Connor Healey rips a shot on net vs Bergen Catholic
WAYNE – The Bosco Hockey team continued their strong start to the season, beating Bergen Catholic, 6-2 in front of a packed house at the Ice Vault Friday night. After taking an early one goal lead, Bosco surrendered the next two. But that would be all for the visitors on this night as Alexei Masanko shut the door stooping 19 of 21 shots. The game turned for the Ironmen in the second period, trailing 2-1 and on a penalty kill, Seniors Eddie Leitgeb and Michael Scott battled for nearly the entire two minute penalty kill blocking shots and keeping the Crusaders from mounting anything significant.
“Blocking shots is just something that’s always been in my game,” Leitgeb said. “It was a penalty kill, and you just have to sacrifice your body sometimes and play through pain. MJ gave me a beautiful look and I ended up going 5-hole with it.
“I just knew we couldn’t lose to Bergen. That just can’t happen.” Read more of JJ Conrad’s & The Record coverage here.
On his next shift, the senior turned the momentum of the game with his first goal of the season and the team responded with four more unanswered goals. The Ironmen got contributions from six different players in all. Team leading goal scorer Chris Mazzella started the scoring in the first period notching his 9th goal of the season and also added an assist. Brendan Hansen scored his first varsity goal, Connor Healey, Seiho Jin and Ryan McLinksey also tallied goals in the win, as Bosco improved to 5-1-1. Next up the Ironmen face off with #3 ranked Morristown Beard, Monday Dec. 22, 6:15 pm at the Ice Vault.
The Ironmen also were proud to unveil their new 3rd jersey, a camouflage design, in honor of TK, fallen Don Bosco alum, Major Thomas Kennedy.
PRINCETON – Chris Mazzella had been held scoreless for five straight periods, following his hat trick a week ago at Gloucester Catholic, but with 14 seconds left on the clock, the Junior forward wasn’t going to let it get to six. Coming out of a timeout and down 2-1, Senior Captain Hunter Garlasco, who had an uneven day in the faceoff dot, won a draw clean, right to Mazzella, who ripped a shot past Princeton Day Goalie Logan Kramsky (43 saves) to tie the game with 12 seconds left.
“Hunter did a great job with that faceoff to win it back and put it right in my wheelhouse,” Mazzella, who scored his team-leading eighth goal, said. “I just tried to get it in on net and lucky enough, it went in.” Rich Greco covered the game for NJ.com.
Watch Chris Mazzella talk about the game tying goal
Sophomore forward Matt Brown kicked off the scoring in the first period with his second goal of the season and Alexei Masanko made 13 saves on 15 shots as the Ironmen earned a hard fought tie. Bosco dominated the latter half of the second period and the entire third, putting 45 shots on net and dominating play in the PDS end before finally breaking through to tie the game. Next up, North Jersey’s best rivalry continues, as the #2 ranked Ironmen take on Bergen Catholic, Friday night 7 pm at the Ice Vault. All those in attendance are encouraged to bring an unwrapped teddy bear to throw on the ice, for the first annual Teddy Bear Toss to be held between the second and third period intermission.
Alexei Masanko discusses how his role has changed from last year to this year
Matt McMorrow ’11 gives the Bosco Hockey Team a tour of the Babson facilities
BOSTON – The team packed their bags, loaded the bus and took off for Boston Friday morning to prepare to take on Massachusetts’ top ranked team, BC High. After the long bus ride, the team stopped at #5 ranked Harvard University for practice and got a tour of the facilities from Men’s Head Coach Ted Donato and his staff and got a chance to speak with 2014 USA Women’s Olympic & current Harvard Women’s Head Coach Katie Stone. Thanks to coaches Donato and Stone for taking time out of their day to give the team an all access tour! The boys were also given an all access tour to Coach Toskos’ alma mater Babson University by former Don Bosco standout and current Babson Freshman forward Matt McMorrow. Special thanks to Matty and Coach Rice for the tour and best of luck as the NCAA DIII #3 ranked Babson Beavers continue their undefeated season. The Ironmen played BC High later that day and suffered their first loss of the season 5-0. Next up the team travels to Princeton Day School on Tuesday for a 5 pm matchup.
HOLLYDELL – The Ironmen continued their impressive start to the season, beating a very tough, physical Gloucester Catholic team 4-3, improving their record to 4-0. Led by Junior standout Chris Mazzella’s hat trick, Bosco held on to garner their fourth win of the season, setting the table for their highly anticipated game against Massachusetts rival BC High, this weekend. CJ Hapward got his second start in net and made 25 saves to seal the victory and keep Bosco’s record unblemished. Ryan McLinksy started the scoring off in the opening period, tallying his first varsity goal. Senior captain’s Hunter Garlasco (3 assists) and Connor Healey (2 assists) along with Junior defenseman Anthony Firriolo (2 assists) led the offensive attack for the Ironmen as they outshot GC 39-28. Next up the Ironmen travel to Boston to face off against perennial power BC High, Saturday 6 pm at Umass Boston.
WAYNE – The Bosco Hockey Team returned to action Sunday night to face a much improved Bishop Eustace team, looking to ride the momentum and continue their winning ways. They did just that, defeating the visitors 5-2. Mickey Burns, Graham Garlasco and Matt Brown (1 goal, 1 assist) all tallied their first varsity goals and CJ Hapward got his first varsity win in net making 10 saves on 12 shots. Michael Scott and Joe Verboys (1 goal, 1 assist) also added goals to round out the scoring. Seiho Jin and Eddie Leitgeb continued their impressive starts to the season each recording an assist and two more players making their varsity debuts, Tyler Nielsen and Toby DiPaolo, each got on the scoresheet with assists. Next up the Ironmen travel south to face Gordon Conference foe, Gloucester Catholic on Monday.
Bosco celebrates Connor Healey’s (3) third period power play goal
NEWARK – The Bosco Hockey Team notched its first road win of the season yesterday, defeating St. Peter’s Prep 7-2 at the Amerihealth Pavilion. After a back and forth scoreless first period, the Ironmen answered with four goals in the second period to take a 4-2 lead at the intermission. Top line forwards, Hunter Garlasco (1 goal, 3 assists) and Chris Mazzella (2 goals, 1 assist) continued to pace the Ironman offense and Seiho Jin notched his second in as many games. Senior defenseman Connor Healey tallied his first two goals of the season and added an assist on Michael Scott’s third period goal. Not to be forgotten, Alexei Masanko made 20 saves for Ironmen as they improved to 2-0. Next up, the Ironmen return home for a Gordon Conference matchup against Bishop Eustace this Sunday 6:15 pm at the Ice Vault.
Read the NJ.com game recap and view the entire box score here.
