By, David Hashagen

Newark, NJ — It is very rare in a time of super teams and dynasties that a state final features two first time finalists.  But for Westfield and Ridgewood it was uncharted waters in the NJSIAA Public final on Monday at the Prudential Center.  For the Blue Devils it was a moment of vindication, after falling at the final hurdle for 5 years in a row in the state semi-finals, they had finally taken their spot on the main stage, in a state final.  In previous years, Westfield had always come up just short and watched the opportunity drift away until next December. But Coach Bertucci and his squad would not let the moment slip away this time, as Westfield claimed their first state title with a 5-2 win over a very game Ridgewood squad at The Rock.

Westfield controlled the pace early in the first period which had Ridgewood back on their heels, with Jack Scali staying steady as a last line of defense. Both teams had a decent number of looks in the first period, as the Maroons grew into the game and Westfield continued to get good looks on goal.  Late in the first period, Westfield thought they had the opener on the power play but was immediately waved off for a high stick. But the Blue Devils would get their reward a minute and a half later. Captain Jack Conrod collected the puck in the far corner and whipped a wicked wrister from the goal line over the shoulder of Scali to the top corner of the net, sending the Westfield faithful into a frenzy.

The second period got off to a hot start for the Maroons. On the penalty kill, AJ LoSauro took advantage of a giveaway in the Westfield zone, and after a series of nifty stick handles deposited the puck past Conover to tie the score at 1. For the rest of the period it was Westfield back in control, as the Blue Devils blue liners continued to control the LoSauro brothers and peppering Scali on the other end. But the senior continued standing like a monolith in the crease including making a triple save around the 6:30 mark in the period to keep it tied.  But the more Westfield got the puck, the more their confidence grew and with under 2 minutes it paid off with a 1-2 combo.

With just under two minutes left in the period, Aiden Wilson received a great feed from Jackson Chicola, and after having his initial shot blocked, a kind rebound went right back to him and the ensuing shot went past Scali.  50 seconds later it would be one of Westfield’s unsung heroes who would step into the spotlight. Senior defenseman Danny McDevitt found a loose puck at the top of the circle and fired it through a screen over the shoulder of Scali, for what would be the game-winning goal.

Westfield would put the game on ice early on in the third period.  After a goalmouth scramble, senior Brody Esler would get the puck underneath Scali to make it 4-1 with assists from Reed and Petrarca.  Ridgewood would find a breath of life a few minutes later as AJ LoSauro would find paydirt again, ripping a shot off the back bar off a feed from his brother Will.  The goal would lead to a Maroon surge, testing Conover and the Westfield defense for the next several minutes. The three goal lead would be reestablished with half of the third to play, as Chicola stole the puck off a block and dangled his way past Scali and to the back of the net.

Despite the best efforts of the Maroons, it was Westfield’s time and would not relent until the clock hit zero, triggering a yard sale of epic proportions.  Yes this was a first state title for Westfield, which for any school is a reason for jubilation.  But for this senior class in particular, who had gone through a half decade of being almost there, it meant so much more.  It was the release of joy after heartbreak, achievement after missed expectations, and the top of the podium after so often just falling short.  This year, the hockey gods finally smiled on the Blue Devils, with a title earned and a curse ended and perhaps, a dynasty of their own has begun.