By Rich Chrampanis | rchrampanis@tworivertimes.com
NEWARK – For most of the 2019-20 hockey season, Christian Brothers Academy had a bullseye on its back as the top-ranked team in New Jersey high school hockey. After trailing 1-0 through two periods in the non-public state final against defending champ Don Bosco Prep, the Colts pinned its season on 15 minutes of ice time at the home of the New Jersey Devils.
The Colts used that 15 minutes to prove that there is no debate they are the best team in the Garden State. CBA rallied with four goals to beat the Ironmen 4-1 at the Prudential Center.
The team’s commitment to defense and the red-hot play of sophomore goalie John Donohoe, who had five shutouts in the Colts’ last seven games, earned it the role as the heavy favorite to win it all.
When Don Bosco’s Jake Geraci scored in the final minute of the first period, it may have rattled CBA a little bit. But when the Zamboni circled the ice at the end of two periods, the Colts dug down deep and took control of the game.
“We came out, everybody was fired up to go,” senior Kyle Contessa said of the third period effort. “Everybody wanted to do it for the seniors because everyone knows it’s their last time on ice and wearing this jersey and it means everything to us.”
Just 1:42 into the final period, CJ Cummings redirected a shot from the point from senior Chad Schneider to draw CBA even. Four minutes later, off the draw, Zach Wagnon pulled a quick trigger to give the Colts the lead. Donohoe would take care of the rest with a 20-save effort and it was only fitting that seniors Kyle Contessa and Gio Crepaldi closed out their careers with empty net goals to begin the early celebration of the state championship.
“I have been dreaming of this moment since I was 10 years old,” senior Gio Crepadi said. “To come to CBA and finish my senior season with a Gordon Cup win and a state championship win it literally means the world to me.”
The Gordon Conference features the best New Jersey has to offer. The league has the reputation for beating each other up on a nightly basis, making it an arduous task to win the regular season title, a Gordon Cup and the state championship. CBA took on all comers and had the ultimate season by checking off all three boxes. That hasn’t happened since 1996.
With a 20-4-3 record, the Colts outscored its opponents 27-3 over its final eight games, resulting in the titles.
First year head coach Andy Gojdycz stepped in and took over the program following the end of the Ryan Bogan era and the former Colts player kept the high standards from one of New Jersey’s elite hockey programs.
“Coming into this year we knew we had talent,” Goyjdycz said. “They came together and got the job done. We talk about team first, program first. They sacrificed everything individually. Coaching was a side note. It’s all those guys in that locker room. I’m proud to call myself their coach.”
The article originally appeared in the March 12-18, 2020 print edition of The Two River Times.
