For the first time since 2013-14, the Bridgewater-Raritan High School ice hockey team has won its first two state tournament games.
After defending its Skyland Cup title, New Jersey’s No. 11-ranked ice hockey team in Bridgewater-Raritan (20-3-1) launched its bid to win a state championship with a vengeance as the No. 1 seed in the NJSIAA South New Jersey, Public School, Ice Hockey Tournament.
The top-seeded Panthers cruised past No. 16-seeded Central Regional High School by mercy rule, 11-1, in their state tournament opener Thursday, February 26, at Bridgewater Sports Arena in Bridgewater. Two days later, Bridgewater-Raritan then rolled to a 6-0 victory over eighth-seeded Hunterdon Central Regional High School in the state sectional quarterfinals Saturday, February 28, at Rock Ice Arena in Dunellen.
While the Panthers were the No. 1 seed in last year’s state sectional playoffs, they were upset by then eighth-seeded seeded and eventual sectional finalist Monroe Township High School in overtime, 3-2. One year later and after their big victory over Skyland Conference rival Hunterdon Central, the Panthers are now winners of at least 20 games in consecutive seasons for the first time since producing three such campaigns in consecutive fashion from 2012-15.
Bridgewater-Raritan’s victory over Hunterdon Central was also its third of the season over the Red Devils from Flemington, who were previously defeated by scores of 5-1 and 4-1 by the Panthers on January 2 and January 23, respectively.
In the state sectional semifinals on Monday afternoon, Bridgewater-Raritan will next square off against another familiar foe in Skyland Conference Rival and fourth-seeded Ridge High School (14-10-1). The Panthers have won all three of their previous meetings against the Red Devils from Basking Ridge, including a pair of shutout victories, 2-0 and 3-0, on January 7 and January 16, respectively.
However, the Red Devils’ furious rally from a four-goal deficit in both teams’ most recent rematch in the Skyland Cup semifinals fell short on February 16, but Bridgewater-Raritan held on for a 6-5 victory en route to repeating as Skyland Cup champions.
The opening puck drop in the fourth and final matchup of the season between Ridge and Bridgewater-Raritan will be 3 p.m. Monday, March 2, at Bridgewater Sports Arena in Bridgewater.
The winner of this matchup will advance to the South, Public state sectional final against either third-seeded Middletown High School North (14-6-2) or second-seeded and reigning state champion Westfield High School (18-3): New Jersey’s top-ranked public school and No. 7-ranked team overall. This state sectional finals matchup is currently scheduled for 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 5, at the William G. Mennen Sports Arena in Morris Township.