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 last year. The Blue Devils do return quite a bit of offensive
clout but have graduated some defensive solidarity but another successful season is on the horizon.
Last year, 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. They also finished 10-1-1 in the McInnis Division. The Blue Devils outscored their opponents by a whopping 10340, and then senior goalkeeper Andrew Raber recorded 455 saves for a .914 average.
Since Raber has graduated, junior Troy Conover is expected to guard the cage. Also three tough defensive players, Mike Marshall, Mike Wilson and Max Kocaj have graduated but do return seniors Danny McDevitt and Josh Singer, and juniors Luke Fitzgerald and Nick Benson.
Of the strong returning forwards, senior Aidan Wilson led the team last year in goals with 18, while adding 19 assists for 37 points. Senior forward Jackson Chicola finished with 13 goals and 22 assists for 35 points last year and junior Andrew Lisnock netted 13 goals and eight assists for 21 points, so a nice 1-2-3 punch can be expected from that trio.
But there is more offensive punch with senior Jack Conrod, who had seven goals and nine assists for 16 points. Junior Blake Wotanowski finished with three goals and seven assists for 10 points. Sophomore Tyler Bergmann had six goals and two assists. Others who have added some offensive input were Benson (6 assists), seniors Brody Esler andAusten Halleran (3 goals, 2 assists each), Fitzgerald (goal, 3 assists each), senior AidanAlon (3 assists) and sophomore Chris Smok (goal, assist).
The Blue Devils opened their season against the West Essex Knights on December 9 then did battle with the Cranford Cougars on December 11. On Tuesday, December 17, the Blue Devils will face off with the Summit Hilltoppers at 7 p.m. then the very next day they will face off with Glen Ridge.
