EBEL, WILSON, CHICOLA, LISNOCK LED IN SCORING
Numerous offensive threats and a very stubborn defensive effort put the Westfield High School boys ice hockey team on the road to a very successful season. The Blue Devil boys captured the Union County Tournament (UCT) crown and the McInnis Cup before coming up short for the NJSIAA South, Public sectional title to finish with a 19-4-2 record.
The Blue Devils began the season with a 6-4 win over Northern Highlands then tied Middletown North 22. Five straight wins followed – West Essex (5-1), Cranford (4-1), Summit (7-2), Governor Livingston (3-2), Livingston (6-2). After a 4-4 tie with West Essex, the Blue Devils dropped three straight – Hunterdon Central (32), Governor Livingston (5-2), Northern Highlands (3-2).
But the Blue Devils would emerge victorious the rest of the way until their final game. The streak began with a 3-1 win over Montclair Kimberley. Next was a 4-2 win over Summit in the UCT semifinals and a 4-0 shutout over Governor Livingston for the UCT crown. The Blue Devils completed their regular season with victories over Cranford (3-2), Montclair Kimberley (6-1), Summit (3-1) and Livingston (4-1.
The McInnis Cup was next and the Blue Devils cleaned Montclair Kimberley (6-0), Cranford (4-1) then Summit (5-2) for the title. The Scotch Plains-Fanwood Raiders were 8-2 victims to the Blue Devils in the first round of the sectional. After a 7-0 thrashing of Bridgewater-Raritan and a 3-2 win over Rumson-Fair Haven, the Blue Devils’ season ended with a 1-0 loss to Manalapan in the finals.
Senior forward Alex Ebel led the team in points with 38 (13 goals, 25 assists). Junior Aidan Wilson led in goals with 18, while adding 19 assists for 37 points. Junior Jackson Chicola finished with 13 goals and 22 assists for 35 points and senior Kolby Azzaretto finished with nine goals and 13 assists for 22 points. Sophomore Andrew Lisnock netted 13 goals and eight assists for 21 points.
But there were several others who could rip the puck into the cage. Senior Mike Wilson had eight goals and 11 assists for 19 points. Junior Jack Conrod had seven goals and nine assists for 16 points. Sophomore Blake Wotanowski finished with three goals and seven assists for 10 points. Freshman Tyler Bergmann had six goals and two assists, and senior Mike Marshall had four goals and four assists.
Others who added their input were sophomore Nick Benson (6 assists), juniors Brody Esler and Austen Halleran (3 goals, 2 assists each), senior Becket Calder and sophomore Luke Fitzgerald (goal, 3 assists each), juniorAidanAlon (3 assists) and freshman Chris Smok (goal, assist).
The Blue Devils outscored their opponents, 103-40, and senior goalkeeper Andrew Raber recorded 455 saves for a .914 average.
In the first win over Summit, Wilson scored two goals and Ebel added a goal and three assists. In the UCT win over Summit, Ebel had a goal and an assist. In the UCT title win over Governor Livingston, Azzaretto netted a goal and two assists. The McInnis quarterfinal win over Montclair Kimberley had Ebel getting a hat trick plus an assist. The McInnis win over Cranford had Azzaretto netting a goal and an assist. Wilson had a hat trick and an assist in the title game over Summit.
Chicola scored twice and Wilson had a goal and two assists in the sectional win over the SPF Raiders. Wilson had a goal and five assists against Bridgewater-Raritan, while Lisnock scored twice. In the semifinal win over Rumson-Fair Haven, Conrod, Wilson and Ebel each scored once.
Although the Blue Devils will graduate a few key seniors, there are a number of players, who could find the net, returning for a successful season next year.
