019 Alumni Game will be held on November 29th at 4:15pm @ Ice Vault. Stick around for the 2019 State Championship banner raising ceremony before varsity begins their season vs. Seton Hall at 6pm. More details and registration info about the alumni game to follow!
Robbie Greenleaf, Will Fortescue & Hunter McGee (l-r)
Don Bosco Hockey is proud to announce that Seniors Will Fortescue, Robbie Greenleaf and Hunter McGee have been named team captains for the 2019-20 season. Head Coach Greg Toskos is thrilled to have this experienced group of captains saying, “Will, Robbie and Hunter have gained valuable experience the past few seasons and have learned from some of the best players to come through the program. Their leadership will be tested right away.”
The Ironmen open the season on November 29th at home against Gordon Conference opponent Seton Hall Prep, followed by a rematch of the past three state finals vs Delbarton two days later. Bosco will take on out of state opponents Catholic Memorial, BC High, Portledge School and Suffern. Other non-league opponents include a trip to Princeton Day School and Lawrenceville Prep.
Newark, NJ – Monday Night, March 4th will go down as the most important day in Bosco Hockey History. Playing in their third straight NJSIAA Non-Public Finals, the Ironmen knew that this would be their toughest test of the season. With everything on the line and past defeats hanging over the program, an all too familiar foe was waiting for them. Meeting for the fourth time this season and having gotten the best of the Ironmen in the last two state championship games, 13 time champion Delbarton surely would have something to say in this contest.
Tyler Sedlak’s Empty Net Goal Clinches Don Bosco’s First Ever State Title
But this night would belong to the 27-1 Ironmen. Don Bosco opened the scoring in the first period as Quinnipiac bound Senior Captain Liam McLinskey (30G, 45A) buried his first of two on the night. Junior Will Fortescue (3G, 16A) made a fantastic rush up the ice, hitting D man Damien Carfagna (6G, 31A) in the slot. Carfagna’s original shot was saved but Junior Robbie Greenleaf (4G,5A) swiped at the rebound, sending it to Sophomore Zach Hammond (13G, 7A) who slid it to McLinksey, giving the Ironmen a 1-0 lead heading into the first intermission.
Coach Greg Toskos, appearing in his fifth state final, first as a player in 1994 and now his fourth as head coach, knew the Green Wave wouldn’t back down, “We knew coming out of the first period that they weren’t just gonna lay down and were going to come at us…they’re the defending champs for a reason.” As the teams flipped ends, it was Delbarton who knotted the game at one apiece, scoring on a 2 on 1 chance. “Credit them for coming right back and tying the game in the second, but this team has faced adversity in big games all season and we know if we stick to our game, our chances will come,” said Toskos.
The Ironmen didn’t have to wait too long to regain the lead. Nine seconds later, Liam McLinskey lit the lamp again. Junior Forward Hunter McGee (11G, 25A) won the center ice draw clean to Defenseman Damien Carfagna. Carfagna took two strides and found McLinskey streaking down the right side who unloaded a laser, low stick side to put the Ironmen back on top 2-1.
Again, Bosco knew the Green Wave would not go quietly with their season was on the line. But the stout Bosco defense led by Senior Goalie Max Schwarz (1.37 GA, 93.5%) and Captain TJ Schweighardt (17G, 32A), kept the Green Wave off the scoresheet, despite some tense moments in the final minutes.
Ironmen Take State Championship Trophy For A Victory Lap
With 1:50 to play, Delbarton took its timeout and opted for an extra skater, pulling their goalie. After a frantic several seconds, which saw the Ironmen laying out to block shots, pinning pucks up against the wall and hitting the post on the empty net from just inside their own blue line. Senior Captain, Tyler Sedlak (40G, 33A), Don Bosco’s seocnd all-time leading scorer, picked up a loose puck with just under 30 seconds to play at his own blue line, stick handled around a Delbarton defender and walked in all alone, burying his final goal as an Ironman and the celebration was on.
After 54 years of hockey at Don Bosco, the 2018-2019 Ironmen will live on in infamy as the greatest team to ever wear the maroon and white sweaters. A remarkable season, finishing on a 24 game win streak, capturing their 8th straight Bergen County Championship, second ever Gordon Cup and the sweetest of them all, the first ever NJSIAA State Championship.
Watch the highlights below, courtesy of our friends from Jersey Sports Zone.
