Delbarton Hockey Wins State Championship in Overtime

The Delbarton Green Wave ice hockey team was losing late in the third period of the NJSIAA Non-Public state championship game at the Prudential Center in Newark on Sunday, but after a late game tying goal and a goal in overtime, Delbarton are the NJSIAA Non-Public state champions for the fourth consecutive year, 3-2.
 
The Star-Ledger No. 1 ranked team in New Jersey solidified their spot as the state's best with 4:41 left in overtime, when senior forward Peter McMullen ripped a one-timer off of a John Baiocco pass, sealing the win.

“It’s definitely a special team,” Delbarton head coach Bruce Shatel said. “Coming into this year there were a lot of unknowns and a lot of young guys being asked to play responsible roles. In the last two weeks I think we came together as a family and it showed out there when we fell behind. Our guys were resilient."

Minutes earlier, it didn't appear that Delbarton would get a chance to hoist the championship trophy in front of the more than 7,000 fans in attendance, as St. Augustine ripped off two goals in the third period, giving them a 2-1 lead.

Delbarton stayed tough, though, and with just over two minutes remaining, senior defenseman Matt Killian netted the Green Wave's second goal of the night, tying the game and setting up his teammate for overtime glory. 

“We had opportunity after opportunity, and it was easy to get frustrated, but our guys did a great job of maintaining our composure,” Shatel said. “It was a terrific hockey game, St. Augustine is a great team and they’ve proved that. They’ve played us even for eight periods in a row now and it’s just unfortunate that someone has to lose. I have so much respect for their coach and their players.” 

Delbarton had many chances to end the game in overtime, but struggled to get the puck past St. Augustine goalie Alexander Piratzky, until Baiocco and McMullen connected for the win.

“I think it was unreal,” Shatel said. “The guys were unselfish with one another and Johnny puts one in Peter’s wheelhouse, and Peter didn’t hesitate to put in the back of the net. It was a phenomenal goal.” 

With the win, Delbarton solidifies their spot as the best team in New Jersey, something that Shatel knows is special. 

“From day one we always want to be playing on the last day of the season and we accomplished that goal,” he said. “And to win on the last day of the season and to be honored as the number one team in New Jersey, that’s a pretty special accomplishment and it’s something that I don’t take lightly and neither do my kids.”