After another exciting week of the high school hockey season, it’s time to look back on the best performances in Bergen, Passaic, Morris, Sussex and Essex counties.
Read about the players who stood out last week and let us know who you think should be the North Jersey 3 Stars of the Week in the poll at the bottom of this page. Each voter can vote for up to three players.
Voting closes at 5 p.m. Thursday.
Ian Aikenhead, Mendham
The senior forward scored four times and assisted on two other scores as the Minutemen went 3-0 for the week. Aikenhead had a hat trick in a 4-2 win over West Morris on Dec. 30 while adding a pair of assists in a 4-1 win over Gill St. Bernard’s on Thursday. Aikenhead added a goal in a 3-1 win over Ramsey/Indian Hills on Friday.
Brendon Eigner, Mendham
The junior goalie has won five straight starts in net, including all three games this week. Eigner had 38 saves on 40 shots in a 4-2 win over West Morris on Dec. 30. Eigner only allowed one goal in his other two games, stopping 12 of 13 shots in a 4-1 win over Gill St. Bernard’s on Thursday and saving 21 of 22 shots in a 3-1 win over Ramsey/Indian Hills on Friday.
Jase Estrin, River Dell/Westwood/Emerson
The junior forward exploded offensively this week after having only one assist heading into the week. Estrin had two goals in a 4-3 overtime victory over Clifton United on Friday. Estrin then had a career day on Sunday with five goals and two assists in a 13-6 win over High Point/Wallkill Valley/Kittatinny.
Dylan Ferlanti, Fair Lawn/Dumont/Bergenfield
The junior forward collected four goals and five assists in a pair of games this week to earn his third straight season with double digit points. Ferlanti had a goal and three assists in a 6-2 win over Paramus Catholic on Friday, followed by three goals and two assists in an 8-7 win over West Orange on Saturday.
Michael Ferrante, Fair Lawn/Dumont/Bergenfield
The senior forward eclipsed 70 career goals and assists this week in a pair of victories. Ferrante had a goal and three assists in a 6-2 win over Paramus Catholic on Friday. On Saturday, Ferrante had a season high five goals and one assist, including the game-winning goal in an 8-7 win over West Orange.
JT Gandara, Northern Highlands
The senior defenseman began the new year in a big way with three goals and one assist in a 4-2 win over Pascack Valley/Pascack Hills/Park Ridge on Thursday. It was the first points scored by Gandara since reaching the 100 career point mark back on Dec. 11 against Northern Valley.
John Gazzola, Don Bosco
The senior goalie earned his second shutout of the season in a 5-0 win over Princeton Day on Friday. Gazzola stopped all 30 shots he faced to tie a season high in saves. It’s the fourth career shutout for Gazzola during his time with the Ironmen.
Mason Giordano, Pope John
The sophomore goalie allowed only one goal across two games to help the Lions build an active five-game winning streak. Giordano followed up a shutout last week with an 18-save clean sheet against Livingston on Dec. 30, his third shutout of the year. Giordano stopped 26 of the 27 shots he faced in Friday’s 4-1 win over St. John Vianney.
Jared Helwani, Frisch
The junior goalie earned a shutout for the second straight week when he stopped all 26 shots faced in a 2-0 win over Verona/Glen Ridge on Dec. 30. Helwani ended the week with another victory in net, stopping 20 of 22 shots in a 6-2 win over Northern Valley on Saturday.
Mason Hriczov, Morristown Beard
The sophomore goalie has remained stellar for the Crimson with a pair of victories this week. Hriczov saved 16 of 17 shots in a 5-1 win over Pingry on Dec. 30. Hriczov mirrored the same performance on Thursday, stopping 16 of 17 shots in a win at Chatham.
Dominic Locricchio, West Orange
The senior defenseman has scored at least one point in all 10 games for the Mountaineers. Locricchio set a season high on Saturday with three goals and three assists in an 8-7 loss to Fair Lawn/Dumont/Bergenfield. In defeat, Locricchio scored his 15th goal for the third straight season.
Brody Ozga, Roxbury
The freshman forward has been a strong contributor for the Gaels, who remain undefeated in the Haas/Charette division. Ozga scored his first varsity hat trick and had two assists in an 8-0 win over Newton/Lenape Valley on Saturday.
Timmy Riche, West Milford/Pequannock/Pompton Lakes
The junior forward has at least 20 points for the second straight campaign after a strong game to begin the 2025 portion of the schedule for the tri-op. Riche had a hat trick and added three assists in a 7-6 overtime win over Paramus/Lyndhurst/Mahwah on Friday. Riche’s third goal of the night came with 2:49 left in overtime.
Braydon Sisco, KJS United
The sophomore forward has already matched his 33-point output from his freshman season. Sisco had two goals and three assists in a 6-2 win over Morristown on Dec. 30. Sisco helped KJS United get revenge on the Colonials, who are responsible for the tri-op’s only loss of the season. Sisco has had at least four points in a game six times this season.
Josef Zengerle, Ramsey/Indian Hills
The senior defenseman helped the Rams get a pair of victories this week. Zengerle had a goal and two assists in a 4-2 win over Morris Knolls/Morris Hills on Dec. 30. Zengerle added an assist and the game-winning goal in a 2-1 win over Ridgewood on Saturday.
