Roll Dawgs: Rumson-Fair Haven Embracing Top Seed in SCT

RUMSON – There is little argument around the Shore Conference. Rumson-Fair Haven has emerged as one of the premiere teams of the 2019-20 season.

After a five-win campaign two seasons ago, RFH made some noise and opened some eyes last year when they finished 10-10-2 and advanced to the second round of the Shore Conference Tournament Handchen Cup as a nine-seed. This season has seen the Bulldogs reach a new level of success – one that rewarded them the top seed in the SCT Handchen Cup.

Eric Zullo, who served as an assistant coach the past four seasons, noticed something special was brewing as he took over the head coaching spot this year.

“We have a strong senior contingency, and we have everything else you need: a talented group of freshmen, a strong defensive core and plenty of depth scoring,” Zullo said. “We were all set up to take that next step this season, and it has gone better than anyone could have hoped for.”

The senior core up front consists of Sam Catalano (14 goals, 33 points), Rowan Goldin (11 goals, 18 points), as well as Jack Spagnuola and Jack Whitelaw, who each have six goals to their credit. Kevin Hofmann and Max Nicholson each have three goals.

Junior forward Ryan Croddick has been anchored on the top line all season and is tied with Catalano for the team lead. He will return next season as the leading scorer, while younger players like Charlie Tallman, Connor Spagnuola, Brett Pritchard and Michael Kuras will look to develop bigger roles as well.

“We have gotten some great spurts from all of our lines really all season long,” Zullo said. “We have a lot of different dynamics to this group – speedsters, big guys, playmakers, and it’s really about trying to find that chemistry balance, and as we find that balance we start seeing goals coming up and down the lineup.”

RFH wrapped up the regular season with a 12-2-3 mark, and consistently get opponents’ best efforts night in and night out.

“Being the number one seed is new territory for us, and we knew we have that target on our back,” Zullo said. “We aren’t going to shy away from this, because this is where we want to be at.”

Rumson-Fair Haven learned in their opening-round game that they’ll be challenged every time they take the ice, when 16^th-seeded Central Regional battled for 45 minutes before bowing, 3-0.

“This is where we want to be every year from here on out; in the conversation for the top spot in the Shore Conference,” Zullo said. “To be the best you have to learn how to play as the best, and the only way to do that is to get everyone else’s best on a nightly basis.”

The offense has certainly held their own throughout the year, and the returning depth coming back next year should provide the Bulldogs with plenty of scoring in 2020-21.

But the defense has been nearly impenetrable, allowing their opponents to light the lamp only 22 times across the team’s first 17 games.

The best part of that unworldly number? Goalie Ronan Hickey and every defenseman on the varsity roster will return. Hickey has put up a .935 save percentage and has 13 wins to his credit after getting some starts during his sophomore year.

“I knew coming in that we had three defensemen who were going to fit in, but we were unsure of who would fill out that fourth spot where we can roll out two lines,” Zullo said. “We had two freshmen in Ben Turoczi and Spencer Hobson fill in that 4-5 spot nicely.”

Peter O’Connor and Andrew Schmidt will be the only seniors on RFH’s blue line next season, setting them up to be the leaders for a young core that already has plenty of varsity experience.

Schmidt produced 14 points as a junior and was rewarded by being named a first pair defensemen on the Shore Conference B North all-star team.

Braiden Spagnuola, Casey Freeman and Spencer Lee all found the ice as sophomores and will comprise the core that will look to lock down the opponents that want to test the Bulldogs’ newly cemented status at the top of the Shore Conference.

“We feel really good that we will be great on the back end for years to come,” Zullo said. “And having Hickey back there as the safety net makes us that much more comfortable in our own zone.”

Rumson-Fair Haven already has some hardware in the trophy case after earning a share of the Shore Conference B North title, but this group is aiming higher.

RFH is undoubtedly earning the attention of the public with their suffocating defense and timely scoring, but there’s still much work yet to be done as the season dwindles down.

“We think we will be in this position a lot more moving forward, but we have a chance to do something special now, and we are going to take it,” Zullo said.

RFH will host ninth-seeded Marlboro on Feb. 18 with a chance to punch their ticket to the Handchen Cup final and earn the opportunity to bring home even more hardware.

Rumson-Fair Haven is also expected to garner a high seed in the NJSIAA Public C state tournament, which will be seeded on Feb. 18.

Regardless of where they are placed, expect these ‘Dawgs’ to be ready to roll.