Next Level Training congratulates the Morristown-Beard School boys’ varsity hockey team on advancing to the finals in the NJSIAA Non-Public Tournament. It will be Morristown-Beard’s first time ever appearing in the NJSIAA finals, which will take place this Sunday at 3:00 p.m. at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. The squad will face off against the winner of this afternoon’s matchup between Christian Brothers Academy and St. Augustine Prep.

 

With an impressive season record and an exceptionally committed group of guys, Morristown-Beard has demonstrated its excellence throughout the season and in recent tournaments. The team recently took home the 2014 Mennen Cup title, which was the ninth overall for Morristown-Beard and the first since they won three straight titles between 2009 and 2011. Despite having lost to Morris Knolls in the semi-finals during last year’s Mennen Cup Tournament, Morristown-Beard (ranked sixth) defeated fifth-seeded Chatham during this year’s Cup finals in a decisive 4-0 victory.

 

Success certainly does not come without very hard work and an exceptional level of talent. In the years that the team has been training with us at Next Level, the squad has demonstrated its distinction and its drive to excel. The team comes in to train together about once per week during the season.

 

Trainer PJ Scriffignano has trained the team for the past four years. He believes the players have benefitted from this year’s focus on building strength and endurance. By working their entire bodies, the high intensity interval training circuits have enabled the boys to be fresh and energized in the third period of games—at a time when teams typically begin to grow tired and lose vigor.

 

“Having worked with this group for the last four years, I have had the opportunity to work with some of players since their freshman year,” said Scriffignano. “The team has worked hard each and every time they have come in. The older guys really took charge in motivating everyone, realizing that they had a legitimate shot to make a long playoff run this year.”

 

Not only do we commend the Morristown-Beard team for its athleticism, but we also are proud of its community-minded efforts. We give the players a special thank-you for volunteering to help out when the New Jersey Dare Devils, a hockey organization for children and young adults with disabilities, train at Next Level.

 

“Aside from being a talented group of hockey players on the ice, they are a great group of character guys,” said Scriffignano. “They were extremely helpful and did a great job [with the Dare Devils]. This is a tremendous group of athletes both on and off the ice.”

 

Keep up the good work, boys!

 

 

 

By Alexandra Gakos, Next Level Training