On the first day of February, the Highlanders faced Ramapo. Before the game even started, the three seniors were honored for their dedication over the last four years. Ross Mantione, RJ Weld, and Mark Crevina were escorted on the ice with their parents, then sophomore Bobby Campbell performed a very special rendition of the Star Spangled Banner.

When the game officially started, Mantione had a very good save right away. A Ramapo played tried to stop a pass in the air, but the puck hit the side of the stick and was heading towards the goal. Ross caught it and prevented a goal, and prevented all other Ramapo goals in the first period. It seemed like it would be a goalless period, but with only two minutes left, Joe Fenui scored with an assist from Chris Dressler.

The second period consisted of many shots on goal, but no actual goals. Both teams were significantly more aggressive, but both teams had very strong defense. Neither team succeeded in gaining a goal, but it was obvious that the third period would be an important one.

When the final period began, Mark Crevina took control right away. The senior had many opportunities to score, but the goalie kept getting in the way. This enraged Ramapo, so the team became even more aggressive. The Highlander defense kept holding the angry players back, until two minutes were left in the game. It was a very intense situation, because it seemed like everyone around the goal lost sight of the puck. However, Mantione did indeed block the shot, managing to have a shut out and capture another West Milford win.

The next day, West Milford and Mahwah took the ice. In the first period, Fenui got a goal with an assist from Dressler and Andrew Ajello. During the second period, Mahwah score their only goal of the game. The third period was a goalless one for both teams, so the game ended in the Highlanders’ third tie of the season.

On Feb. 4, the team played Jefferson in a game which did not count towards the record, for the two neighboring towns are in different leagues. However, the game was played anyway. The Falcons and the Highlanders seemed to be evenly matched, so it was a good game to watch. It took less than a minute, actually less than thirty seconds, for Dressler to achieve his first goal of the game. The Falcons were very aggressive and fast skaters, which resulted in a kerfuffle when Fenui flipped over a Jefferson player. Three minutes into the game, Dressler scored once again.

In the second period, Dressler had one of his most powerful shots of the season. It was so strong that even the goalie ducked, but the crossbar deflected the shot. Sophomore Matt Filipek also almost had a goal, but this one was blocked by the goalie. Mantione protected the West Milford goal vehemently, so the Falcons could not get a goal.

The third period was a very energetic period, and a very combative one. This time, Dressler flipped over a player. This was only the start of the tripping and falling though, because the Falcons were out for revenge. At 7:38, Jefferson started to redeem themselves, scoring a very close goal. Mantione reached for the puck, but it slid out of his hands, so a Jefferson player lifted it over him and secured the point. As the game started winding down, Dressler scored his third goal of the night, and his first hat trick of the season. The game concluded with a 3-1 score, but it sadly does not affect the West Milford record. The next tournament is the state tournament, which the Highlanders hope to dominate.