St. Augustine head coach Roman Amirato didn't even have a chance to process last year's non-public state title until this year's state tournament began.
The same sentiment is likely shared by the entire South Jersey prep school team. There have been several moments this season when the Hermits have been looking to bring it all together, but it never seemed to come together. Or he was caught up in the spotlight as the defending non-public champion, having to thwart all opponents who wanted him, and with hopes of winning back-to-back titles.
Many of the same players from last year's championship winning team remained on this year's roster. What is he one of the biggest differences between last year's team and this year's team? Postseason experience at its core. They knew from late February he knew what success was and what it would be like in early March.
“Overall, I think this year’s team is a completely different team,” Amyrat said. “Last year, we were maybe a little naive and just playing around. This year, we had expectations as well, so I think it was a little tough on this team. We're the defending champions. We have to defend our title. Last year, we were inexperienced and new. The older kids led by example, but they really said, 'Listen. , I was like, “This is how it's going to go, and we're just going to play.'' But this year, I think it was definitely tougher because of the expectations I had. But at the same time, I don't think there was any doubt at any point. ”
Following one of the most memorable underdog performances in New Jersey high school ice hockey playoff history, St. Augustine had to fight again this season to get back to that point hoisting a trophy at the Prudential Center.
As the state tournament began this season, the Hermits relied on past postseason experience and success, as well as an incredible offensive surge, to win their second consecutive non-public state title.As a result, the consecutive champions 2023-24 NJ.com Boys Ice Hockey Team of the Year.
The Hermits (15-5-1) earned the non-public No. 3 seed this season, although they did not qualify as the No. 7 seed in the 2022-23 season. In the semifinal round, the Hermits played perhaps their best game of the entire season with a 4-2 victory over second-seeded Delbarton. The Hermits kept the Green Wave offense at bay, scoring three points in the third period. His third-period performance led directly to an offensive outburst in the finals that upset the top-seeded and then-No. 2 team. 1 Don Bosco won 10-6 in the highest-scoring state championship game in state history. The Hermits scored four goals in the first period, two in the second, and four in the third.
Last year's team won behind the scenes on defense. This year's team was dominated by an offensive line that averaged 5.75 goals against in four state playoff games. This number was up from 3.58 goals scored in the last 17 games.
“Throughout the year, my top line and secondary scoring went back and forth a little bit,” Amyrat said. “But my top line really came out strong and played really great in the state final. They were close. They had a good game and then they may have had some off games, but , really showed up when it really mattered. We knew it was only a matter of time before they had a breakout game. The power play was decided. They scored two goals on the power play. Everything came at the right time. We came together. That’s what you need on a championship team.”
The story of St. Augustine's season cannot be told without mentioning the top line's performance in the finals and throughout the playoffs. Sophomore Cameron DeLeo, junior Ty Simonette and senior Robert Romanino combined for 17 goals and 25 points in the state tournament. Those three accounted for all 10 of St. Augustine's goals in the state final. DeLeo and Simonet each had hat tricks, and Romarino scored four goals.
“We've been playing together all year,” Romarino said of the top line after the closed-door final. “I trust them. If I throw the puck away, I know they're going to go get it. If I give them a pass, they're going to catch it. I know they're always looking for me. So I trust them 100 percent. That really drives the line to score a lot of goals.”
And while this trio has stolen the spotlight during the most important moments of the season, St. Augustine's run may also be defined by the group effort it took to win back-to-back games. The core group of DeLeo, Romarino, Simonet, Kalib Capech, Dale Curtis and Anthony Jaeger all played key roles on last year's team and improved their performance this season.
Only three players finished with 20 or more points this season: DeLeo, Romarino and Simone. But Capech, Curtis and Jaeger all scored at least 12 points, making 10 players on this year's team reach double-digit scoring.
The defense, which St. Augustine coach acknowledged wasn't as good as last year in the postseason, stepped up late in the state final when the Hermits took a 6-5 lead entering the third period. During the regular season and Gordon Cup, the defense allowed only 2.64 goals per game.
“I think it came from a group of people,” Amyrat said. “Bobby [Kennedy] Obviously I did what I was supposed to do. He made the save he had to make and that's all you can ask of a goalie. He has rescued us more times than anyone knows. Ty Simonette was the winner against Rob Lomarino's Princeton Day. They are my top two. Then there's Caleb Capech, who scored a big goal in the semifinals with his brother Riley and Lucas Riccardi, and Nate King, who had a great game against Delbarton. Dale Curtis had big goals. Then you go to the championship game, and I don't know if that first line will ever see a performance like that again. Want to identify one guy? Of course, but at the end of the day, it was everyone who really showed their strength. ”
Last year, Hermits graduated a group of players who stepped up in a big way in the playoffs. They knew what was coming back, but the question remained whether they could step up as well.
That group answered the bell at the right time this season. Kennedy and Romarino will be leaving after their performances at St. Augustine, but most of this year's key playoff group is expected to return for next season.
St. Augustine has a bigger target on its back, but the confidence it has gained over the past two seasons could lead to another playoff berth in 2024-25.
Donovan Hugel can be contacted at: dhugel@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on X @Donohugel.
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