Author Archives: Jonathan Yardley

Jonathan Yardley has been covering high school ice hockey in New Jersey since 1996. A native of Morristown and a Delbarton alumnus, he graduated from Rice University in Houston, Texas in 2005. A radio and television broadcaster, he has called games for the 2003 NCAA championship Rice baseball team (2002-05), the 2011 Major League Soccer Eastern Conference champion Houston Dynamo (2008-11), and ESPN3 (2012-13), among other teams and outlets. He grew up watching hockey at Mennen Arena and for five seasons (1996-97 to 2000-01) wrote a weekly newsletter and ran the webpage for the MCSSIHL, the Morris County high school league. He now writes for Hockey Night in Boston in addition to website and blog maintenance.

New Jersey Gordon, Shore Conference reviews

Jonathan Yardley February 2, 2016 NE High School, New Jersey

GORDON CONFERENCE The state’s top league saw four teams, all in the American Division, separate themselves from the pack this season, but several competitive darkhorses lurk farther down the standings. Delbarton (15-2-2), Don Bosco Prep (14-3-2), CBA (17-4), and St. Augustine Prep (8-9-1) will finish ...

New Jersey Top 10: Don Bosco rates slight edge

Jonathan Yardley February 1, 2016 New Jersey, New Jersey Polls

The top spot in New Jersey at the end of January is a fascinating topic to debate, but when you factor in head-to-head results, Don Bosco Prep (14-3-2) takes No. 1 after a 4-1 win over No. 2 Delbarton on Jan. 24. The teams will ...

New Jersey Top 10: St. Augustine rises to #2

Jonathan Yardley January 12, 2016 New Jersey, New Jersey Polls

Delbarton (10-0-2) remains atop the rankings after going 2-0-1 in the new year, most notably winning 6-3 at St. Augustine Prep on Jan. 8, less than a week after the Hermits had knocked off then-No. 2 Don Bosco Prep. Special teams were the difference in ...

New Jersey Top 10 Poll: Unbeaten Delbarton Takes Over Top

Jonathan Yardley December 28, 2015 High School Hockey, NE High School, New England HS Polls, New Jersey, New Jersey Polls

1. Delbarton (8-0-1) Another year, another New Jersey Top 10 poll with Delbarton topping the rankings. Winners of a record six consecutive state championships from 2008-13, the Green Wave are favored to end a two-year title “drought” after an impressive start to the season. Delbarton ...

NJIHL: The Nod Goes To Nutley

Jonathan Yardley December 11, 2015 High School Hockey, New Jersey

After fielding only Essex County teams last year, the NJIHL absorbed several teams from adjacent Union County for the 2015-16 season and will split into two divisions as a result, so proposals for a full Essex/Union merger fell through. AMERICAN DIVISION Nutley (18-6) has to ...

NJ: Notre Dame The Choice To Repeat in CVC

Jonathan Yardley December 11, 2015 High School Hockey, NE High School, New Jersey

COLONIAL DIVISION Notre Dame (20-7) – The Irish will be heavy favorites to win the Colonial Division once again, but they may not have quite the firepower of past years. Junior Matt Sellers (21-25-46) and senior J.P. Brady (21-20-41) return to lead the offense, and ...

NJ Skyland Conference: Panthers look to finish the job

Jonathan Yardley December 11, 2015 New Jersey

SKYLAND CONFERENCE Bridgewater-Raritan (22-1-3) – Always capable but rarely dominant, Bridgewater was upset in last year’s state quarterfinals, losing their first game of the year to ninth-seeded Southern Regional. The Panthers, under head coach Patrick Alvin, hope to finish the job this year, and they ...

New Jersey Morris County: Morristown-Beard wants another title

Jonathan Yardley December 10, 2015 New Jersey

MORRIS COUNTY Morristown-Beard (16-7-4) – The Crimson take aim at a third straight Mennen Cup title for the second time in eight years (2009-11) and appear to have the defense to do it. Of their top five players at the back, four are seniors in ...

New Jersey Big North Conference: Team Previews

Jonathan Yardley December 10, 2015 New Jersey

BIG NORTH St. Joseph Montvale (17-7-2) – Once a proud power, St. Joseph Montvale is raising expectations once again after reaching the private quarterfinals last year. Up front, plenty of firepower returns in seniors Ryan Grieco (16-13-29), Matt Cocciadiferro (12-12-24), and Nick Krasniqi (12-11-23) and ...