Highlanders score eight straight to open season with win
West Milford. Timmy Riche’s three goals and two assists helped lead the West Milford/Pequannock/Pompton Lakes tri-op hockey team to a dominant 9-1 season-opening victory over Lakeland.
Wayne /
| 08 Dec 2025 | 04:56
Timmy Riche collected three goals and two assists and Joe Barroquerio totaled one goal and five assists to fuel the West Milford/Pequannock/Pompton Lakes tri-op ice hockey team to a season-opening 9-1 victory over Lakeland on Friday night at the Ice Vault in Wayne.
Sam DeRobertis added two goals and an assist and Max Diee scored twice with Christopher Curattalo also registering a goal for the Highlanders.
Diee’s first goal came in the first minute of the contest.
“It was the best shift we’ve had and a terrific way to start,” head coach Christopher Scarpa said. “We started with two big hits, moved the puck up the ice and then scored and that set the tone.”
After Lakeland scored less than two minutes later to even the score, the Highlanders reeled off eight straight goals to easily seal the win. Goalie Matt Montena made 36 saves to anchor the defense.
A year ago, West Milford/Pequannock/Pompton Lakes went 14-13-1 and reached the finals of the NJSIAA North Jersey Public schools Co-Op Tournament with a loss to KJS United.
The team returns a lot of offensive firepower, including seniors Riche (40 goals, 22 assists), Barroquerio (30 goals, 32 assists), Diee (seven goals, 10 assists), Kyle Lappe (three goals, four assists) and Montena 1,039 saves).
“We lost Kyle Gregory (29 goals, 51 assists) and Derek Pizzariello (five goals, 12 assists) to graduation but pretty much everyone is back,” said Scarpa, who is in his fifth season at the helm. “I anticipate us being a pretty strong team this year as we are growing up and maturing.”
The Highlanders were 6-12-1 a year ago before reeling off eight straight wins, which included a 6-5 victory over Lakeland to win the Big North Silver Cup for the first time.
West Milford/Pequannock/Pompton Lakes will play Ridgewood on Friday at the Ice Vault Arena at 9 p.m. before meeting Ramsey again on Sunday at the Ice Vault Arena at 6:30 p.m.
“We’re not a super team but I believe we can compete with anyone,” began Scarpa. “I’m really excited for this season.”
