Team News
A Brief History Of Mendham Puck. by Ted Pallis
Posted by: Barbara Mason on Tue Nov 06th 2018 5:04pm
A Brief History of Mendham High School Ice Hockey
Mendham hockey originated back in 1971. Mendham Township resident Glenn K. Coutts Sr. and four other hockey enthusiasts from Randolph, Harding, Mount Olive and Morristown met in Harding to form a youth hockey program. The five towns set up the Colonial Hockey League (CHL). Philosophies were established and emphasized the fundamentals of hockey, good sportsmanship and equal play time. Mendham hockey was organized under the Mendham Township Athletic Association Inc., which also ran other youth sports in Mendham Township at the time. The first year, 60 children, age 10-16, registered for Mendham hockey. They formed teams in Pee Wee, Bantams, and Senior divisions. The original team color was orange, similar in style to the Philadelphia Flyers. Mennen Arena only had one rink then, so games and practices were played at the Essex Hunt Cub, Danny Michael's in Florham Park, Ice World in Totowa and South Mountain Arena in West Orange. Mendham Hockey lasted until 2006 when the Mendham youth hockey teams merged with the Long Valley Wolfpack hockey program.
By the late 1970s, members of the Mendham Township Athletic Association tried to form a high school hockey team as many charter towns within the Colonial Hockey League had done. However, the West Morris Regional High School Board of Education did not see the same vision. It was not until the mid-1990's when the current Mendham Hockey League members reached an agreement with the West Morris Regional High School Board of Education to privately fund a high school team. The agreement required that each year, the Mendham-Chester Hockey League Inc., funded the high school hockey program, which included junior varsity and varsity interscholastic ice hockey program at Mendham. In 1996/1997 the Mendham High School ice hockey team took to the ice for the first time in their red, white and blue uniforms in the Morris County Secondary Schools Ice Hockey League. In the summer of 2000, the school board approved a resolution permitting partial payment for the hockey program. All other monies were still raised by the volunteer efforts of the non-profit youth hockey league.
The Mendham High School Ice Hockey team has won three Halversen Cup Championships, 2009, 2013 and 2014. The Mendham High School hockey team has had many standout players including two who were state scoring champions. In 1998 Adam Dilly led the state in scoring with 70 goals and 32 assists for 102 points. In 2013 Grant Jozefek had 51 goals and 52 assists to lead the state in scoring with 103 points as a freshman. He would lead the state again in scoring in 2014 as a sophomore, again with 103 points.
The Mendham High School varsity team has been coached by John Kovacs and assistant coach Robert Dachisen since its beginning in 1996/1997. They are assisted today by Chris Reed, a former Mendham standout player. During the 1996/1997 season the junior varsity team was coached Steve Carr. The Junior Varsity team has been not been active sinc 2009 due to lack of players.
With a 6-4 triumph over Pequannock in the final of the Halvorsen Cup on February 5, 2014, Coach Kovacs won his 200th game behind the bench for Mendham. Kovacs, after his 27th season of high school hockey in the New Jersey in 2014, was 315-248-43 all-time in a coaching career that began at Morris Knolls in the 1987-88 season. He has won nine division championships and four league championships to his credit and was New Jersey coach of the year in 1990 while at Morris Knolls when Morris Knolls were co-champions with Delbarton for the Mennen Cup.
Thanks from Coach Dach
Posted by: Barbara Mason on Tue Aug 28th 2018 12:06pm
" Just wanted to say thanks to all the players and parents ( past, present an a couple of futures!) who reached out to me offering support or braved the long lines at the viewing. Thanks also for the donation in my brother's memory. Coach Kovacs and I have always preached that you guys are part of our families and this was evidenced by the outreach you have shown me and my family. It was greatly appreciated.
See you in November."
Coach Dach.
Condolences for Coach Dachisen
Posted by: Barbara Mason on Thu Aug 16th 2018 4:51pm
Please keep Coach Dach in your thoughts and prayers as he and his family mourn the sudden loss of his brother Michael. Michael Dachisen was the mayor of Rockaway Township and a very respected member of the community.
He served on the council for 15 years before becoming mayor in 2012. His family and community have suffered a great loss and our hearts go out to Coach Dach.
https://patch.com/new-jersey/parsippany/rockaway-township-mayor-dies-57
Mendham Hockey Season
Posted by: Michael Ferrone on Wed Mar 07th 2018 5:03pm
If you didn't have a chance to see the slideshow celebrating Mendham Hockey's 2017-2018 season at our team banquet, you can now find it online!
Click here or go to the Mendham Puck video page.
Mendham Hockey Closes out 2017-18 Season
Posted by: Michael Ferrone on Sat Feb 17th 2018 11:29am
As the Mendham High School Varsity Hockey Team wraps up its 2017-2018 season, we acknowledge all of the community sponsors who have generously supported this program over the years and continue to do so. We are grateful for our dedicated coaching staff and to the families who have donated time and energy to keep the hockey program running smoothly. We honor the hard work of the players and wish our seniors the best of luck as they move on to new adventures!!