Top-ranked KJS United (14-4-0) took on third-ranked Mendham (8-11-1) in the Halvorsen Cup Final at Mennen Arena on Thursday night. The two teams have already met twice this year, which Kinnelon won in back-to-back games earlier in February. You could feel the tension as both teams finished warmups and huddled up for one final time before puck drop. KJS was able to come away with the 5-2 victory to improve its record to 15-4-0.
Mendham came out firing early in the 1st period, putting three shots on goal, but KJS goalie Rylan Gibbons got in front of each shot kept the game scoreless. The United broke through first, with freshman Brayden Sisco finding the back of the net and putting pressure on the Minutemen just five minutes into the game.
KJS continued to dominate, controlling the puck on the offensive end of the ice. Mendham could not get anything going, and the shots just kept coming from the United. Mendham goalie Brendon Eigner was locked in, though, saving each shot that came his way to keep the deficit at just one goal. The period ended with KJS up 1-0. The United outshot the Minutemen 14-5 heading into the first intermission.
The 2nd period saw more of the same, with KJS even getting a power play early in the period. The Mendham defense stood tall to kill the power play to keep the game at 1-0. With a little under five minutes to go in the period, the Minutemen struck back. Brandon Eigner (twin brother of goalie Brendon) put one past Gibbons to tie the game up at one.
KJS turned on the jets after that, with the 2nd period winding down, Senior Forward Adam Stefancik rushed the net and put one passed Eigner, and the United went up 2-1 going into the second intermission.
The third period was all KJS. Senior Logan Winslow connected on a goal just minutes into the period to make it a 3-1 game. Minutes later, Stefancik capitalized on a turnover and scored to make it 4-1. Winslow scored a second goal of his own as KJS captured its first Halvorsen Cup as a team with the 5-2 victory. This was a huge win for the program, as the United now turn their attention to their run at a state title.
