By Rich Chrampanis
Christian Brothers Academy had an uncharacteristic 14-11 season, yet still finished ranked sixth in the final state hockey poll. The Colts should bounce back with a lot of young talent returning. On the public side, it was Middletown North that grabbed the postseason headlines. While the Lions were upset in the opening round of the Handchen Cup to eventual champion Brick in overtime, coach Don Wood’s team recovered with two postseason wins, highlighted by a 3-1 stunner of defending state champ Westfield on the road.
Player of the Year
Dominiks Marnauza,
Middletown North
Middletown North’s leading scorer, Dominiks Marnauza, helped the Lions reach the state semifinals. He had 19 goals and 24 assists this season. He rose to the occasion both times the Lions squared off with archrival Middletown South, starting with a two-goal, three-assist effort in the December matchup, followed by two more goals and a helper in a 6-3 win to complete the season sweep and take home the Mayor’s Cup. For his career, he had 52 goals and 44 assists, helping Middletown North cement its reputation as one of New Jersey’s most consistent public school programs.
Goalie: Rocco Morenzi,
Christian Brothers Academy
The senior closed out his career with 952 career saves and had his best save percentage in his final season with an impressive .914. Morenzi had 64 saves combined against state champion Delbarton, giving up just two goals in each matchup. Morenzi played in 50 games for CBA, finishing with five shutouts.
Defense: Dante DeLuca,
Middletown South
DeLuca was one of the state’s most offensive defensemen with an impressive 18 goals and 31 assists. He had a pair of six-point efforts with three goals and three assists in a 6-3 win over Ramsey and a two-goal, four-assist effort against Ocean Township. After an 18-point season a year ago, DeLuca took a massive jump in his senior season and helped the Eagles to a 12-11-1 record.
Defense: Robby Stanislaro,
Red Bank Catholic
Stanislaro gave RBC a boost from the blue line with nine goals and 14 assists. The Caseys, playing in a tri-op with Donovan Catholic and Saint Rose, are a program on the rise, going 12-6-1, but could not play in the postseason because they exceeded the suspension limit. That forced them out of the Shore’s Handchen Cup and the state playoffs. Stanislaro returns for his senior season and RBC should be a team that can contend in Shore Conference play.
Forward: Jacen Doumas,
Rumson-Fair Haven
The RFH senior closed out a tremendous high school career with a career-best 28 goals and 23 assists. Doumas had 10 multigoal games, highlighted by a four-goal performance in his final game wearing the Rumson purple sweater, a 6-2 win over Middletown South. Doumas had 64 goals and 60 assists in his high school career. His older brother Nik had 65 goals and 109 points in his career and coach Eriz Zullo has one more Doumas, but the goal scoring has come to an end: Matthias Doumas finished his sophomore season in net and will return as one of the Shore’s top goalies next season.
Forward: Anthony Brereton,
Christian Brothers Academy
The Colts junior took a huge leap from nine goals in his first two seasons to 21 goals and 38 assists for 59 points. Brereton had five game-winning goals, including a four-goal, one-assist effort against Bergen Catholic, along with a 6-point game against Wall. Brereton had the opening goal in the Gordon Cup final against Delbarton and scored in the state semifinal win against Don Bosco Prep.
Forward: Vincent Baldari,
St. John Vianney
The Lancers’ leading scorer made the jump from 17 goals a year ago to 27 goals and 17 assists this season. Baldari had a four-goal, three-assist game against Notre Dame and his two-goal, one-assist effort at Brick on the day after Christmas gave the Lancers a 5-3 win against the eventual Shore Conference Handchen champions. Baldari lit the lamp 48 times in three seasons on the ice with the Lancers.
Second Team
Goalie: David Furman, Marlboro-Holmdel
Defense: Brady Johnson, RBC
Defense: Vincenzo LaBianca, CBA
Forward: Brendan Costello, Middletown North
Forward: Michael McCabe, CBA
Forward: Brody Riva, Rumson-Fair Haven
Third Team
Goalie: John Gato, Middletown North
Defense: Lincoln Maikos, Marlboro-Holmdel
Defense: Zach Mulholland, Red Bank Regional
Forward: Matthew Flynn, CBA
Forward: Nick Fiore, CBA
Forward: Logan Josko, RBC
The article originally appeared in the March 26 – April 1, 2026 print edition of The Two River Times.
