'Roberts Family Hockey Factory' Facing Off at Collegiate Level

At an ice rink halfway down Florida's Atlantic coast, two of the most dynamic players to come out of Ramapo's hockey program recently faced off at the collegiate level.

The players share more than a former high school and a passion for the game.

They're brothers, and you would probably enjoy having Ryan and Jeremy Roberts on your squad more than you would playing against them.

And even though Ryan and Jeremy have left New Jersey for college in Florida, 's lineup isn't without a product of what Raider coach Lee Barber calls the “Roberts Family Hockey Factory.”

This year skating for Ramapo is the last of the trio of ice-inclined brothers: Dylan, a junior standout on the blue line.

While he was been busy getting ready for the Raiders’ season opener this past Monday, his brothers — Jeremy, who graduated last year, and Ryan, a 2009 grad — had a bit of a family reunion on the ice in Orlando at University of Central Florida’s home rink last month.

Ryan is a junior at Florida Atlantic University and Jeremy is an impact freshman for UCF. They played on consecutive days with all proceeds going to the Susan G. Komen For the Cure foundation.

The UCF volleyball team collected donations at the door, and players wore pink socks, taped their sticks in pink, and wore ribbons on their helmets to support breast cancer awareness month.

It was the younger brother who earned the bragging rights this time around, with UCF winning twice, 6-2 and 5-2. Jeremy keyed the UCF attack in the first game with two goals, and in the second game Jeremy and Ryan each scored.

Jeremy’s reaction to the matches was just what you’d expect from a pair of rough-and-tumble hockey bros.

“Oh, we went at it pretty good,” he laughed. “It was amazing how often we were on the ice at the same time. I took Ryan out once when I was backchecking. We both kept an eye on each other the whole time we were out there.”

While at Ramapo, the brothers were used to keeping an eye out for each other, too.

During Jeremy’s freshman and sophomore seasons he was Ryan's teammate. During his junior and senior years, he skated alongside Dylan. Ryan and Jeremy were both team captains.

For a change, the rafters weren’t packed with members of the Roberts family.

“I do have an aunt who lives in Florida, and it was nice she was able to come out and watch,” said Jeremy. “Of course, she was texting updates to my parents during the game.”

Jeremy has gotten plenty of ice time — including some on the power play — for a team ranked No. 1 in the Southeast Region of the American Collegiate Hockey Association. They are hoping to be the thick of it for the Division III National Championship.

“We have a lot of guys who are due to graduate in December, and we want to win it for them,” said Jeremy. “There are only three guys on the team who aren’t from the state of Florida, so it’s mostly a homegrown team. Some of my teammates are in their mid-20s, so I’d say size and strength are the biggest difference at this level.”

In mid-January, the two teams will play again — this time at FAU's home rink.

Before they are opponents again, however, Jeremy and Ryan will have a chance to pull on the same jerseys — and for the first time, both line up opposite from Dylan the day after Thanksgiving in an annual Ramapo alumni game against the current varsity squad.

“It’s always been two of us against one,” said Jeremy. “This time it’s Dylan’s turn.”