The holiday tournaments are winding down and so is 2025.
In just a few days, we’ll be ringing in 2026, which makes it a perfect time to check out the Top 20.
Here are the latest rankings through Dec. 28.
1-Delbarton (5-0-2)
The Green Wave saw action in just one game last week and it ended in a 2-2 tie against Austin Prep (MA). That closed the 2025 portion of their schedule and their next game isn’t until Jan. 6 against Don Bosco Prep.
2-Don Bosco Prep (8-1)
Don Bosco Prep followed up its Barkey Cup title with a hard-fought 5-4 win over Bergen Catholic on Christmas Eve eve. Then, the team toppled Gloucester Catholic, 4-1. The next game is eight days away against Delbarton.
3-St. Joseph (Mont.) (3-1-1)
The Green Knights secured arguably the biggest win of any team in the state last week, when they edged Christian Brothers, 3-2, on Dec. 23. That was the team’s only game of the week and the next one is Monday against Darien (CT).
4-Christian Brothers (8-1)
Christian Brothers’ season-opening winning streak ended at six with that loss to St. Joseph (Mont.). The team responded with convincing wins over LaSalle Academy (R.I.) and LaSalle (PA) by a combined score of 9-2 to win the LaSallian Cup over the weekend. The Colts are idle until Jan. 5.
5-Morristown-Beard (7-0-1)
Morristown-Beard needed some overtime to win its only game of the week. The team erased a two-goal deficit in the final five minutes of regulation and Evan Redman scored in overtime to lift the team to a 4-3 win over Seton Hall Prep. Next up on Friday is Morris Knolls-Hills in another Mennen Division clash.
6-St. Augustine (3-2)
The Hermits have been idle since Dec. 18 but they’ll return to action for one game this week against Gloucester Catholic on Tuesday. Their next game will be Jan. 6 against Princeton Day.
7-Northern Highlands (5-2)
The Highlanders rolled to a 7-1 win over Tenafly-Cresskill-Leonia on Dec. 23. The next game on the schedule is against Bridgewater-Raritan on Thursday, meaning the team will have played just one game in a span of 14 days.
8-Seton Hall Prep (2-4)
Seton Hall Prep held its own against Morristown-Beard in that 4-3 overtime loss and that was its final game of 2025. The 2026 portion of the schedule opens on Sunday against St. Peter’s Prep.
9-Princeton Day (1-6)
Princeton Day’s losing skid reached six games with a 6-1 loss to LaSalle (PA) on Dec. 22. The next time this group hits the ice in game action will be against St. Augustine on Jan. 6.
10-Ridgewood (6-1)
Ridgewood played once over the past seven days but made the most of it by posting an 8-3 win over Glen Rock. That stretches the team’s winning streak to three ahead of a two-game week against St. Joseph (Met.) on Monday and Ramapo on Thursday.
11-Pope John (2-1)
Pope John was idle this past week, but thanks to some of the chaos happening with teams surrounding it in the Top-20, the Lions manage to move up a spot. The Lions’ next game will be on Monday, Dec. 29 when it hosts St. John Vianney.
12-Bridgewater-Raritan (6-1-1)
One of the main themes of last week’s results were the amount of overtime victories, as well as late game comebacks. Bridgewater-Raritan managed to pull off the latter with a dramatic 6-4 win over previously-No. 7 Westfield. The Panthers trailed by three at one point, but thanks to Alex Abolenskiy’s hat trick, it found a way to rally and win in the end. That was also impressive given the fact that the Panthers had tied with Hillsborough 2-2 just a day prior.
13-Westfield (4-1)
In its only game last week, Westfield suffered a heartbreaking 6-4 loss to Bridgewater-Raritan. The Blue Devils had a two-goal lead heading into the third period, and then its defense became of the many victims of a very talented Panthers forward core. There’s no need to panic, as the Blue Devils lost a similar game to Livingston last season and then won the Public Group state title.
14-Livingston (7-1)
Livingston cannot stop scoring goals. Over its five-game winning streak, the Lancers have outscored its opponents 28-4, and are also playing nice defense. The Lancers beat Ridge 6-1 on Monday night, but arguably its best performance came on Sunday night in a 2-0 win over Ramapo.
15-Morristown (5-2)
Raise your hand if you thought that Morristown would be in second place of the McInnis heading into the new year? The Colonials, after earning an upset win at Regionals last season, have been one of the best stories in the state so far. After falling to Morristown-Beard last week, the Colonials upset KJS United 3-1 and then thoroughly handled Pascack Valley-Hills-Park Ridge 4-1 this week.
16-Ramapo (6-2)
For the first time in over 20 days, Ramapo lost a hockey game. After a loss to Ridgewood on Dec. 7., the Raiders went on a tear and won five straight games, and the last of those wins came this week. The Raiders beat Ramsey-Indian Hills 6-3, but then couldn’t find the back of the net in a 2-0 loss to a very good Livingston team.
17-Robbinsville-Allentown (8-1)
Even while dealing with a whole laundry list of injuries, Robbinsville-Allentown was still able to stay in the win column this week. The Ravens faced off against a tough North Hunterdon-Voorhees squad, but in the end prevailed 2-1. James Morino’s game-winner in overtime extended the Ravens’ win streak to six games.
18-Paul VI (8-1)
Another week, another win in the CVC for Paul VI. The Eagles just cannot stop winning, and its high-powered offense proved to be a difference maker in its lone game of the week. A solid Princeton squad put up a fight, but the Eagles remained hot with a 4-3 win. Ever since scoring just one goal in its lone loss of the season, the Eagles have outscored its last two opponents 16-8.
19-Manasquan-Point Pleasant Beach (6-0-1)
The Manasquan-Point Pleasant Beach co-op looks like its back. The Warriors were a sectional finalist in 2023-24, but then took a step back last season and finished under .500. Fast forward one season and it’s already halfway to last season’s win total of 10. This week its only game came against Middletown South, and the Warriors came out on top 7-4. Strider Carhart has had a fantastic junior season so far.
20-Toms River (6-1)
For the first time this season Toms River hit a bump in the road. The previously undefeated tri-op lost 2-0 to defending South, Co-op champion Marlboro-Holmdel, but also did bounce back quite nicely. The Raiders defeated Ocean Township-Shore-Monmouth 6-0 just a few nights later.
Next Five In
- Randolph (3-3-1)
- KJS United (2-2-1)
- Howell-Matawan (5-3)
- Wayne (5-2)
- Gov. Livingston-New Providence (2-4)