Hockey star picks HHS team
By: John Beisser
WEST ORANGE Matt Janos was facing a dilemma last Saturday. His high school team was slated to play for the Van Cott White Division Championship vs. Montclair Kimberly Academy in West Orange at 1 p.m. Meanwhile, his AAU team, the Mercer Chiefs, had a big game vs. the Junior Flyers in Aston, Pa. at 3 p.m.
Janos wrestled with the decision all week and it wasn’t until Friday night when he reached a verdict. At 9:30 p.m. on Friday, he picked up the phone and called Hillsborough High first-year head coach Pat Verney with the news that he had opted to play with his high school team.
Just 3:03 into the game, Janos scored the game’s first goal on a breakaway and he later assisted on two others as Hillsborough thrashed Montclair Kimberly 7-0 to claim the division title and the Van Cott Cup.
"I came to the decision literally last night at 9:30," Janos said Saturday in the hallway outside the victorious Hillsborough locker room. "I was completely torn the entire week. When I called Coach Verney he was very happy. He was ecstatic."
The Chiefs were set to face the Flyers in game two of a five-game series on Saturday with the series winner set to gain a berth in the Nationals. Two nights earlier, Janos had helped the Chiefs gain a 1-0 edge in the series with a 3-0 victory.
Choosing to play in the game two of the AAU series would have given Janos some exposure as several college coaches were set to be in attendance. In the end, Janos went with his heart and his heart told him that his place was with his high school teammates.
"It just shows his individual character to say, ‘I’m going to back my friends, these are the kids I grew up with, and I’m going to be there for them,’" Verney said. "And that’s what his decision came down to."
"It was a very tough decision," Janos said. "I had some schools coming down to watch me in that game but I just felt this was a once in a lifetime experience. Playing for this cup, with all of the notoriety throughout the sate of New Jersey, I figured I’d come in here and play with the best friends I had grown up with. It’s just something I’ll cherish forever."
Could the Raiders have defeated Montclair Kimberly without the services of Janos? A quick glance at the one-sided final score would suggest yes but the answer will never be known. Janos decided to play with his high school mates and then his fine play helped decide the game in Hillsborough’s favor.
"From day one, Matt has been committed to this program," Verney said. "It’s not just about his offense, which is obvious, but he has also been one of the better defensive forwards for us all year. His commitment to complete hockey has been something that coach’s dream about.
"To be honest with you, I’m in my first year and I’ll be coaching a long time before I come across a player like Matt Janos again," Verney added. "He’s a special one."

