When field hockey’s duty is done, it’s time for ice hockey to do its job. The 2024-25 Patriots are back on the ice, and once again led by coach Ian Fahy. Coming off a 9-10-1 (4-1-1 conference) campaign last season, it concluded with a loss at Ocean Township in the first round of the NJSIAA Sectional Tournament.
The regular season kicks off against Central Regional on December 6, with another home game being played against rival Marlboro on December 9. The first road trip of the season consists of three consecutive games against Howell, Montclair, and Old Bridge from December 11-18.
The Patriots will play their final game of 2024 on December 19 in a home matchup vs. Toms River East. 2025 kicks off with another home game on January 6 against Southern.
From January 8-15, the Patriots will be on the road for 4 of 5. Matchups at Ocean Township and Lacey are scheduled for January 8 and 10, respectively. They will play Ocean Township again on the 15th, with a road game against Princeton scheduled for the day prior. The lone home game sandwiched between the road trip is against Brick Township on January 13th.
The team returns home on January 17th against South Brunswick, but not before another two-game road span. Hated rival Freehold Boro will host the Patriots on January 20, with Red Bank Regional welcoming them in one day later.
The schedule includes a crucial 4 of 5 homestand to conclude the season. West Orange and Johnson will make the trip to Township’s rink on January 24 and 30. The final road game of the season takes place on Colonia’s ice on January 31. Manalapan will make the trip on February 2, while seniors will be honored in the season-finale against East Brunswick a day later.
Speaking of seniors, Patrick Connors, Brenden Carfagno, Ryan Schiffner, and Matt McCue are entering their farewell seasons with the team. Carfagno and Connors each scored four goals last season, with McCue and Schiffner each putting one puck in the net.
Last year’s leading scorer Hayden Nubile transferred to Howell during the offseason. Jack Sciarra, Colin Hall, Jack Fournier, Jayson Chu, and Thomas Carbone return to the program for their junior seasons. Goalie Jason Maietta is looking to break out as a junior, too. He recorded 423 saves last season. Chu is the highest-returning junior in scoring from last season, where he tallied three goals.
Trace Wozniak, Luke Policelli, Ryder Barnfield, Taylor Schiffner, and Aiden Voicheck are representatives of the sophomore class for the Patriots Ice Hockey team. Wozniak is the highest-returning scorer from last season, with 10 goals. It is Voicheck’s first season with the Patriots after transferring to FTHS over the summer.
The Pats would also like to welcome six new freshmen to the program: Alex Lombardi, Anthony Lovarco, Kian Carbone, Isabella Bruno, Nick Lombardi, and Mark Policelli. Bruno will slot in as the second goalie behind Maietta. Good luck to them in their first seasons! There are many more stunning performances to come.
As always, if we want to win a championship in sports, remember to STAY CLASSY!
