Westfield wins 3rd straight Union County hockey championship

The feedback was constant and consistent from Andrew Lisnock.

Every time Gov. Livingston-New Providence cut into Westfield’s lead, the Blue Devils’ senior captain would skate back to the bench and relay the same message to his teammates.

“We have to respond. We have to get one back next shift.”

Lisnock has seen how fast a lead can disappear in championship games. He and his teammates rallied from a three-goal deficit to win last season’s county title.

One year later in the same game against the same opponent, he was determined to not be on the other side of a rally. He knew how important it was to respond, and to do it quickly.

He and his teammates responded accordingly over and over again. The final result was another championship moment for the Blue Devils.

Thanks to a dominant third period and a hat trick from Lisnock, Westfield captured a third straight Union County Tournament championship with a 7-3 victory over rival Gov. Livingston-New Providence.

Westfield, No. 8 in the NJ.com Top 20, led by just one goal heading into the third period. Lisnock scored 44 seconds into the final period, which started a scoring barrage in which the Blue Devils (12-1) pulled away from the Highlanders (7-9).

Blake Wotanowski extended the lead to two goals with 11:06 left, and Liam Reed put the finishing touches on the title with just 2:01 remaining.

“We came out fast, then kind of slowed down a bit and GL started to crawl their way back,” Lisnock said. “Then we stepped on the gas pedal. That’s huge because guys that are going to be lead this team in the future, they get to see that effort. They get to understand what you have to do to keep going. It doesn’t matter what the score is.”

Coming into the season Lisnock knew that he had to evolve as a leader. Last season the Blue Devils were so well positioned from a leadership standpoint with Aidan Wilson and Jackson Chicola as captains. Those two were also Lisnock’s linemates.

Lisnock didn’t have to bear any leadership responsibilities. All he had to do was produce on the ice, which he did. With Wilson and Chicola having graduated, it is now up to Lisnock to rally the locker room and be a guiding voice.

He has grown into that role more and more with each practice and each game. It showed on Friday night when he challenged his teammates to step up when its lead was threatened.

“Our captain Andrew Lisnock had a great game,” Liam Reed said. “Every time GL scored he’d get right back to the bench and say to get one next shift. It’s important to see those leaders step up in these types of games.”

The Blue Devils got off to a dream start in the first period. Colin McGeehan, Chris Smok, and Lisnock all scored in the first six minutes. The Highlanders got on the board with 8:47 left courtesy of Owen Cook.

Lisnock then made it a 4-1 game just 20 seconds into the second period. After that the Highlanders would score twice more in the middle frame, from Leo Garcia and Alec Novotny, and trailed by just one heading into the third period.

That was the exact scenario the Blue Devils were in on Dec. 23 against Bridgewater-Raritan. At one point it led by three goals, and then collapsed in the third period. That two-goal loss is its only blemish.

At the center of each rallying cry on Friday night was Lisnock. He did not want to see another lead disappear in such an important game.

“That loss really shaped us,” Lisnock said. “That happened to us last year against Livingston. After that we knew we couldn’t ever let up. Then it happened again this year and we were reminded to just keep going. It doesn’t matter if it’s 5-0 or 2-1. We have to keep going.”

The Blue Devils’ fire reignited thanks to that messaging. Three unanswered goals in the third period, the first of which came from its most important player, cemented a third straight county title.

That messaging made its way up and down the lineup too as the team’s depth shined.

Depth has been a trademark of the team the last three seasons. Reed (five points) and Smok (three points) jumped up to the first line this season. The line of McGeehan, Liam Duffy, and Louis Ciullo combined for three points.

All in all, eight Blue Devils finished the game with at least one point.

“It’s impressive what we have,” Reed said. “Year after year we have constant depth. It really helps us stand out and succeed, especially late in the season. We can roll four lines and beat anyone.”

The Blue Devils have not faced many pressure-packed moments this season. It has been largely dominant against a difficult schedule and looks like a state title contender once again.

Friday’s game was its first test this season in a championship environment. It passed that test and is ready for more in the next coming weeks, and months.

“This feels amazing,” Lisnock said. “I was just telling my teammates that it feels the same every year. It never gets old. There’s never a dull moment in this chase.”