How CBA hockey is solving clash between high school sports, travel team demands

The ice hockey program at Christian Brothers Academy continues to hover above competition at the Shore in a different stratosphere, and not merely because of its presence in the elite Gordon Conference with the other top non-public programs in New Jersey. CBA finished last season with a record of 18-3-2, the second-best in the conference, in what could be considered a down year for a program with understandably outsized expectations.

CBA took home the state title in the 2021-22 season without suffering a loss — the team tied in three of its first four games before finishing the season on a 26-game win streak. Setting aside the pandemic-shortened 2020-21 season, it was the second consecutive state title for the Colts after they went 20-4-3 and took home the Non-Public state title in the 2019-20 season.

This year, the goal for CBA is to reclaim its place at the pinnacle of high school hockey in New Jersey.

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"It seems like every other year we spark and we take the run to the end," said head coach Andy Gojdycz. "That's only based upon the leadership we have with our players and the commitment level they have. We hold pretty high expectations for every player on the varsity program."

Those high expectations are spread across the varsity team and CBA's two junior varsity teams. An incredible 76 players came out to training camp this season, a testament to the depth and competition level within the program.

That roster depth also further insulates the team from what is often the competing interests of the important club hockey season, which coincides with the high school season and effects virtually every NJSIAA hockey team in New Jersey. Gojdycz explained that CBA has refined a collaborative approach with travel teams that eased the burden of those dueling commitments and allowed his program to flourish.

"Our players are committed to the program," he said. "It's CBA first to a degree, even though most if not all of them play travel hockey. And with most of the other teams, we have a two-way street. So as long as the travel teams understand our schedule, we understand their schedule and we make it work."

That approach is just yet another example of the culture that has been developed over time and continues to attract exceptional talent.

"The kid understands the program that they're playing for, and that's why they come here and that's why they want to be a part of it," added Gojdycz. "That's definitely an important step in creating a championship atmosphere."

There is no questioning that in any given year the Colts are capable of competing for a state title. But there are some questions left to be answered about how this year's iteration of the team will accomplish that ultimate goal.

Despite losses, Colts 'confident in our core group'

With a program that consistently competes at the level of CBA, there are always key graduating seniors that need to be replaced. But the Colts are also reckoning with the departure of last year's superstar junior Christian Chouha, who elected not to return this season as he prepares to eventually play collegiately for Princeton. Last winter, he put together an incredible 60-point season that was a precise split of 30 goals and 30 assists.

"We did lose Christian," said Gojdycz, "But the core of our team is back."

That core will instead be headlined by Sean Guinessey, who had 13 goals and 27 assists for the team last season. The senior will surely be tasked with a significant portion of the offensive workload as the team replaces Chouha and Leighton Biesiadecki at the forward spot. Thomas Mantellino, who had 21 points last season, returns alongside Guinessey. The Colts also bring back double-digit point scorers in junior Dominic Szczygiel and sophomore Anthony Brereton, but there will be intrigue early in the season as they experiment with lineups to see who can step into bigger offensive roles.

"There are at least four to six kids that have that potential in addition to our new kids, which I won't label yet because they haven't played in a game yet," said Gojdycz. "We won't really have that finger on the pulse until probably after the second or third week of the season."

The Colts also bring back a stellar pair of defensemen with RJ Sun and Derek Fiore, those two should be up to the task of replacing last year's elite duo of APP Player of the Year Patrick Reilly and Michael Gravina. The experience on defense is further sharpened by the return of junior goaltender Andrew Skorupka, who had a 90% save rate last year as a sophomore.

"We're pretty confident in our core group coming back," added Gojdycz. "They'll start the wheels turning in the right direction, and it's just a matter of getting on the ole' wagon and getting it done."

'Rise to the occasion': CBA must topple St. Augustine and Delbarton

The journey of getting back to the Non-Public state championship has many stops along the way, but arguably none will be more pivotal than when CBA faces perennial contender Delbarton. In three matchups last season, the Colts could not topple the Green Wave as they fought to a tie and lost twice, including in the Gordon Cup final. The frustration from those defeats still lingers for Gojdycz.

"We felt as a staff that we did not play our best hockey against Delbarton," he said. "Especially the first game we played in here (at Jersey Shore Arena). I thought we were embarrassed in our own building. We lost 3-1, I want to say or 4-1 with an empty-netter I believe it was."

Aside from those results in three games against Delbarton, CBA only tied one other game and lost one other game.

"We didn't play well. We didn't play to the expectation of, you're playing Delbarton today," added Gojdycz. "You have to rise to the occasion. And it comes down to being prepared mentally and physically for every contest. And that's something that we need to have this year, and have a chip on our shoulder cause we couldn't get it done last year."

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Of course, every matchup is daunting in the Gordon Conference. Even the remotest slip up, like those three games in an otherwise immaculate regular season, can be the difference in meeting elite expectations and falling short. And this year, Gojdycz foresees even more parity within the league.

"I think it's going to be a race to the end for this Gordon group," he said. "It's gonna be a dog fight, in my opinion. I think it's going to be one of the most combative years in the Gordon Conference."

CBA's sky-high expectations are only met by the rarified air of their skill level. But at these altitudes, there is no margin for error. Time will tell if this year's Colts are up for the challenge.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Jersey Shore hockey: CBA solving clash between school team, travel teams