Christian Brothers Academy (CBA) ice hockey coach Ryan Bogan has plenty of reasons to feel a particular sense of pride these days.
First, his team took a 16-3-3 record and another Shore Conference A North Division Championship into the heralded Gordon Cup tournament. The Colts were successful in their opener on Feb. 17 against St. Augustine College Preparatory School, winning a close 4-3 contest. Conor Tierney scored two shorthanded goals, including the game-winner. After a scoreless first period, CBA posted three straight goals in the second, the last two from Greg Malfronte and Anthony Cusanelli.
The Colts advanced to a matchup against Don Bosco Preparatory High School on Feb. 19. The two teams played to a pair of ties during the season, which includes a game played as part of a series of high school games at Yankee Stadium.
One of the many contributors to a team that Bogan regards as the deepest in years is his son, sophomore Ryan Bogan, a defenseman who has contributed 48 points off 10 goals and 38 assists as a talented end-to-end player.
There is also excitement within the entire CBA hockey community watching former CBA standout and Middletown resident James van Riemsdyk of the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs make his presence felt with the U.S. men’s ice hockey team at the Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia.
“He definitely has had a huge impact on the [American] team so far,” coach Bogan said. “All his hard work all his life paid off. It makes us proud.
“His character and dedication to the CBA team was foremost,” he continued. “The National Development Program wanted him in December of 2005, and he stayed at CBA for the season. To tell USA Hockey you have a commitment to your high school team for that season takes a lot of guts, and they accepted that. It tells of his commitment to his teammates, his friends and his school. He gives everything he’s got.”
After his freshman year, van Riemsdyk joined the national team.
His younger brother, Brenden, is a senior at CBA, notching 17 goals and 13 assists as a forward this season.
“I’m sure [James is] telling his brother to do a good job [and] to keep everything in perspective,” Bogan said. “We have seven games left if we are to win everything from here [in the Gordon Cup and state tournament]. There are three weeks left, and I’m sure he’s telling him, ‘Don’t worry about me. Focus on your job.’ ”
The elder van Riemsdyk did a lot of things — some that did not show on the stat sheet — through the first three games for the U.S. Olympic team in victories over Slovakia, 7-1, Russia, 3-2 (in a dramatic shootout), and Slovenia, 5-1, as part of the heralded first line with Phil Kessel and Joe Pavelski.
Van Riemsdyk assisted on Cam Fowler’s second-period goal against Russia, which tied the game at 1-1.
Against Slovenia on Feb. 16, a pinpoint pass from van Riemsdyk reached Kessel’s blade in front of the net, and Kessel scored to complete a hat trick, giving the U.S. team a 3-0 lead in the second period. Earlier, van Riemsdyk screened Slovenia goalie Luka Gracnar as Kessel scored his second goal. The textbook positioning earned the praise of TV announcers, who cited van Riemsdyk’s intangible contributions.
“He’s the guy they look to to go in the trenches and create,” Bogan said. “With Pavelski and Kessel, and the chemistry they have, it’s pretty amazing. In the crease (referring to his screening play), it’s probably the dirtiest place there is, and he handles it well with his hard work.”
Bogan said van Riemsdyk has become a “role model,” and Bogan’s son believes watching the game has been enlightening.
“I’ve been watching him since I was a little kid, and he’s probably the guy I look up to the most,” the younger Bogan said. “It’s been unreal. You can only dream about what he does.”
Van Riemsdyk played college hockey at the University of New Hampshire. He was selected second overall by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, and he spent three years with the team before being traded to the Maple Leafs on June 23, 2012.
Because of the inclement weather, the elder Bogan said practice and game schedules have been chaotic.
“We haven’t had a chance to reflect on it, but this week, as a group, we want to be able to set up something at school and watch the game.”
CBA established itself the year before van Riemsdyk’s freshman year in the 2004- 05 season, when the Colts got to the Gordon Cup finals for the first time, losing to Delbarton School, 6-4. It was the first of four championship game appearances in the Gordon Cup for CBA, with the others coming on the winning side in 2007, 2010 and last season, when it beat Delbarton, 5-2.
Now the Colts want another shot, and Bogan believes they have the manpower for the grueling haul, with a lineup that he said could have different players leading the way on different nights.
“Our depth is probably better than any other team in the state,” Bogan said. “It’s a short stretch, and you might need a bounce [of the puck]. Great hockey might not win every game. It takes the extra effort to knock teams out. This team’s got it — the heart and guts, and outworking the other guy.”
It starts with junior goaltender Connor Silverstein, who is backed by sophomore Michael Cernero.
Along with the younger Bogan, the defense includes Tim Clifton, who has seven goals and 10 assists, and sophomore Michael Foggia, who has six goals and seven assists.
Brenden van Riemsdyk is joined up front by prolific point-producer Bobby Hampton, a sophomore with 28 goals and 32 assists; and Tierney, a junior who has 15 goals and 25 assists; and Cusanelli, a senior.
Seniors Bill Meyer and William Antonides, as well as Malafronte (junior), are forwards who Bogan said “play with more of a defensive mindset.” They have helped the team allow just 32 goals in 23 games.