Just like the College Football Playoff committee, we had two other teams we wanted to mention. Public A power Bridgewater-Raritan (7-0-2) leads the Skyland Conference and delivered impressive wins over Shore power Middletown North (6-0) and division rival Ridge (4-0) in tournament play last week. ...

Delbarton (5-2): While they have yet to face their top in-state opposition, the Green Wave – winners of six consecutive private state championships before falling in last year’s semifinals – are back on top of the New Jersey heap thanks to what appears to be ...

Summit (18-6-2) Another consistent winner, Summit still has six players from its 2012 Public B championship team and will be the heavy favorite in Union County once again. Head coach Keith Nixon has three high-caliber goalies to choose from in sophomore Kyle McLaughlin, junior David ...

St. Joseph Metuchen (13-6-2) Ranked high to start last season, St. Joseph Metuchen struggled to close out games early in the season but recovered to reach the private quarterfinals for the second consecutive year. Head coach Ryan Carter returns Nick Castagno in goal and talented ...

Notre Dame (18-9-0) Always the favorite in the CVC, ND will spend most of the year trying to prepare for the private state tournament. The Irish bring back two big scorers in senior forwards Dakota Skove (28-32-60) and Connor Todaro (28-23-51) and will also count on ...

Ridge (14-6-6) Ridge is one of the state’s most consistent programs, seeded among the top five teams in its state-tournament bracket in seven of the last eight years. Head coach Tim Mullin’s team offers a strong top line of seniors Tim Knightly (14-9-23), Ian Soloman ...

Montclair Kimberley (15-7-2) Overwhelming favorites in Essex County, Montclair Kimberley has a young team but will still be aiming to improve on its 2-13 record in the state tournament since 1995. Senior goalie Ike Osbun (.902) and explosive junior forward Devin Pepe (21-25-46) are the ...

Ramsey (28-3) The county’s premier public-school program, Ramsey is on a remarkable seven-year run that has included four 20-win seasons and two additional 19-win seasons. The Rams have claimed just one Public B championship during that period, back in 2009, and were upset 1-0 in ...

Middletown North (14-10) Middletown North was expected to have a strong team, but Lions head coach Matt Clemente got a welcome surprise when CBA transfer Bobby Hampton (33-40-73), who had been expected to play only club hockey this season, decided to join the squad. “It ...