The 2nd Win & Rueff’s First

Winning is fun!!!

But this year, we realize that just skating is fun and greatly appreciated. Thank you to all of the adults that have had anything to do with having a high school ice hockey season in New Jersey this year.

This season, a pandemic has caused numerous delays and cancellations and quarantines where not only the games had to be rescheduled or canceled, but there have not even been practices during the quarantines. There is no doubt that athletes prefer playing, but they also prefer playing their sport for a reason.

This season the teams are mostly being measured by there division play. Randolph is competing in the Mennen Division of the MCSSIHL Conference (Morris County). That division is considered to be the best New Jersey public high school division in the state. NJ.com rankings as of February 2nd has 4 of the 5 teams in the Mennen Division in the state’s top 20:

• Morristown Beard is ranked 6th
• Randolph 10th
• Chatham 15th
• Morris Knolls-Hills 16th

Randolph was the highest ranked public school in the state! You can expect these rankings to change this week due to the results after February 2nd .

Since then Randolph skated in 3 games in 4 days. A 5-5 tie with Knolls on Wednesday, a 4-1 loss to Knolls on Friday, and 22 hours later on Saturday, a 5-2 win over Chatham (the team defeated the Cougars last Saturday 3-1 to kickoff the season. And yeah, winning is the most fun, especially when your competitor is putting you to the test and you make it through. Don’t be fooled by the 5 to 2 score of the Chatham game. It doesn’t tell the story.

The Morris Sussex Sports Live Streaming announcers for the game (thank you both, Eddie McCarthy and Mike Girnas, you did a great job!) kicked off their broadcast with this comment:

“Starting goaltender senior Joe Yustus did all he could for the Rams last night against Knolls. He stopped 24 of 28 shots, unfortunately only Ben Yurchuk found the back of the net for the team.”

The Rams took advantage of Chatham’s one week layoff scoring 3 goals in the first period. Jack Rueff opened the scoring with his first goal for the varsity assisted by Ben Yurchuk and Luke Spagnuolo. The Rams scored their next two goals in the 10th minute of the first period, only 11 seconds apart. Zach Gallo cleaned up a scrum in front of the goal to score at 4:33 remaining assisted by Jack Rueff. At 4:22 Luke Spagnuolo scores when the Cougars goalie Park dives face down to stop a shot by Ben Yurchuk. Rams up 3 to 0. But the Cougars were not just standing around, Joe Yutsus depended on his goal posts and cross bar three times in the first 10 minutes. Eddie McCarthy commented:

“ Randolph is playing very tight defensively not giving an inch.” Mike agreed: “This is what Randolph does best. It’s not always pretty, but they are always a defensive minded team over the years, especially when they are ahead.”

Immediately after their comments Joe Yutsus needed to make a belly save and Chatham’s Sardillo hit the post again. With a minute left, Korey Kleinle scored for Chatham from an assist from Declan Curry to end the first period: Rams 3 – Cougars 1.

The second period was highlighted by 4 minutes of non stop action but neither team could take advantage of power plays through the period. The commentators focused on Nick Gaynor half way through:

McCarthy: “Nick Gaynor is becoming a top line regular this week.” Girnas: “Yeah, he has impressed me this week, he seems like a real play maker who knows how to set up his teammates. And he has the same number as JT Zangara, the MVP of the Mennen Division last year and having a hat trick in the state final.”

The third period can be titled “Joe Yustus or Joe Yutsus” and the way he played the third it is possible that two guys were playing goal for the Rams. Somebody must have said something about his name being Yutsus not Yustus because at 4 minutes into the third McCarthy commented:

“Joe Yutsus has been very strong tonight stopping 18 of 19 for Randolph.” Mike agreed: “Yeah, Yutsus has been outstanding in this game.” This was the first time they pronounced his name correctly, and it’s much appreciated.

Right after these complements, Joe made a pad save on a Jason Herr slap shot. The play by play comments continued highlighting his saves:

“1) Off goal stick of Joe Yutsus, 2) Off pad of Joe Yutsus, 3) Off pad of Joe Yutsus, Yutsus coming up big. 4) Padded out again. Yutsus has 22 saves. Fatigue is setting in. 3rd game in 4 nights and now holding back Chatham for 5 minutes. 6) Padded out by Yutsus. 7) Off the glove of Yutsus. Goodness me what a stand. 8) Shot from Sardillo and there is Yutsus again off the pad. Yutsus is coming up big. 9) Goodness me, what a sequence and what a stand from the Randolph net minder.”

As one would expect after these comments with 4 minutes left in the game Chatham’s Ryan Burke scores to cut the lead to one goal (3 to 2).

“Chatham has all the momentum right now. Yutsus has been the MVP for Randolph in these last few minutes. Without him this game could already be tied or they could be trailing.” “Curry is in all alone. Breadbasket save Yutsus.” “Jason Herr shot stopped by Yutsus.” “Sarillo shot is swallowed up by Joe Yutsus, no rebound spit out.”

Then at 1:27 remaining the Chatham goalie was pulled for another skater and the Rams sharpshooters took full advantage. First, Zach Gallo from the opposite face off circle 150 feet away made it 4 to 2, followed by Ben Yurchuk from the blue line ended the scoring with two empty netters!

McCarthy closes: “Joe Yutsus and the Randolph Rams have a 5-2 victory and the season sweep over Chatham.” Mike: “First star of the game has got to be Joe Yutsus’ outstanding performance in goal tonight with 32 saves. Second star to Zach Gallo with two goals tonight. Great work tonight by him and Ben Yurchuk all season.”

Note: Both teams had 3 power plays, no goals scored.

That was fun!

Stay Focused and Safe!!

And always Forecheck!!!