Beyond the Scoresheet

missing out on a classic Friday night

February 24, 2007 on 1:31 am | In analysis | 1 Comment

Y’all. I clearly missed out on some ridiculously good games Friday. Let’s start in my neck of the woods – Morris County. For the first time since 1998, both semifinals went to overtime. That Thursday nine years ago was one of the most exciting nights of hockey I have ever seen (Randolph upsetting Delbarton in OT in the opener, Morristown upsetting Morristown-Beard in a shootout in the nightcap). It sounds like Friday rivaled it in every way. In the first game, Morris Knolls avenged last year’s semifinal loss to Chatham with a shootout victory after a 2-2 tie. The second game pitted Randolph against Morristown-Beard for the seventh time in nine years! It’s unbelievable how often these two have met in the semifinals. Beard had won six in a row, almost singlehandedly causing Randolph’s failure to win a third Mennen Cup title, but the Rams turned the tables with a 3-2 overtime win. I don’t often say I’m jealous of Dan Breeman, and I’m not willing to go that far, but I would have liked to see these two games.

Elsewhere, the first true NBIAL championship lived up to its billing, as Northern Highlands edged Fair Lawn in what I’m sure was a thriller, 3-2. Down south, Point Pleasant and Brick Memorial finished overtime tied 5-5. Unlike past NJIHL championship games, the teams decided the championship with a shootout. I’m not sure if there is any precedent for this in New Jersey history. I don’t even know if it’s in the NJIHL by-laws. At any rate, Brick Memorial won the shootout 2-0 to capture the Southern Blue Cup (can we get names for these things already?) In the other South Jersey finals, Middletown North won its third Dowd Cup in six years with a 5-2 win over Wall. St. Augustine Prep ended Monsignor Donovan’s 13-game unbeaten streak with an impressive 5-1 win, pulling away in the third period. Everybody is looking ahead to a possible St. Augustine Prep-Delbarton semifinal, forgetting that both teams have to get past tough first-round and quarterfinal opponents first.

In North Jersey, Sparta finally broke through Wayne Valley’s defense for a 3-1 win, while Glen Rock confirmed what everybody expected by holding off West Milford for a 3-2 win and a second consecutive cup title. From Blue Division to Red Division in two years for the Panthers! Finally, Notre Dame breezed to the Mercer County Tournament title, 7-1. Tough to get too excited about that.

I don’t know if Saturday can live up to Friday, but you know if I was in town, I’d be checking it out. Enjoy!