Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/1232322
By Phil Shore HE 2019-20 SEASON marked the first year as head coach of Christian Brothers Academy for Andy Gojdycz. It was a role he was excited for because not only was he an alumnus of the school, but also he had helped the hockey team win three state championships, including his senior season in 1996. While the program is one of the most success- ful in New Jersey, the Colts had not won a state championship since 2015 and not played in the championship game since 2016. Returning to the top was Gojdycz's expectation. "After speaking to the captains first, I knew where their priorities lied," he said. "Selfishly, as a player, my sophomore, junior and senior year, we checked all three boxes off. Coming into this year, that's what I was accustomed to at CBA. We won. I set my expectation at that. If they want to play and win, we're going for all three. Why settle for mediocrity? Go big or go home." Those three boxes were winning the Gordon Cup, the Non-Public State Championship, and finishing ranked first in the state. With victories over Don Bosco Prep in both the Gordon Cup final and the NJSIAA tournament final, CBA swept the championships and finished with the top spot in the rankings. Just because the team finished at the top, it doesn't mean CBA didn't face adversity. In the championship game, Don Bosco scored late in the first period and the score remained 1-0 head- ing into the final period. Gojdycz said his team knew how to handle adversity. The team previously overcame a three- game losing streak from Jan. 29 through Feb. 5 home' mindset to scale Non-Public peak home' mindset to scale Non-Public peak www.nyhockeyjournal.com 21 T Continued on Page 22 Christian Brothers Academy savors its first state championship since 2015. The Colts toppled Don Bosco Prep, 4-1, in the Non-Public finale at Prudential Center. Tom Horak (Wagnon, Crepaldi); Catalina Fragoso Zach Wagnon hoists the hardware for victorious CBA. Gio Crepaldi Chris Cummings SWEET IT IS