VIDEO: Ramapo Routs Indian Hills in State Tournament, 5-0

WAYNE—Athletes are often reminded that games are just games—they aren’t life and death. Tuesday night at the Ice Vault, that theory was put to the test.

Earlier in the day, junior forward Matt Mintz attended the funeral of his grandfather, Alan Mintz, one of the team’s biggest fans. Ramapo dedicated the game to Alan Mintz, and not only did Coach Lee Barber guarantee Mintz’s mother a victory, but even promised Matt would get a goal for his grandfather.

Ramapo’s emotions were already on high. For starters, it was the opening round of the Public B state tournament. Furthermore, they were up against their district rival, Indian Hills (11-13-1), which had beaten them 1-0 when they played last in late January. Additionally, the sting of their last game, a Big North Silver semifinal loss to St. Joe’s, where Ramapo simply didn’t perform to its potential, was still strong.

Ramapo (19-5-2) was in an utter domination mode, and the fifth-seeded Raiders dispatched (No. 28) Indian Hills, 5-0. None of the goals were more meaningful than the one off the stick of Mintz in the second period.

“The last game Alan had seen was our [1-0] loss to Indian Hills,” said Barber. “A lot of kids wouldn’t have found a way to come out and suit up tonight, but I told the guys before the game that at a time like this, Matt wanted to be with his brothers.”

His goal was only Mintz’s second of the season. Dan Collins drew an assist, but Mintz himself wondered if there might have been a higher authority at work.

“The puck took a great bounce and wound up right on my stick,” said Mintz. “I know my grandfather was here in spirit, and this big win and my goal were special to him. He had taken me to plenty of practices over the years and some NHL games, too. We had a lot of fun together with hockey.”

Ramapo dominated from the opening faceoff, outshooting the Braves, 33-6. The Raiders took a 1-0 lead eight minutes in on a Dylan Roberts point shot, and broke the game open in the second. Jeremy Roberts ripped home a wrist shot just 45 seconds into the period, and Mintz and Collins scored just 15 seconds apart at a little more than halfway through the period. Brandon Nicodemo closed out the scoring with 4:30 left, converting a feed from Cory Sala, who had two assists.

The Raiders now host (No. 12) Kinnelon in the second round Thursday night at the Ice Vault.

“When Ramapo is on they’re a tough team to beat,” said Braves’ coach Phil Murphy, “and they were really on tonight. They jumped on us at the onset, and managed to maintain that pace for the entire game.”

Barber said the Raider locker room was like “New Year’s Eve,” a stark contrast to the gloom that permeated after last week’s playoff loss. “Honestly, I could tell we were going to win when I saw my players in school throughout the day. They had a focused look that told me they were going to be ready to play.”

Goalie Carl Boomhower got the same feeling, but he got it the day before.

“I knew we were going to win after Monday night’s practice,” said Boomhower after recording his 21^st career shutout. “We practiced with a lot of heart, and played with plenty of emotion tonight, and we plan on maintaining that throughout the state tournament.”

Barber made good on a Facebook promise to hit the “Easy” button—a Ramapo ritual to celebrate goals with their fans—after the game. He walked over to the bleachers and hurled himself into the plexi-glass, only to bounce off and tumble to the ice.

That, however, was the only thing that went wrong all night for Ramapo.

“We gave coach high marks for style,” said Mintz, managing a smile, “but not for the landing.”