NEWARK, NJ — From the opening puck drop of the season, it was evident that KJS United had the clearest path among co-op teams to at least return to the Prudential Center. Their opponent this evening featured a program that didn’t even exist three seasons ago, yet took massive leaps each year they hit the ice. Ultimately it would be the more experienced squad taking home the hardware, with KJS exploding for five scores in the final twenty-three minutes to capture their second title in as many seasons 5-1.
The first period may have been scoreless but was not without its big moments. KJS’s Eddie Brown and Braydon Sisco nearly connected on a pair of cross-crease passes, and just missed the crossbar on a blue line snipe from Alex Roslan. NHV tested opposing netminder Stephen Filewicz with several high-quality looks from Dominic Moushon dished from linemate Dylan Swon.
With all the stars on the ice, it was the third piece of the top line, Maximo Rodriguez that broke the seal, hitting a shot from the far circle to put an end to Logan Konstalid’s 13 period playoff shutout streak. Mere moments later Sisco continued his postseason dominance with a close quarters goal, forcing an early timeout from NHV. Though it took some time for the stoppage to take effect, Swon received a gorgeous stretch pass from Butch Baumgarten resulting in a breakaway score, slashing the deficit in half with under two minutes to go. Sisco would go to the box to give NHV a man advantage entering the final stanza.
However it’d be a power play goal of his own that’d restore the two goal lead for KJS, an advantage they would not surrender. Sisco would end the contest with a hat trick, pushing his goal total in state finals games to a remarkable five. In his NJSIAA postseason career overall, Sisco has compiled 33 goals, 14 assists, and 47 points in just 13 contests. That’s an average of 3.6 points per game on the biggest stages the state has to offer.
Not to be forgotten is the run that NHV goalie Logan Konstalid had, posting a 4-1-0 record, with a 1.00 GAA, a .962 save percentage and four shutouts. He was the anchor for a program that has quickly become a superpower out of the Skyland Conference that shows no signs of slowing down.
With the victory, KJS United become just the third co-op program to win multiple titles as well as the third to win back-to-back, along with the NJIIHL’s Governor Livingston/New Providence, and their Mennen division rivals Morris Knolls/Hills.
