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Hunterdon Central high school Boys Ice Hockey

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Get the latest news, schedule, scores, stats, league standings, rankings and photos for Hunterdon Central's high school's Boys Ice Hockey teams.

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Over the last year there have been more than enough off-ice uncertainties.

For Ridge, No. 8 in the NJ.com Top 20, the only real question it had heading into the shortened 2021 season was who was going to step up as goalie.

Anyone replacing the graduated Marcus Fabiunke, who was the goalie for the last two seasons which included two trips to the state final and one NJSIAA Public B title, had their work cut out for them.

But as top-seeded Ridge would find out, Jack Richter had the answer and so much more all season.

The senior net minder answered the final question for Ridge, making 26 saves en route to a 3-1 win over second-seeded Hunterdon Central to raise the Skyland Cup in the 2021 N.J. ice hockey finale Saturday night.

For the year, Richter allowed just 10 goals in nine games with three of those coming in a close contest with a Bergen Catholic team that has sat among the top five for the entire season.

"I knew I was going to be the guy coming in. I knew I had to step up," Richter said. "And thankfully I was able to do that for this team."

Richter was far from the only impressive Ridge skater to help lift the program to its first Skyland Cup since 2018.

Matt Balzarotti found the back of the net twice for his fourth multi-goal game of the season with Erik Helgeson providing the other Ridge goal.

Outside of several late penalties, one of which resulted in a Hunterdon Central goal from Josef Polacek, Ridge played as sound a game as it has all year.

And that, according to Balzarotti, was a testament to the team's mentality even before the shutdowns and delays began.

"This is that much more special after how we lost last year (in an overtime loss to Randolph in the state finals)," Balzarotti said. "I think we all bought in and got better throughout quarantine. We were hungry and we wanted to win the last game.

"After all we went through-two shutdowns, delay after delay-we were ready to play and have an opportunity to play with our best friends this year."
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No. 8 Ridge ice hockey answers its biggest question, raises Skyland Cup

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Over the last year there have been more than enough off-ice uncertainties. For Ridge, No. 8 in the NJ.com Top 20, the only real question it had heading into the shortened 2021 season was who was going to step up as goalie.