1980 Don Bosco Ironmen
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.