TRIBUTE 2021: The Year of the Covid Pandemic

The Rams 2021 season ends

Their 5 game regular season record was 2 wins over Chatham 3-1 and 5-2, 1 tie in the first game against Morris Knolls – Hills 5-5, and 2 losses, one against Morris Knolls 4-1 in their second game and the other against Morristown-Beard 5-0.

Without the pandemic, the Rams would have played at least 24 games, based upon past seasons. This season most teams played 12 or so games, but the Rams were quarantined twice for 2 weeks each, the last beginning February 6th. Their two wins got them in the playoffs for the Mennen Cup. They were paired with Morris Knolls–Hills in the semi-final and the winner would play Beard on Thursday March 4th.

The Mennen Cup Semi-Final: March 2nd

The game got off to an ominous start. In the first minute, Jason Kwestel of Knolls skated straight into Joe Yutsus and the puck was lost to Joe’s right and Greg Eckoff found it and pushed it into an open net. Joe rushed to the referee to argue interference. The ref disagreed saying that Kwestel was pushed into the paint by a Rams defender and was not at fault. Tough call but watching the replay, there was a bit of a push from behind. Down, one nill.

The Rams top scorer, Zach Gallo, was back on the ice after missing the Beard game on Saturday and half way through the first period he skated from left to right and from within the face off circle he made a nasty wrist shot that fooled Aidan Marvin, the Knolls goaltender.

One to one.

4 minutes later a miscommunication behind the Rams goal gave Jeff Quinn the puck to Joe Yutsus’ left and he just pushed it in while Joe was dealing with the scramble from behind and in front.

Down two to one.

And then with a little over a minute left in the period, one of the cleanest goals of the season happened. Knolls #36, Jason Kwestel skated to the right side of the Rams goal and saw Andrew Ryan wide open to his left and made no mistake with a clean, hard pass that Ryan slammed past Joe.

Three to one.

That play was perfectly executed and unstoppable. The rest of the game saw the Rams repel constant pressure from Knolls and they were not able to take advantage of their few opportunities. We won’t talk about the empty netter with 24 seconds left in the game.

Final score: 4-1, the same score as the second regular season game against Knolls on February 5th . The game story was similar to the regular season. Yutsus faced 31 shots on goal, while Marvin faced 14, similar to the February game where Yutsus faced 28 shots and Marvin 16.

The game’s color commentator for Morris Sussex Sports listed the 3 stars and honorable mention. Zach Gallo for his goal and Joe Yutsus for “some outstanding saves” were on the honorable mention list and the 3 stars were all Knolls skaters. This commentator would add Luke Spagnuolo who together with Matt Cislo have been outstanding captains all season. Luke and Matt, all the best in your future and we hope you can find a way to include ice hockey. Stay safe!!!

Tribute 2021

Let’s recognize the courage and patience of the Randolph high school hockey team: The Rams.

First, Our Coaches

Our coaches risked their personal well being to give the boys a chance to play a sport that they love and have been playing since mites. Thank you for dealing with the pandemic and wisely finding a way to give the team a chance to play and at the same time insuring their safety playing a contact sport in spite of the masks and gloves and padding.

Rich McLaughlin, Kyle Krannich, Connor Ryan, and Michael Valvano.

Second, The Seniors

Behind the Rams bench for this game, banners with the numbers of the seniors were displayed:

• #12 Andrew Iglar
• #14 Timothy Wang
• #19 Luke Spagnuolo (Alt. Captain)
• #23 Matt Park
• #28 Matt Cislo (Captain)
• #29 Scott Kuridza
• #35 Joe Yutsus

You guys got to see something that no other Rams team had experienced: Winning JV titles, losing and winning state championships, and trying to play ice hockey while the country faces a pandemic.

We all hope you are stronger and wiser because of these experiences when you face the world outside of Randolph. You couldn’t be any braver!

Third, The RAMS

Hockey players love stats so let’s stat this season:

Rams 15 Goals for:

• Zach Gallo: 4 versus Chatham and 3 versus Knolls = 7
• Ben Yurchuk: 2 v Chatham and 2 v Knolls = 4
• Luke Spagnuolo: 1 v Chatham and 1 v Knolls = 2
• Andrew Iglar: 1 v Knolls
• Jake Rueff: 1 v Chatham

Rams 19 Assists:

• Ben Yurchuk: 3 v Knolls and 2 v Chatham = 5
• Matt Cislo: 1 v Chatham and 1 v Knolls = 2
• Jordan Cross: 1 v Chatham and 1 v Knolls = 2
• Zach Gallo: 2 v Knolls = 2
• Nick Gaynor: 1 v Chatham and 1 v Knolls = 2
• Jake Rueff: 1 v Knolls and 1 v Chatham = 2
• Luke Spagnuolo: 2 v Chatham = 2
• Andrew Iglar: 1 v Chatham = 1
• Scott Kurdiza: 1 v Knolls = 1

Goaltending:

Joe Yutsus faced 181 shots on goal and gave up 20 goals (+ 1 open net) in 6 games, while his opposing goaltenders faced 90 shots on goal and gave up 15 goals to the Rams. Joe was definitely busy and never bored!!! And last year he got to have the best seat at the Rock (although he stood the whole time) in March of 2020 (before covid hit) as the Rams backup goaltender when they won in overtime 3-2 over Ridge to be the 2020 Public B State Champion of New Jersey.

I will never forget Gavin coming over to Joe after Ridge scored two goals at the end of the third period to cause the overtime. I never asked Joe what Gavin said, but I will never forget what Ben and JT did in the OT! Never!!!

The Future

Juniors:

• Jordan Cross
• Liam DesRosier
• Kristian Eglitis
• Nick Gaynor
• Ryan Manderioli
• Ethan Mueller
• Alex Narcise
• Ryan Solotist

Sophomores:

• Jack Barry
• Zach Gallo
• Jack Rueff
• Dominic Spagnuolo
• Connor Thomas
• Ben Yurchuk

Freshmen:

• Ashton Feinberg
• John Krynicki
• Adam White

You are the most important part of the most successful New Jersey public high school ice hockey program of the 21st century. The Rams have made it to the finals of the state championship for 16 years, winning 9 times. We are all wishing you continued success and hopefully without a pandemic to deal with. Life will teach you that the future is unpredictable, but being part of your team has taught you that you will not experience hockey alone.

Support your coaches and parents and schoolmates and teammates and enjoy the 2021-2022 season.

STAY SAFE AND FORECHECK!!!

GO RAMS!!!