The No. 8 Westfield High School boys ice hockey team opened its season with an 8-1 chilling of the West Essex Knights on December 9 then handled the Cranford Cougars, 7-3, on December 11. In the meantime, the Cougars got off to a rocky start with losses to Manalapan (5-1) on December 5, West Essex (3-2) on December 6 and Summit (7-3) on December 9.

Blue Devils Jackson Chicola and Aidan Wilson each had two goals and an assist against the Cougars. Andrew Lisnock, Chris Smok and Nick Benson each scored once. Liam Reed had three assists and Jack Conrod had two assists. Austin Halleran had an assist and goalkeeper Troy Conover recorded 12 saves. Cougar Ryan Callahan had two goals and an assist. Chris Adamski had a goal and two assists. Dylan Borys had an assist and goalkeeper Evan Ramos made 33 saves.

Lisnock scored first on a power play and Conrod got an assist early in the first period. Callahan answered with a pair of goals on respective assists from Adamski. Wilson knotted the score at the end of the first period. Chicola scored twice in the second period on respective assists from Wilson and Reed.

In the third period, Wilson scored on a power play with assists from Reed and Chicola. Smok on assists from Conrod and Halleran made the score 6-2 then Adamski scored on assists from Callahan and Borys. Reed assisted Benson on the final goal.

In the Blue Devils’ triumph over West Essex, Wilson had two goals and an assist. Lisnock scored twice. Chicola had a goal and two assists. AidanAlon, Halleran and Liam Duffy each scored once. Conrod had two assists. Reed, Luca McLaren, Luke Fitzgerald and Brody Esler each had an assist. Conover made 17 saves. Dante Callucci scored for the Knights on assists from Pat Devaney and Connor Maniscalco. Goalkeeper Evan Zieminski was kept busy with 48 saves.

In the Cougars’ loss to Summit, Callahan andAdamski each had a goal and an assist. Cian Howard scored once. Splitting time in goal, Ramos made 15 saves and Noah Martin made eight saves. For the Hilltoppers, Rob Kievit netted two goals and two assists. Wyatt Williamson had two goals and an assist. Sam Rubinshteyn had a goal and two assists as did Ethan Nelson. Pat Coughlan scored once. Brayden Messer and John Conniff each had two assists and Jude Jett had one assist.

Against West Essex, Adamski and Matt Frank scored, while Callahan and Andrew Troiano added assists. Frank Neglo scored the lone goal against Manalapan.