The Christian Brothers Academy ice hockey team wrapped up a season that will go down in New Jersey school ice hockey tradition on Monday night with a 3-0 victory over Delbarton in the non-public NJSIAA championship game at Prudential Center, Newark.

The ABC (27-0-3), which won a state title for the ninth time and the second straight time the NJSIAA has hosted a state tournament, became the first team in the state to stay undefeated in a season since St. Augustine went 23-0 in the 2006-07 season.

When the horn sounded, the CBA players first celebrated at center ice, then headed out to their cheering fans – ‘The Colt Crazies’.

The Colts have won their last 26 games after a 2-2 draw against Seton Hall Prep on Dec. 8. They also recorded their ninth shutout of the season. They have outscored their opposition 144-30 this season. They went 2-0-1 against Delbarton this season.

REILLY THE HERO

Junior defenseman Patrick Reiley scored two goals, including the first with 4:42 left in the second period. He also added an empty-netter with 1:35 to go. Junior forward William Thygeson scored the insurance goal at 3:27 of the third period.

Senior goaltender John Donohue stopped 22 shots as he recorded his fifth shutout of the season and his fourth in the last five games.

SECOND PERIOD DOMINANT BY CBA

After a fair first period, CBA took control with a dominant second period. The Colts had the first nine shots of the period and edged the Green Wave 20-2 in the period.

Reilly’s goal came off a rebound from a right-point shot by senior forward Ray Cartigano. He fired a shot that beat goaltender Jason Cai from the left faceoff circle.

CBA ICES GAME IN THE THIRD

Thygeson’s goal came 22 seconds after the Colts killed a Delbarton power play on the game’s only penalty. He rebounded off a linesman and covered a shot into the net from the left face-off circle. Junior forward Leighton Biesiadecki and second-year forward Derek Fiore got the assists.

Reilly’s empty goal came on a right corner shot from Donohue. The shot went straight to the center of the net.

MIDDLETOWN NORTH HAD A SPECTACULAR RACE DESPITE STATE’S FINAL DEFEAT

The Middletown North men’s team fell short of their goal of winning the NJSIAA Public B Championship, but their memorable run to the finals is something they will long remember.

Two goals in the 6:23 final gave top-seeded Northern Highlands a 3-1 win at Prudential Center, Newark in a game where sixth-seeded Middletown North (16-8-1) had a 31-18 advantage in shots.

“Our guys fought like crazy,” Middletown North coach Don Wood said. “They have nothing to be ashamed of. They played as hard as they could for 45 minutes, I think.”

What this means

This was the second Northern Highlands State Championship. Middletown North was denied its second state title and first since winning the Public B in 2015.

Northern Highlands (22-3-3) broke a 1-1 tie in the game attended by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman on a breakaway goal by senior forward Will Fuller from the slot.

Fuller’s second goal of the game came just off a flurry from Middletown North, which included a rebound from a passing Andrew Gross.

The Lions then retired goaltender Luke Chrzan with 1:25 remaining and 23 seconds later Brett Beswick iced him for the Highlanders with a shot into the empty net from center ice.

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Big Middletown North Rooting Contingent Rejoices

Middletown North, who had a shooting advantage in each period, tied the game with 1:07 left in the second period as senior forward Jace Koenigsmark scored from the right faceoff circle on an assist of senior John Betz.

The goal sent the large contingent of Middletown North fans into a frenzy.

Fuller, who took the game-winning game in the Northern Highlands’ 3-2 win over Ramapo in the semi-finals, gave the Highlanders the lead 4:45 into the second period when he stuffed the puck into a mad dash in front of the Middletown North goal. .

Middletown North players and coaches thought the whistle should have been blown during the scramble, but the puck was still visible to the officials and the goal stood.

The Lions controlled much of the game, but they couldn’t generate many clean chances. When they created chances, Highlanders goalkeeper Daniel Moor rose to the challenge. Moor made 30 saves.

The Lions “came to play”

“It wasn’t like we just came in and they threw the pucks and that was it,” Wood said. a national semi-final). They came to play. Northern Highlands just got the best of us.”

Middletown North’s run to the state final included a dramatic 4-3 shootout win over No. 2 seed Rumson-Fair Haven as Koenigsmark scored twice 1:04 apart in the final 1:39 to send the game into overtime. The Lions then converted all four attempts into a shootout, including one by Koenigsmark. Chrzan made three saves in that shootout.

“These kids are like family. They’ve done a hell of a job all year,” Wood said. “These kids have really taken ownership of their season.”

In the quarter-finals, Middletown North beat No. 3 seed Summit 4-0 thanks to two shorthanded goals.

The Lions beat Wall 6-3 in the first round of the tournament.

Prior to the state tournament, they won the Shore Conference Handchen Cup with a 2-1 win over St. John Vianney.