The 10th-ranked Westfield High School boys ice hockey team cruised past Montclair Kimberley, 6-0, in the quarterfinal round of the McInnis Cup playoffs on February 7 then rocked the 11-10-1 Cranford Cougars, 4-1, in the semifinals on February 12 (16th President Abraham Lincoln’s birthday).
Alex Ebel scored the first three goals for the 15-3-1 Blue Devils against Montclair Kimberley. Jackson Chicola had a goal and three assists, while Brody Esler and Tyler Bergman each scored once. Aidan Wilson contributed a pair of assists. AidanAlon and Danny McDevitt each had an assist. Blue Devil goalkeeper Andrew Raber recorded 11 saves and Kimberley keeper James Bronson was kept very busy making 50 saves.
Ebel (Chicola assist) scored with 5:58 left on the clock in the first period then 34 seconds later the same combination made the score 2-0. In the second period, Mike and Aidan Wilson assisted Ebel on his third goal. Sidan Wilson then assisted Chicola to make the score 4-0. Esler scored early in the third period on a power play with Alon assisting. Bergman added the finishing touch on McDevitt’s assist.
The semifinal showdown with the Cougars began with a scoreless first period then Bergman (Jack Conrod and Kolby Azzaretto assists) gave Westfield a 1-0 lead with 10:21 on the clock. Two minutes later the Cougars knotted the score when Christian Adamski struck gold with the help of Cian Howard and Ethan Richardson. But before the quarter ended, Aidan Wilson on assists from Andrew Lisnock and Chicola, made the score 2-1. Lisnock (Chicola assist) scored very early in the third period then with 1:08 remaining,Azzaretto scored a shorthanded goal. Raber made 14 saves and Cougar keeper Jake D’Aquino recorded 37 saves.
