Watch list: Boys who can shine in New Jersey high school season

Nolan Collison had 66 points for Hillsborough last season. (Prudential Center)

The 2022-23 boys hockey season in New Jersey was an unpredictable one.

Three of the four tournaments crowned new champions, including St. Augustine, the seventh seed in the non-public tournament that took out defending champion and second-seeded CBA, third-seeded Don Bosco Prep, and top-seeded and perennial championship contender Delbarton in consecutive games to win the championship.

New teams are rising up the standings, and there are a number of players looking to make their mark.

Let’s examine some of the players to watch as this new season moves along.

Scott Capan

jr., G; Governor Livingston

After playing in only one game as a freshman, Capan earned the starting goalie position as a sophomore, and he cemented himself as one of the stronger goalies in the state. Capan turned away 415 out of 447 shots for a .928 save percentage. He earned three shutouts, including a night where he needed to be perfect, making 28 saves in a 0-0 tie against Livingston.

In the four games Governor Livingston played in the Public C tournament, Capan delivered with 92 total saves, increasing his total in each round, culminating in 32 saves in the team’s 5-4 victory over Colonia in the championship game. Prior to the championship game, Capan never had allowed more than a single goal in a game, including shutting out Paramus, 6-0, in the team’s first-round contest.

“Scott is an excellent goalie who, obviously, played a big role for us last year, and (we) fully expect him to take the next step this upcoming season,” coach Greg Jensen said. “He was a guy who we relied on to make a timely save and keep us in every game he played, especially down the stretch in the state playoffs.”

Nolan Collison

sr., F; Hillsborough

The 2022-23 season was massive for both Hillsborough and Collison. The team won 16 games and reached the Public A championship game, and Collison was a big reason why. After putting together a 43-point season as a sophomore, Collison took a big leap forward in production, leading the team with 32 goals and 34 assists for 66 points. He had 11 multigoal games, and in the team’s 8-4 victory over Bernards, Collison factored into every score, putting up five goals and three assists.

“Nolan is a leader both on and off the ice,” said Hillsborough coach Matthew Janos. “It is no secret that the offense on this team runs through him.”

Collison is 65 points away from 200 career points, and if he has another season like his junior year, he could eclipse that mark.

“It’s been a pleasure coaching Nolan over the last two seasons,” Janos said, “and I am excited to see the level of his game heading into his senior year.”

Cameron DeLeo

so., F; St. Augustine

It was a strong freshman campaign for DeLeo, who finished tied for second on the Non-Public champions in points with 18. DeLeo played in only 12 of the team’s 23 games, but he still scored seven goals and added 11 assists. In two games in the state tournament, DeLeo had an assist in each game, including the equalizer in the second period of the championship game that tied the game at two before St. Augustine topped Delbarton in overtime.

Kenny Kalman and Dean Toskos

sr., D, and sr., F; Don Bosco Prep

A pair of four-year varsity players will be on a mission to help propel Don Bosco back into the Non-Public championship after falling to St. Augustine, 2-1, in the semifinals.

In addition to helping lead the defense allow only 47 goals in 25 games — allowing more than three goals on only three occasions — Kalman chipped in one goal and seven assists. Head coach Greg Toskos commended Kalman for his leadership and hard work.

“Kalman leads a deep defensive core for the Ironmen,” he said. “Kenny is a swift-skating, big-hitting defenseman who has the ability to change games with his end-to-end rush ability. As a senior captain, Kenny has a tremendous work ethic on and off the ice.”

At the other end of the ice, Toskos is a two-year captain who led the team in scoring with career bests of 15 goals, 25 assists and 40 points. He had 14 multipoint games, including a 3-3 tie with Boston College High in which he scored two of the team’s goals and assisted on the other.

“He is a smooth-skating power forward that brings an element of strength and skill to a deep Ironmen lineup,” Greg Toskos said. “He plays in all situations for the Ironmen, including power play and PK.”

Dean Toskos recently committed to play Division 1 hockey for Holy Cross.

Denis Kuzmenkov

sr., F; Ridge

For the second season in a row, Ridge won the Public A championship; also, for the second consecutive year, Kuzmenkov led Ridge in points with 41. While his goal total was lower than the 2021-22 season (13 goals compared to 21), he set a career high with 28 assists. Kuzmenkov totaled at least three points in eight different contests.

Kuzmenkov put together strong performances against top competition. In the team’s 8-6 loss to Public C champion, he put together a season-high four points on one goal and a season-high three assists. In two games against Hillsborough, including the Public A championship, he combined for one goal and four assists.

Matt Nacinovich

jr., F; Chatham

After contributing 10 goals and four assists as a freshman, Nacinovich raised the bar for a Chatham team that lost by one goal in the finals of the NJSIAA Public B tournament. In the 2022-23 season, Nacinovich improved his totals to 15 goals and a team-best 23 assists to lead the team in points (38); his totals included two game-winning goals, the first of which came in thrilling fashion as Chatham beat Randolph 2-1 in overtime in the Mennen Cup championship game.

“Matt has been a big part of our success the last two seasons,” said Chatham coach Brendon Herr. “He has clearly defined himself as one of the top players in our league and continues to produce points each night.

“Matt has a bright future,” Herr added, “and we look for him to lead our team to a successful season once again.”

Max Pendy

sr., F; Delbarton

Delbarton graduates several high-powering forwards — Duncan Stewart with 54 points, Trip Pendy with 47 points, and Nick Faccone with 42 points — as well as defender Timmy Galvin, who added six goals and 22 assists. Max Pendy will be counted on to pick up some of that scoring slack.

In the 2022-23 season, he finished fifth on the team — most among non-seniors — with 20 points on 11 goals and nine assists. Gloucester Catholic certainly won’t be looking forward to seeing him. In the Gordon Cup semifinals, Pendy scored three goals in Delbarton’s 7-0 win, and in the Non-Public semifinal, Pendy scored two goals and added two assists.

Andrew Skorupka

jr., G; CBA

As a sophomore, Skorupka was tested, facing 349 shots, but he rose to the occasion, turning away 314 of them. In six different contests, he gave up one or fewer goals, including both contests against eventual Non-Public champion St. Augustine, making 26 saves and shutting out the opponent in the quarterfinal of the Gordon Cup and allowing one goal with 16 saves in the Non-Public quarterfinals.

Brady Verdon

so., F; Toms River East

The Raiders went from 7-11-5 and a play-in round loss in the 2021-22 season to 18-6 and advancing to the quarterfinal round of the Public C tournament, losing to eventual champion Governor Livingston. Verdon, a freshman, led the team in goals (25) and points (40). His impact was immediate, scoring hat tricks in two of his first three games of his career. He scored in 14 of his 19 games played and totaled at least one point in every contest; his season-best came in a 10-3 victory over Central Regional when he had four goals and five points.

Alongside junior Joseph Taliercio, who led the team in assists with 23, the young burgeoning offense could shine brightly with another year of experience.