ROSELLE, NJ- The Arthur L. Johnson High School Crusaders varsity ice hockey team had a night filled with many accomplishments. First up was a Senior Night Ceremony honoring their 2019 senior players prior to the Wednesday night game against the Bayonne High School Bees at Warinanco Park in Roselle.
Captains Matt Along and Jason Applini, alternate captain Tyler Mekovetz, along with Mike Alongi, Jaysen Rossilli and Tommy Gesior were honored in a pregame ceremony for their years of hard work and dedication in the Johnson ice hockey program.
Despite the tough season the team has had, they earned the praise of their coaches for all the hard work over the years.
“This group of seniors always come on game day ready to work and ready to grind it out, regardless of the outcome,” Johnson head coach Bryan Klimchak said. “They’re always leaving it out on the ice. You never have to question whether or not they’re going to put the puck in the back of the net.”
“They want to pick each other up when they’re falling down,” he added.
For the players, they describe their time with the program as making memories and friendships as the years went by.
“It was fun,” Rossilli said. “It was quite the experience and I learned a lot.”
“We’re a really tight-knit team and consider ourselves family here,” Gesior said. “We just love playing with each other day-in and day-out. It all becomes part of the sequence. I’m definitely going to miss it. I know the other seniors will.”
As for the game, the Crusaders overcame an early 4-2 deficit, receiving a shorthanded goal from Matt Alongi and six goals from junior Nick Galati, countering six goals from Bayonne’s Billy Parsley to outlast the Bees 9-6 in a high-scoring match.
Full Coverage of Johnson Varsity Ice Hockey Senior Night Win over Bayonne HS Here
