Ridgewood High School’s varsity hockey team, led by senior captains Liam Clark, Dylan Bronowich, and Ben Reinke, has been working hard towards a successful season. This year, the team had a high winning streak of 4-0 during their pre-season, which took place throughout most of November, with their first official game on November 30th against Wayne. Out of the fifteen games they have competed in from the start of their season through mid-January, they have collected seven wins, seven losses, and one tie. After the Holiday Tournament, the team was ranked #9 in the state, and as of January 11th, they held second place in the Big North – Liberty Stars division.
When asked how the season is going so far, Davis Flusche, current junior, stated: “We’ve had a tough schedule, but we have held our own and come up with some quality wins.” Their practice schedule most often consists of an off-ice weightlifting practice, a day dedicated to watching game-film, and two ice practices that end around 6:45 PM. They typically have two games throughout the weekend, with their latest game having started at 9:00 PM.
Senior captain Liam Clark has enjoyed his last season while leading the varsity team, stating, “My favorite part of the season so far has to be Senior night. We won against Wayne, a team we lost to earlier in the season. I’m definitely looking forward to the state playoffs. We’ve worked hard all season and now is definitely the time to show it.”
Undoubtedly, their success would not be without the intense dedication of each member. One of the team’s most valuable players is Senior goalie Nate Loughlin. According to nj.com, he is promising contender of becoming one of the state’s top goalies. In his sophomore year alone, he had 233 saves.
Ridgewood’s last official game took place on February 2nd, but they will continue playing league, sectional, and group games. They look forward to competing in the League Championships in early February to capture the “Big North” title. The last team that was able to do so was in 2016
If you would like to keep up with the hockey team, you can follow them on Instagram @rwoodhshockey for regular updates and reminders. The games are typically held at the Ice House in Hackensack and the Ice Vault Arena in Wayne for those looking to support the team.
Katie Hu
staff writer
Graphic: Emma McCarthy