MANAHAWKIN – Some things will never change. Another season. Another Southern Regional team that no one should want to play in the state tournament.
The Rams have always played a physical brand of hockey as they wear down their opponents. When you take the ice against the black and yellow, just know you won’t be escaping without being a little black and blue.
Southern has thrown their fair share of punches, and they have also endured their own wounds, but it would be foolish to assume they aren’t capable of taking the hits.
“I would be lying if I said I didn’t think we would be a strong competitive team this year,” Southern head coach Dan Wasilewski said. “You really can’t schedule some of the opponents we had this year if you don’t think you can play with the best.”
The Rams squared off against some of the best the Shore Conference could offer, battling teams like Rumson-Fair Haven and Middletown North. They have also ventured statewide, challenging squads such as Mendham and Princeton.
The Rams have held their own, and the backbone holding the squad together starts with the senior class.
“You might get years when the seniors aren’t really a contributor, but this is one of those seasons where the seniors are all vital to this program and we are going to miss them,” Wasilewski said.
Zachary Minafo (25 points) and Andrew Irwin (19 points) have each been solid contributors over their two seasons in the Southern uniform, while Jeffrey Leonard has provided some depth over three years and comes up with some timely scoring.
Justin Braun and Andrew Brock anchor the blue line, and as a team are allowing under 2.5 goals a game.
“We had a lot of faith in this senior class,” Wasilewski said. “They come out competitive every night, and it’s all we ask of them.”
While the seniors get set to embark on one final journey through the state tournament, there are younger players eager to make a name for themselves on the biggest stage. Southern’s strong sophomore class has made strides throughout the season, and they are still a long way from penning their final chapter.
Leading the group has been Chris Laureigh, who after scoring 37 points as a freshman, finds himself at the same total entering the state tournament.
Trey Mattern was thrown into the fire as a freshman last season, but has been more than able to hold his own in between the pipes in his second season, mustering up a .911 save percentage.
“Trey is a stud and was thrown right in there last year,” Wasilewski said. “He has taken the reigns and ran with them.”
Yater Henry, Brooks Hradek and Matthew Leonard round out the class of 2022, and each will return after getting varsity experience this season.
If being an underclassman prohibits leadership, Southern has not gotten the memo.
“Being around the locker room, you wouldn’t be able to tell that some of these guys are younger,” Wasilewski said. “The sophomores are not afraid to speak up and have a vocal role around the rest of the guys.”
With the sophomore class having another season to develop, the juniors – William DiStefano, Ryan High, Josh Irwin and Parker Lech – will also provide some depth next year as seniors, and Southern Regional will be a team on everyone’s radars.
Southern might be set up for the future, but before getting that far, there is still the present to focus on. The Rams fell to ninth-seeded Marlboro-Holmdel in the opening round of the Shore Conference Tournament Handchen Cup, a Marlboro team they edged out by one point to win their third divisional championship this season.
The loss stings, but Wasilewski and the Rams are looking forward to making some noise in the Public B state tournament.
“We have to approach it like any other game really,” Wasilewski said. “Our next game could very well be our last, but we have too much faith in this group to think they can’t have the opportunity to make a run.”
Southern endured a three-game losing streak after returning from the holiday break, failing to score in two of those games. The Rams bounced back from the slide with a three-game winning streak against a few quality opponents in Manalapan, Marlboro and Central Regional.
It is stretches like that, Wasilewski hopes, that will rally this team in the state tournament.
“We hit our low point during that losing streak, and then came out and played well against some good teams,” he said. “Sometimes you have to lose to be able to win.”
The Rams will learn their opponent for the first round of the Public B tournament on Feb. 18.
“We’ve prepared all season playing some great teams, and now everyone we play will be one of those great teams,” Wasilewski said. “We are all chasing after the same thing.”
- 2023 JSN Awards Finalists Announced - December 18, 2023
- Sunil Sunder Raj Recaps Day One of State Football Finals With OnNJ (VIDEO) - November 27, 2023
- Mental Health and Exercise: Finding Balance in New Jersey's Fast-Paced Life - November 27, 2023
