Red Bank Regional edges Ocean

Tyler Harlow (9) a junior forward on the Ocean Township team scored his first goal of the season during the 3-2 loss to Red Bank Regional.

By Walter J. O’Neill, Jr.

It’s another year of the combined Ocean Township High School and the Blue Devils of Shore Regional partnership in ice hockey competition. The team, which wears the red and white of Ocean Township, consists of 23 players, eight of which are students from Shore, that pay-to-play ice hockey.

The squad is coached by Dave Smith, who is in his eleventh season overall. Last season the team finished 11-13-3 and Smith is hoping for improvements this year. They compete in the Class B North division of the Shore Conference. Ocean started the season with a 6-3 win over Red Bank Catholic followed by a 3-2 win over Manalapan. They suffered their first loss on December 11, with a 3-2 defeat by Marlboro. Two days later they had a massive 6-0 win over Jackson Liberty. On December 15, Ocean faced Red Bank Regional, who ended last season at 8-13-2. The game was played at the Red Bank Armory, home ice for the Bucs. “Red Bank Regional took advantage of two defensive lapse immediately off the opening face-off and scored in the opening seconds of the game,” said Smith. Following that quick goal, Ocean then took control of the remainder of the first period. “We were out-shouting and out-hitting RBR. We evened the score at one a piece late in the first, on a goal by Dave Newcomb (Shore Regional, junior),” said Smith. During the second period, both teams had 13 shots on goal. Each school scored. For Ocean it was Tyler Harlow (Ocean Township, junior). Smith added that it was the first goal of the year for Harlow, who plays the forward position. “During the third period neither team did much,” said Smith. But then Ocean had one of those breakdowns again, and the Bucs took advantage off another face-off. With nine minutes left in a 2-2 game, Brian Lynch, a sophomore at Red Bank Regional, netted the winning goal. “We had a 35-30 shot on goal advantage; Hunter Dunleavy was outstanding in the goal for Red Bank Regional.” “This team needs to recognize that it’s not enough to play hard and smart for half a game,” said Smith. “We need to bring our game for an entire 45 minutes.” The two losses Ocean has this year, both by a 3-2 score, are evidence of the need to play a full game according to Smith. You can check out the OTHS ice hockey team by visiting their website at: http://www.oceanicehockey.com/