Submitted by Jill Garnhart
The future looks bright for Westfield hockey. Both JV ice hockey teams survived four games in round robin play to face off against each other in the championship game at the 15th Annual Anthony J. Grasso Boys JV Jamboree. The Jamboree took place on February 5, 2019, at the Woodbridge Community Center. The competition featured five local JV Hockey teams: Arthur L. Johnson (Clark) Crusaders, Scotch Plains-Fanwood Raiders, Summit Hilltoppers and two Westfield Blue Devils squads.
Each team played four 15 minute games, earning two points for a win, one point for a tie and no points for a loss. Westfield White won their first match, nicely beating Summit 2-0. In the Westfield Blue vs Westfield White game, the Blue team came out the victors in a closely contested game that ended with Blue winning 1-0. Westfield Blue would go on to tie Summit 0-0, and score wins against ALJ and SPF. Westfield White would also post wins against ALJ and SPF, setting the stage for a match-up between first place Westfield Blue and second place Westfield White.
Both teams fought hard in the championship game, but it was Westfield Blue who skated away with the game and the first place trophies, winning 2-0 thanks to goal scorers Jack Sumas, assisted by Jeremy Thompson, and Shane Carlin, assisted by Andrew Principato. Westfield Blue Goalie Jack Ruckman won the Jamboree’s MVP award for posting five consecutive shutouts.
(above, l-r) Westfield Blue team: Student Coach Trevor Tanella, Jeremy Thompson, Shane Carlin, Jack Ruckman, William Fischer, Joseph Brogan, Matthew Moran, Timothy O’Donnell, Coach Brendan Hickey, Andrew Principato, Paul Romeo, Jack Sumas, Mason Garnhart, Michael O’Donnell, Logan Calder, and (seated) Justin Hornstein. Picture by Beth Hornstein.
