After defeating the state’s No. 1-ranked team in Delbarton 3-1 recently at Pershing Field in Jersey City, there was some talk whether the Hudson Catholic hockey team could do the seemingly unthinkable – be moved into the premier spot in the entire state.
“Right now, we would love to be No. 1,” said goaltender Joe Aliseo, who was absolutely brilliant in net against Delbarton, resembling a shooting gallery target by stopping 38 shots. “But it’s not that important right now. We’re just trying to gain a sense of respect from the rest of the teams in the state. If that means being No. 1, then fine. But we don’t have to be No. 1.”
However, it’s safe to say that Aliseo’s thoughts changed dramatically last Tuesday morning, when the members of the Hawks opened the pages of The Star-Ledger and saw that they had indeed catapulted into the No. 1 slot.
It marked the first time in Hudson Catholic’s 20-year hockey history that they were ranked No. 1 in the state.
“I was a little surprised,” Hudson Catholic head coach Cory Robinson said. “Let’s just say that it was a happy surprise. The kids felt that we should be No. 1, especially after beating Delbarton.”
And it’s the culmination of a meteoric rise among the high school hockey ranks in the Garden State.
“When we started eight years ago, we were in the American C Division [which is relegated to the weaker teams in the state] and now we’re No. 1 in the state,” Robinson said.
Although Robinson knew last Monday night that the 14-1-2 Hawks were being moved up to the No. 1 spot in the state, the news of the No. 1 ranking quickly filtered through the school on Tuesday morning.
“Everyone in the student body has latched on to this team,” Robinson said. “But seeing it in the paper on Tuesday was really something to stare at.”
But the Hawks had little time to enjoy the view from the top. They had a game against the state’s No. 4 team, Bergen Catholic, Tuesday night.
“It could have been the shortest-lived stay at No. 1,” Robinson said. “It’s hard to play a big game on the day we found out we were No. 1.”
Mike Caputo’s goal in the second period snapped a 1-1 tie and enabled the Hawks to capture a 2-1 victory, to keep the ranking and the prestige for another week.
“We have to be happy,” Robinson said. “We’ve hit February and we have so much to play for. We’ve put ourselves into position that if we win every game, we can be the top ranked team in the Parochial, the top seed in the states and the No. 1 team in the state. I think they understand that now.”
And the Hawks maintained the No. 1 ranking for another week, although they struggled to get past city rival St. Peter’s Prep, coming away with a 7-4 victory.
Robinson knows that the road ahead won’t be easy. Christian Brothers Academy, the only team to defeat the Hawks this year, lies ahead this week. Seton Hall Prep is on tap next Friday.
“And I honestly don’t think we’re playing as good as we could play,” Robinson said. “We’re only having one or two players having a great game. If we’re going to win down the stretch, we need everyone to play better.”
Robinson is aware that with the state’s No. 1 ranking, there is a bull’s eye, with every other team in the state shooting for you.
“To be honest, people have been shooting for us anyway,” Robinson said. “But it’s different, because we haven’t been in this position before.”
For now, Robinson likes the view from the top.
“I don’t think anyone could have imagined this,” Robinson said. “Who knows? We’ll see where it leads. We know that we’re better than we’ve been playing.”