By Andy Loigu

J.L. O’Toole  scored a three-goal hat trick in a recent 7-0 win over Mountain Lakes, but the season has been a struggle as the MOHOHA ice hockey team made up of high school players from Mount Olive, Hopatcong and Hackettstown stands at 6-8-1 in the Halverson Division standings of the Morris County Scholastic Hockey League as of Friday afternoon.

Goals were hard to come by in a 3-1 loss to Randolph on Thursday, January 26,

Christian Hertzig scored for the local squad, with assists from Tyler Muscolino and Adam Twist. Although the final score does not show it, the game was a fast paced battle with the teams going up and down the ice and peppering shots at the goalies. Randolph outshot MOHOHA 24-20.

Hackettstown residents Liam Murphy and Frank DiLoreto each contributed a goal and assist in a 4-2 loss to Wayne Hills. Murphy assisted on DiLoreto’s score and DiLoreto returned the favor on Murphy’s goal. Each team got off 19 shots on goal.

In the win over Mountain Lakes, MOHOHA outshot the Lakers 27-12, completely dominating the action. Ryan Twist had two goals and Tyler Dean and Hertzig also shot the puck into the net.

The MOHOHA co-op team will face Morristown Beard at 5:45 p.m. on February 3 at Mennen Arena in Morristown. Hopefully they can still qualify for the playoffs to be held later in February.

Key action on tap; mark your calendar!

The annual basketball doubleheader featuring the girls and boys teams from Warren Hills and Hackettstown is a spirited event each year, no matter what the teams’ records may be. It’s for the all-important local bragging rights.

This year’s fun and frolic tips off at 5 p.m. on February 9 at Warren Hills.

Both Hackettstown teams are enjoying successful seasons. The girls are 12-3 and the boys are 10-4 as of this deadline. However, the Warren Hills girls have won four of their last five games against Hackettstown.

The Streaks’ boys are 5-10 and have not beaten Hackettstown since 2019, but since Warren Hills plays in a league made up of bigger schools, they can never be underestimated in this neighborhood competition.

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Ladies and gentlemen, Elvis has left the building.