HOLMDEL – It’s been a banner year already for the Lancers (17-3-2), who are currently ranked sixth in the state and second in the Shore Conference.
Earlier this season they picked up a huge win beating the state’s fifth-ranked team, St. Augustine, 5-3, then a few weeks later brought down Shore Conference juggernaut Christian Brothers Academy in an epic 5-2 victory.
It was Saint John Vianney’s first win over the Colts since 2008 and was CBA’s first loss against a Shore Conference opponent since January 17, 2014 when Howell got by the Colts, 2-1.
Following a 5-1 loss to Delbarton – ranked second in the state – on February 1, the Lancers went on to beat St. Joseph (Metuchen), 6-1, and St. Joseph (Montvale), 3-1, in the final to capture its first-ever Eagan Cup championship.
St. Joseph (Montvale), 16-6-1, is a top 20 bubble team that should break into the rankings before the season is out. Skating in the Big North Freedom division they finished second, one point back of 11th-ranked Northern Highlands.
The Egan Cup Tournament has been held since the 2014-15 season in honor of Nick Egan, a local hockey player who advanced to play for the Estevan Bruins in the Saskatchewan junior hockey league before passing away in his sleep at the young age of 21 due to a previously unknown heart condition.
Saint John Vianney kept rolling following their Egan Cup win routing 16th seed Central Regional, 13-0, in the first round of the Handchen Cup to advance to the semifinal round where the top-seeded Lancers will take on ninth-seeded Red Bank Catholic, a 4-1 winner over eighth-seeded Marlboro in the first round.
Last season the second-seeded Lancers lost to third-seeded Wall, 3-1, in the Dowd Cup final. In 2013 SJV defeated St. Rose, 4-1, to capture its first and only Handchen Cup championship.
Seedings for the upcoming Non-Public State Tournament will take place Feb. 13 with first-round games commencing on Feb. 19 and 20.
The Lancers were given a 14-seed last season in the NJSIAA Non-Public tournament and advanced to the second round before losing to third-seeded Don Bosco, who is currently undefeated and ranked No. 1 in the state. SJV is in search of its first state title in program history and this year’s team appears to have its best shot at a title ever.
Junior John Gelatt has manned the top line center position since he arrived as a freshman and has exploded this season. He’s leading the Lancers in goals scored (28), points (63) and is second on the team with 35 assists.
Gellat’s wing partner, junior John Gutt, has taken a huge leap in production this season after missing half of last year with an upper body injury limiting him to six goals and six assists. Now healthy, he’s put the puck in the back of the net 17 times and leads the team in assists with 44, which ties for the state lead.
Senior forward Brett Schneider has taken the bull by the horns this season after a junior campaign in which he only dressed midway through the season after transferring from Toms River North. Once on the ice he showed what he’s made of, scoring seven goals and assisting on six others. So far this season Schneider has 26 goals and 24 assists for 50 points as one of the go-to guys.
Sophomore Jake LaRusso has made a smooth transition to forward after spending his freshman year on the blue line. LaRusso earned an invite this past summer to the USA Hockey Development Camp and the dividends have paid off in the form of 11 goals and 13 assists this season.
After consecutive 16-point seasons, senior forward Kevin Rigatti has been more of an offensive threat this season recording 12 goals and 12 assists. Another Toms River North import, sophomore forward Mike Frattaroli, has worked his way into the mix contributing four goals and assisting on five others.
Sophomore forward Dom Troisi (3g, 7a) and senior forward Joe Zani (2g, 2a) have also chipped in on the offensive end.
The Lancers returned four of their top seven defensemen off a unit that allowed just 2.7 goals per game in 23 contests last season. This year’s defensive unit is led by junior John Kennedy, who is not only a lock-down defender but can create plays on the offensive end as his goal and 14 assists will attest.
Seniors Dylan Raskin (2a) and Mike Zani (1g, 4a) and sophomore Rich Kulaszewski (1g, 3a) round out the top two blue lines with sophomores Evan Knoll (3a) and Jake Deatherage (1a) and freshman A.J. Milalizzi (6a) adding punch on the blue line as well.
Junior goaltender Jeremy Connor has once again been stellar in the crease in his third full season in the nets. Connor just seems to get better and better every year and this year he’s taken his game to the next level. He’s allowed just 36 goals in 22 games leading to a 1.64 goals per game average with 445 saves on 481 shots on goal for a 0.925 save percentage.
With the top seven teams in the state, including themselves, and eight of nine all in the Non-Public tournament, it’s always a very tough road to hoe to get that elusive state championship, but the Lancers find themselves in the position this year to make a serious run at the title.
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