Sedlak Wins JSZ Player Of The Year

Sedlak Wins JSZ Player Of The Year

Fine sets up Sedlak for Bosco’s First Goal in Gordon Cup Final

Don Bosco Hockey would like to congratulate Senior Captain Connor Sedlak for winning the Jersey Sports Zone Player Of The Year.  Connor joins his brother Tyler (’19) as the only pair of brothers to win the award.  Sedlak posted a dominant senior season, winning the Gordon Conference MVP, leading the Ironmen in scoring with 18 goals, 11 assists for 29 points and eclipsing the 100 point mark (59g, 52a) for his career.  Connor was instrumental all season, but showed up in the biggest games, scoring two goals in the Gordon Cup Finals to secure his second Gordon Cup Championship and another State Championship ring.  Congrats to Connor and his family on this great accomplishment!

Check out Connor’s highlights courtesy of our friends at Jersey Sports Zone

Bosco Hockey Captures First Ever State Title

Bosco Hockey Captures First Ever State Title

Newark, NJ – Monday Night, March 4th will go down as the most important day in Bosco Hockey History.  Playing in their third straight NJSIAA Non-Public Finals, the Ironmen knew that this would be their toughest test of the season.  With everything on the line and past defeats hanging over the program, an all too familiar foe was waiting for them.  Meeting for the fourth time this season and having gotten the best of the Ironmen in the last two state championship games, 13 time champion Delbarton surely would have something to say in this contest.

Tyler Sedlak’s Empty Net Goal Clinches Don Bosco’s First Ever State Title

But this night would belong to the 27-1 Ironmen.  Don Bosco opened the scoring in the first period as Quinnipiac bound Senior Captain Liam McLinskey (30G, 45A) buried his first of two on the night.  Junior Will Fortescue (3G, 16A) made a fantastic rush up the ice, hitting D man Damien Carfagna (6G, 31A) in the slot. Carfagna’s original shot was saved but Junior Robbie Greenleaf (4G,5A) swiped at the rebound, sending it to Sophomore Zach Hammond (13G, 7A) who slid it to McLinksey, giving the Ironmen a 1-0 lead heading into the first intermission.

Coach Greg Toskos, appearing in his fifth state final, first as a player in 1994 and now his fourth as head coach, knew the Green Wave wouldn’t back down, “We knew coming out of the first period that they weren’t just gonna lay down and were going to come at us…they’re the defending champs for a reason.”  As the teams flipped ends, it was Delbarton who knotted the game at one apiece, scoring on a 2 on 1 chance.  “Credit them for coming right back and tying the game in the second, but this team has faced adversity in big games all season and we know if we stick to our game, our chances will come,” said Toskos.

The Ironmen didn’t have to wait too long to regain the lead.  Nine seconds later, Liam McLinskey lit the lamp again.  Junior Forward Hunter McGee (11G, 25A) won the center ice draw clean to Defenseman Damien Carfagna.  Carfagna took two strides and found McLinskey streaking down the right side who unloaded a laser, low stick side to put the Ironmen back on top 2-1.

Again, Bosco knew the Green Wave would not go quietly with their season was on the line.  But the stout Bosco defense led by Senior Goalie Max Schwarz (1.37 GA, 93.5%) and Captain TJ Schweighardt (17G, 32A), kept the Green Wave off the scoresheet, despite some tense moments in the final minutes.

Ironmen Take State Championship Trophy For A Victory Lap

With 1:50 to play, Delbarton took its timeout and opted for an extra skater, pulling their goalie.  After a frantic several seconds, which saw the Ironmen laying out to block shots, pinning pucks up against the wall and hitting the post on the empty net from just inside their own blue line. Senior Captain, Tyler Sedlak (40G, 33A), Don Bosco’s seocnd all-time leading scorer, picked up a loose puck with just under 30 seconds to play at his own blue line, stick handled around a Delbarton defender and walked in all alone, burying his final goal as an Ironman and the celebration was on.

After 54 years of hockey at Don Bosco, the 2018-2019 Ironmen will live on in infamy as the greatest team to ever wear the maroon and white sweaters.  A remarkable season, finishing on a 24 game win streak, capturing their 8th straight Bergen County Championship, second ever Gordon Cup and the sweetest of them all, the first ever NJSIAA State Championship.

Watch the highlights below, courtesy of our friends from Jersey Sports Zone.

Ironmen Returning To The Rock

Ironmen Returning To The Rock

West Orange, NJ – Thirteen days had passed since the Ironmen walked off the Codey Arena ice victorious, capturing their second Gordon Cup Championship.  During that time, they had not surrendered a goal since the second period of the Gordon Cup Final, blanking both Bishop Eustace and Seton Hall Prep, but Gloucester Catholic had other ideas.  The Rams opened the scoring early in the first period leaving the Ironmen in a familiar position on the Codey Arena ice that they faced 13 days prior.

But, just as they did then, Bosco battled back with four unanswered goals.  Senior Captain and reigning Gordon Conference MVP, Tyler Sedlak (39G, 33A) buried his team leading 39th goal to jump start the Bosco offense.  An offense that has consistently worn down opponents.  Sophomore Forward Zach Hammond (13G, 6A) broke the tie in the second period, converting on the power play for his 13th of the season.  Senior Captain Liam McLinskey (28G, 45A) and Junior Forward Hunter McGee (11G, 24A) each added goals, while Senior Goalie Max Schwarz made 12 saves to finish off Gloucester Catholic.

Check out the highlights, courtesy of our friends at Jersey Sports Zone.

Don Bosco now heads back to the finals for third consecutive year and will face #2 seeded Delbarton on Monday 8:45 pm at the Prudential Center.

Bosco Wins 2019 Gordon Cup

Bosco Wins 2019 Gordon Cup

Senior Captains (l-r) Tyler Sedlak, TJ Schweighardt & Liam McLinskey Accepting The 2019 Gordon Cup

West Orange, NJ – Don Bosco and Delbarton met for the third time this season, but in this edition, the stakes were elevated.  Playing in their second consecutive Gordon Cup Final against Delbarton and fourth overall, Bosco staged an epic two goal comeback.

After a scoreless first period that saw the Ironmen outshoot the Green Wave 10-5, Delbarton jumped out to an early 1-0 lead.  But Senior Captain TJ Schweighardt (16G, 24A) answered back four minutes later, taking a pass from Junior Hunter McGee (9G, 22A) and firing a laser from the right point to knot the game at one apiece.

However, Delbarton would not let them phase them, scoring two more goals to take a 3-1 lead halfway thru the second period. Until Schweighardt came thru again, notching his second of the game finishing a brilliant 2 on 1 feed from Liam McLinskey (26G, 40A) and Tyler Sedlak (35G, 27A) to close the gap 3-2.

Captain TJ Schweighardt delivers the Gordon Cup to his teammates

In the final period, the potent Ironmen offense came alive and Don Bosco kept rolling, outshooting the Green Wave 14-4 in the final frame.  Sophomore Connor Sedlak (9G, 10A) tied the game at three off a rebound from Sophomore Defenseman Jake Geraci (2G, 18A).  Less than a minute later, TJ Schweighardt gave the Ironmen the lead for good as he rifled a wrist shot from just inside the top of the circles to complete his second hat trick in as many games.  Liam McLinskey added an empty netter and the celebration was on!

Check out the highlights of the game, courtesy of Jersey Sports Zone.

McLinksey Named Hockey Clan Player of the Month

McLinksey Named Hockey Clan Player of the Month

Ramsey, NJ – Liam McLinskey has been named the Hockey Clan Player of the Month for January. Posting eight goals and 18 assists during January, Liam was instrumental in guiding the Ironmen to their eighth straight Bergen County Title while also registering the 100th point of his career.  A four year varsity player, McLinskey has also committed to NCAA Division 1 Quinnipiac University.  Coach Toskos said of Liam,

“Liam has had a phenomenal year — clearly”… “His pathway to his senior year was a lot different than some of our other guys. He’s been a role player in the past but really accepted leadership this year. We talked over the summer about this now being ‘his time.’ It was his brother’s time two years ago, now it’s Liam’s time to be one of the leaders, which he’s embraced.”


Liam and the rest of the Ironmen, begin their post season, this Monday, 8:30 pm at the Ice Vault vs St Peter’s Prep, in the Gordon Cup Quarterfinals.

 

Bosco Honors TK

Top of the Trail of The Fallen

Top of the Trail of The Fallen

Highland Falls, NY- The Don Bosco Hockey team paid tribute to one of its fallen brethren yesterday, as the entire varsity hockey team, led by Lt. Colonel John Nawoichyk hiked to the top of the Trail of the Fallen, to honor Major Tom Kennedy.

Major Kennedy, a former Ironman and West Point hockey player, was killed in action in August of 2012, serving his country on his 4th tour of duty.  Head Coach Greg Toskos, who played with TK, fondly remembers him as the consummate teammate, “When you talk about guys pushing each other in practice, Tommy was one of those guys.  He worked harder than anyone and was really the toughest kid to face in practice.  His work ethic in practice was contagious and helped us grow as a team and made us better in games.”

The Don Bosco Hockey program would like to thank Lt. Colonel John Nawoichyk and his staff for taking the team out of their day, to lead us in this team building exercise and learning what true sacrifice and being a great teammate is all about.

Bosco opens its season at home, November 26th vs Seton Hall Prep at 5pm.  Along with the rigorous Gordon Conference matchups, this season’s schedule is highlighted by Military Appreciate Night at West Point on December 6th vs CBA, the NJ/Mass High School Ice Hockey challenge vs BC High on December 17th at Merrimack College and the Bergen County Championship beginning in mid January.