Matt Imbriano #22 celebrates one of five DBP goals in 2021 Gordon Cup State Finals
Don Bosco Hockey is proud to announce that Seniors Matt Imbriano and Joe Bossolina, will join current Captain Lukas Klemm as team captains for the 2021-22 season. Imbriano, a four year varsity letterman and the only returning player from the 2019 State Championship team, will look to be the first player in school history to win three state titles and build on his 34 career points (14g, 20a) in 56 games.
“Both Matt and Joe have demonstrated leadership qualities the past few seasons, on and off the ice,” says Head Coach Greg Toskos. “Matt is part of a special group of players at Bosco who are four year varsity players. He’s won a lot of games over the past three years, including two state titles. While Joe showed last year the team meant more to him than any individual stats. Joe has played a variety of positions for us, but last year he stepped into a new role, took on the challenge and excelled. That’s the make up of a true leader. We’re really excited to have both Joe and Matt join Lukas as this years captains.”
Joe Bossolina #13 celebrates his game winner vs Delbarton
Don Bosco opens the season November 26th at home vs CBA and will once again play one of the toughest schedules in the state. In addition to Gordon Conference opponents, Bosco will also take on Non-Conference foes The Hun School, Morristown-Beard and Lawrenceville School. The Ironmen will also travel up to Boston to take on perennial power BC High and Xaverian Brothers and will look to renew an old rivalry versus the Portledge School.
Fine sets up Sedlak for Bosco’s First Goal in Gordon Cup Final
Don Bosco Hockey would like to congratulate Senior Captain Connor Sedlak for winning the Jersey Sports Zone Player Of The Year. Connor joins his brother Tyler (’19) as the only pair of brothers to win the award. Sedlak posted a dominant senior season, winning the Gordon Conference MVP, leading the Ironmen in scoring with 18 goals, 11 assists for 29 points and eclipsing the 100 point mark (59g, 52a) for his career. Connor was instrumental all season, but showed up in the biggest games, scoring two goals in the Gordon Cup Finals to secure his second Gordon Cup Championship and another State Championship ring. Congrats to Connor and his family on this great accomplishment!
Check out Connor’s highlights courtesy of our friends at Jersey Sports Zone
Despite all the challenges that the Ironmen faced in the shortened season of 2020-21, Bosco was exactly where they wanted to be at the end of the season, playing in the final game for a chance at a championship. Facing the top team in the state, Gloucester Catholic, the Ironmen looked to continue their hot post season play. Having only allowed one goal in their previous two Gordon Cup playoff games, a 4-1 win over Delbarton and a 9-0 whitewashing of bergen catholic, Bosco was firing on all cylinders and looking to add to the trophy collection and lock up the top spot in the state.
Once again, goaltending would lead the way, as Senior Kevin Rose (7-1, 0.75 GAA) would keep the score tied at zero as Gloucester Catholic would outshoot the Ironmen in the first period. “Kevin played great and really kept us in the game in that first period,” said Head Coach Greg Toskos. With the score tied at zero, Bosco headed into the intermission looking to reset and get back to what they do best. “We wanted to get back to what we talked about before the game and pretend we’re starting over,” said Toskos, and the team responded in a big way.
Senior Kevin Rose stood tall for his second playoff shutout
Senior Captain and Gordon Conference MVP Connor Sedlak (18g, 11a) would once again spark the Ironmen and get the scoring started, as Lukas Klemm (4g, 7a) would spring Ryan Fine (8g, 9a) and Sedlak on a two on none break to take the lead. Minutes later, Sophomore defenseman Drew Fortescue (3g, 9a) would circle the entire offensive zone and deposit a point blank shot for the first of his three points on the night, and the Ironmen were up two nothing. After a Gloucester Catholic penalty, the Bosco power play would go to work, as Freshman Dean Toskos (6g, 6a) would net the first of his two power play goals on the night, finishing off a rebound both times and the Ironmen were up four nothing after the end of two.
With the Gordon Cup waiting for the victors, Bosco wouldn’t surrender any
2021 Gordon Cup Champions
ground in the third period, as Connor Sedlak would cap off his stellar career and complete the scoring, netting his 111th point (59g, 52a) as an Ironmen finishing off a Drew Fortescue assist to put Bosco up 5-0 and claim their third ever Gordon Cup title. In addition to winning its second Gordon Cup in three years, Don Bosco also secured the top ranking in the state and their claim to 2021 NJ State Champions.
Check out the highlights below, courtesy of our friends at Jersey Sports Zone
The penultimate matchup for any Ironmen hockey player is Bosco vs bergen. This game, however, was much more than just the standard best rivalry in the state. Bosco entered the game riding a four game win streak, outscoring their opponents 19-5 during the four games, getting contributions up and down the lineup and playing stifling defense. But, when its the playoffs and your season is on the line, the rivalry is taken to a whole new level.
Soph. Ty Oller
Playing inspired hockey, the Ironmen dominated right from the start, scoring 37 seconds into the game as Sophomore Ryan Fine (8g, 9a) cashed in on a rebound to get the scoring started. Two minutes later, Junior Nick Milmore (3g, 4a) would bury a rebound off of a Brendan Flaherty (5g, 7a) shot and it was two nothing Ironmen. Two more first period goals by defensemen Marian Mosko (2g, 11a) and Lukas Klemm (4g, 5a) would give the Ironmen a four nothing lead and the rout was on.
Senior Captain Connor Sedlak (16g, 11a) would add two more goals, Sophomore Ty Oller (8g, 8a) would also add two of his own and Klemm would add another to round out the goal scoring for the Ironmen. Senior goaltender Kevin Rose (6-1, 0.85 GAA) continued his stellar play, stopping all 19 shots, giving the Ironmen a 9-0 win.
Bosco will look to continue their strong play against top seed Gloucester Catholic in Thursday nights Gordon Cup final, 7pm at Codey Arena.
Twice in the past three days the Ironmen and Green Wave have squared off and both times Bosco had its back up against the wall. The six seeded Green Wave opened the scoring early in the first period, to take an early lead on the Ironmen. However, just like the earlier matchup this past week, an Ironmen would notch his first career goal. This time it was Senior Michael Pappachristou (1g, 3a) on the receiving end of a Joe Bossolina (1g, 1a) pass to tie the score at one.
Sr Brendan Flaherty
Senior Goaltender Kevin Rose (5-1, 1.00ga) would turn aside 21 of 22 shots on the night, but stood strong to open the second period. As play continued, newly named Gordon Conference MVP Connor Sedlak (14g, 9a) found Junior Marian Mosko (1g, 8a) who would net his first Ironmen goal to give Bosco a 2-1 lead that they would not relinquish. Brendan Flaherty (5g, 5a) would add another second period goal on a nifty feed from linemate Joe Caldiero (1g, 3a) and Junior Captain Lukas Klemm (2g, 5a) would cap off the scoring in the third period on a Zack Hammond (5g, 8a) assist.
Next up the Ironmen will take on the winner of Bergen Catholic vs St. Joes Regional on Tuesday March 2nd (Time and Location TBD).
The 2021 regular season came to a close yesterday with the Ironmen doing it in dramatic fashion, coming from behind twice to beat rival Delbarton, 4-2 on the road.
Bosco Celebrates Joe Bossolina’s first period goal
Delbarton got on the board first early in the opening frame, converting on an odd man rush. But Bosco would battle right back, as Joe Bossolina (1g, 0a) netted his first career Ironman goal, cashing in on a Michael Pappachristou (0g, 3a) and Nick Milmore (2g, 2a) feed from behind the net to tie the score at one at the end of the first period.
The Green Wave would re-take the lead five minutes into the second frame, in what Coach Toskos described as, “one of our worst periods of hockey.”
Following the second intermission, Bosco got the equalizer, as Senior Captain, Zack Hammond (5g, 7a) converted for his fifth goal of the season on a pass from Connor Sedlak (14g, 8a) and Drew Fortescue (2g, 7a). Later in the third, with Delbarton in the box, the Bosco power play went to work, where Junior Matt Imbriano (3g, 11a) got the go ahead goal off another Drew Fortescue assist. As the final period drew to a close, Delbarton put out an extra attacker, but a Ty Oller (6g, 8a) blocked shot, leads to his second assist of the night, feeding Connor Sedlak who sealed the victory with an empty net goal.
With this win, Bosco earned the third seed in the Gordon Conference tournament and will host the Green Wave this Thursday at the Ice Vault.
