With added depth this year, SJV hockey team off to another strong start
January 5, 2024 at 7:00 a.m.
One year after going 15-6-1 while winning the Egan Cup and Handchen Cup, Holmdel’s St. John Vianney ice hockey team looks even more dangerous this season, thanks to deeper pool of talented players on the roster, which has led to a 6-1 start.
“I think last year we were really solid,” senior defenseman Dakota Vastola said after the Lancers’ 6-2 win over Lawrenceville’s Notre Dame High School Jan. 3 at Mercer County Skating Center, West Windsor. “But I don’t think we had the depth [then]. This year … we have it and I think we can go further.”
Tommy Kelly makes a glove save against Notre Dame while Zack Schlein slides in to provide help. Rich Fisher photoTo do so, they must repeat as Egan and Handchen champs while also getting past the NJSIAA Non-Public quarterfinals, where they lost last year to Delbarton.
Coach Kyle Earley agrees with his captain about SJV’s seemingly infinite supply of performers, both offensively and defensively.
“We roll three lines and have an opportunity to roll a fourth line in there whenever we can,” Earley said. “That’s one of the advantages we have this year is to wear some teams down.”
The Lancers first line has produced 17 goals and 19 assists, and consists of Nick Kasich (11 goals, 4 assists), Matt Doherty (4, 7) and Danny Greenhall (2, 8). The second line features Blaise Lucosky (2 assists), Michael Rivelli (2, 1) and Vincent Baldari (2 assists), while the third group includes Zack Schlein (1, 1), Dominic Cistaro and Anthony Matrone.
“We’ve got speed and a decent amount of skill,” Earley said. “In the offensive zone we keep control of the puck. When we need to, we’ve got guys that can really place the puck where they want so we can get some good shots off.”
The top two defensive pairings have the 6-foot-4 Vastola (3, 5) and Adriano Bongiorno (1, 8) as one tandem and James Lucosky (2, 2) and Ben Arturi (1 assist) as another.
SJV's Daniel Fernandez gets ready to send the puck up the ice during a Jan. 3 game with Notre Dame at Mercer rink. Rich Fisher photo“They use their bodies, but at the same time they have the go-ahead from us to take the puck up the ice whenever they feel comfortable enough and can provide the room,” Earley said.
SJV has used a goalie tandem of Brendan Allen (95 saves) and Tommy Kelly (55 saves), with Allen getting the majority of the work.
“They’re both solid for us,” Earley pointed out. “That’s one of our advantages, that we have two good goalies we can balance.”
The Lancers, ranked No. 6 in the nj.com state rankings, got their first taste of adversity this week with a 4-3 overtime loss to Metuchen’s St. Joseph High School Jan. 2. But they bounced back strong the next day against Notre Dame. The Irish played tough for two periods and SJV broke a 2-2 tie with 1:40 left in the second before breaking it open with three third-period goals.
“We started off pretty hot this year but got a little bit out of our game yesterday,” Vastola said of the St. Joe’s setback. “It was a rough loss. We came back today and played well. We were a little bit out of it in the second period but came back and got the W.”
Kasich, who had a hat trick against the Irish, said, “We come back from tough times and always get back on the horse.”
Vastola pointed to the loss as a good early-season lesson.
“Obviously you never want to lose, but I think it woke us up to reality … we took things away from our loss and got better from it,” he said. “Yesterday we just weren’t prepared … we got here pretty early today [and] got prepared for the game in warm-ups.”
Earley said his team “didn’t deserve to win” against St. Joe’s and felt the defeat provided a reality check entering the ND contest. He was happy with how the Lancers responded.
“We played good hockey throughout the entire game,” the coach said. “The third period just opened a little bit more for us. We were able to maintain possession, keep moving it and tire them out a little bit by running our three lines full speed.”
Earley credits Vastola for being a standout captain with both what he does and what he says. His leadership is made easier by the squad’s cohesion.
“It has a lot to do with the kids we have in the program right now,” he noted. “They all get along; they’re always hanging out together... And that helps them produce on ice.”
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The St. John Vianney players get some last-second instruction from coach Kyle Earley prior to the third period of their 6-2 win over Notre Dame on Jan. 3 at Mercer County rink. Rich Fisher photo
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One year after going 15-6-1 while winning the Egan Cup and Handchen Cup, Holmdel’s St. John Vianney ice hockey team looks even more dangerous this season, thanks to deeper pool of talented players on the roster, which has led to a 6-1 start.
“I think last year we were really solid,” senior defenseman Dakota Vastola said after the Lancers’ 6-2 win over Lawrenceville’s Notre Dame High School Jan. 3 at Mercer County Skating Center, West Windsor. “But I don’t think we had the depth [then]. This year … we have it and I think we can go further.”
Tommy Kelly makes a glove save against Notre Dame while Zack Schlein slides in to provide help. Rich Fisher photoTo do so, they must repeat as Egan and Handchen champs while also getting past the NJSIAA Non-Public quarterfinals, where they lost last year to Delbarton.
Coach Kyle Earley agrees with his captain about SJV’s seemingly infinite supply of performers, both offensively and defensively.
“We roll three lines and have an opportunity to roll a fourth line in there whenever we can,” Earley said. “That’s one of the advantages we have this year is to wear some teams down.”
The Lancers first line has produced 17 goals and 19 assists, and consists of Nick Kasich (11 goals, 4 assists), Matt Doherty (4, 7) and Danny Greenhall (2, 8). The second line features Blaise Lucosky (2 assists), Michael Rivelli (2, 1) and Vincent Baldari (2 assists), while the third group includes Zack Schlein (1, 1), Dominic Cistaro and Anthony Matrone.
“We’ve got speed and a decent amount of skill,” Earley said. “In the offensive zone we keep control of the puck. When we need to, we’ve got guys that can really place the puck where they want so we can get some good shots off.”
The top two defensive pairings have the 6-foot-4 Vastola (3, 5) and Adriano Bongiorno (1, 8) as one tandem and James Lucosky (2, 2) and Ben Arturi (1 assist) as another.
SJV's Daniel Fernandez gets ready to send the puck up the ice during a Jan. 3 game with Notre Dame at Mercer rink. Rich Fisher photo“They use their bodies, but at the same time they have the go-ahead from us to take the puck up the ice whenever they feel comfortable enough and can provide the room,” Earley said.
SJV has used a goalie tandem of Brendan Allen (95 saves) and Tommy Kelly (55 saves), with Allen getting the majority of the work.
“They’re both solid for us,” Earley pointed out. “That’s one of our advantages, that we have two good goalies we can balance.”
The Lancers, ranked No. 6 in the nj.com state rankings, got their first taste of adversity this week with a 4-3 overtime loss to Metuchen’s St. Joseph High School Jan. 2. But they bounced back strong the next day against Notre Dame. The Irish played tough for two periods and SJV broke a 2-2 tie with 1:40 left in the second before breaking it open with three third-period goals.
“We started off pretty hot this year but got a little bit out of our game yesterday,” Vastola said of the St. Joe’s setback. “It was a rough loss. We came back today and played well. We were a little bit out of it in the second period but came back and got the W.”
Kasich, who had a hat trick against the Irish, said, “We come back from tough times and always get back on the horse.”
Vastola pointed to the loss as a good early-season lesson.
“Obviously you never want to lose, but I think it woke us up to reality … we took things away from our loss and got better from it,” he said. “Yesterday we just weren’t prepared … we got here pretty early today [and] got prepared for the game in warm-ups.”
Earley said his team “didn’t deserve to win” against St. Joe’s and felt the defeat provided a reality check entering the ND contest. He was happy with how the Lancers responded.
“We played good hockey throughout the entire game,” the coach said. “The third period just opened a little bit more for us. We were able to maintain possession, keep moving it and tire them out a little bit by running our three lines full speed.”
Earley credits Vastola for being a standout captain with both what he does and what he says. His leadership is made easier by the squad’s cohesion.
“It has a lot to do with the kids we have in the program right now,” he noted. “They all get along; they’re always hanging out together... And that helps them produce on ice.”
The Church needs quality Catholic journalism now more than ever. Please consider supporting this work by signing up for a SUBSCRIPTION (click HERE) or making a DONATION to The Monitor (click HERE). Thank you for your support.
The St. John Vianney players get some last-second instruction from coach Kyle Earley prior to the third period of their 6-2 win over Notre Dame on Jan. 3 at Mercer County rink. Rich Fisher photo