By: Ken Weingartner
The "new" in this season has a couple meanings for the South Brunswick ice hockey team.
First, the Vikings have a new coach in Noah Antonoff, who comes to the program after five years at Bernards, three as an assistant and two as head coach. Antonoff, 28, who teaches in Franklin, replaces Mark Kmiec, who took a job as an assistant principal at Crossroads North this summer and had to give up coaching.
Second, South Brunswick joins a new league this season, the Central Conference White Division, after spending the first five years of its existence in the Southern Conference. The Vikings join Montclair-Kimberley, Summit, Montgomery, Westfield, Watchung Hills and Bernards in the CC White.
South Brunswick went 10-9-2 last season, rallying from a 1-7-1 start to qualify for the state playoffs for a fourth straight year. The Vikings were 53-31-5 during that four-season span.
"I don’t know what to expect," Antonoff said. "My style is definitely different from Kmiec’s, so there’s an adjustment period we’re still going through. One good thing is that I have a lot of knowledge in the Central White having coached there. I think we can have quite a bit of success in the division. I know the other coaches in the conference and how the teams are developed."
Although South Brunswick lost six seniors from last season’s squad, the Vikings welcome back a number of key contributors, including forwards Zach Belfer, Chris Guarini, Vinnie Fedele and Anthony Calvano. Adding depth to the nucleus up front are Mike Mazzola, George Silvistro and Mark Wilson.
"My first two lines probably can keep up with almost anyone in the state," Antonoff said. "I try to allow for a creative style offensively, and I have a lot more talent than I expected."
On defense, the Vikings return Anton Rassadkin, Conor Monaghan, Dan Schiatta, Richie Stewart and John Scharff while adding freshman Dan Fortunato.
"My six defensemen are phenomenal," Antonoff said. "On the defensive end, I want to be very conservative a lot of positioning. I like them to know where they have to be and how to react to whatever situation is happening."
Zack Brooks and Carmine Sodano are battling for the starting job in goal. Returnee Eric Krisher, who had two shutouts last season, is ineligible.
South Brunswick opens its season tomorrow with a trip to Summit, which qualified for the state playoffs last season and ended the campaign 12-13-0. Four of the Vikings’ first five games are on the road, with trips to Montgomery (Dec. 6), Watchung Hills (Dec. 14) and Montclair-Kimberley (Dec. 17) interrupted only by a home contest against Ridge (Dec. 7).
Montgomery was 4-15-4 last season, playing in the Southern Conference Red Division, while Watchung Hills was 19-4-2 while seeing action in the Central Conference Blue Division. Montclair-Kimberley was 2-15-4 in the CC Red Division. Ridge, which reached the state quarterfinals last year, won the CC Red and was 21-4-1 overall.
