Seton Hall Prep Hockey is rolling.  After starting out the first three games of the season with ties against Morristown Beard, Saint Augustine, and Princeton Day, Coach Atkinson’s team was determined to get the first win of the season against Saint Peter’s Prep. It has been a rough year for Saint Peter’s when facing Seton Hall in athletics. In the fall, the Pirates defended their State Championship in soccer, defeating the Marauders 4-0 in the finals. Later SHP took down Saint Peter’s in football as Coach Fitzgerald’s team defeated the number one team in the state and reigning Football State Champions 26-25 in overtime. 

The pattern did not stop. The Pirates skaters dominated Saint Peter’s all game. Brendan Waivada ’21 and Dale Campbell ’23 found the back of the net in the first. Going into the first intermission the score was 2-0 Pirates. In the second period, it was all gas no brakes for the Pirates who scored 4 times in the second period. Waivada had his second of the game, Daniel Kelly ’24 scored and Aidan D’Urso ’22 found the back of the net twice giving the Pirates a comfortable lead heading into the last period of play ahead 6-1. In the 3rd, the Prep’s defense played outstanding letting in only one goal all game, and Kent Bishop ’22 put himself on the scoring sheet with a short-handed goal, and D’Urso finished the game with a hat-trick, assisting the Pirates to their first win of the season 8-1. 

When you think about Seton Hall Prep athletics there is one rivalry that comes to mind. Any alumnus from Seton Hall will tell you how much this game means to, personally and the school. A game in any sport against this team will be physical, hard-played, and well attended. It is one of the biggest high school rivalries in the state: Seton Hall Prep vs. Delbarton. Throughout recent years, The Prep has been on the losing side of this rivalry in hockey. The fifteen-year win drought against Delbarton was on every Pirate mind before puck drop. Scoring first in this intense game is necessary to start on the right foo. Campbell put the Pirates up early with a goal. Both defenses and goalies held their own, entering the first intermission 1-0 Pirates. It was paramount to continue to lead throughout the game if SHP wanted to snap the losing streak. Captain Brendan Waivada and Kent Bishop added to the Pirates’ lead in the second moving the team into the last period of play up 3-0. Jake Schunke ’22 made his presence felt in this rivalry batting off 25 shots and ending the game with a 96% save percentage; Jake’s performance was imperative to the Pirates’ win. Thomas Klochkov ’23 and  Campbell enlarged Seton Hall’s lead in the 3rd period with goals, and for the first time since the 2005 Gordon Cup Finals, Seton Hall Prep defeatedDelbarton 5-1! Seton Hall improved to 2-0-3 before facing Gloucester Catholic on the February 15.