West Orange may be called the “Mountaineers,” but they dug a hole that they couldn’t climb out of.
Right after school got out on December 3, the members of the Oratory Prep Varsity Hockey team hopped on a bus to Richard J. Codey Arena. Coming off a 3-15-2 season, the Rams had high hopes this year. They were about to take on the West Orange Mountaineers, who finished 11-12-2 in 2024–25, and multiple Rams freshmen were set to make their debuts. Like the Rams, the Mountaineers were looking to open their varsity hockey season with a big win, but the Oratory Prep Rams were not going to let that happen.
The game began with aggressive play from both sides. West Orange fired some early shots at the net, but Rams goalie Tom LaFrance wasn’t letting anything past him. Oratory responded with some shots, but was unable to get anything to go. With 3:03 left in the first, Rams defenseman Will Mazzei had his shot blocked. However, he was quickly able to regain control of the puck and shoot past two West Orange skaters, scoring the first goal of the season for the Rams. The assist went to senior Tom Walden, who hit the puck around the boards to Mazzei after making a physical check on a Mountaineer. Unfortunately, Mazzei was called for a hook with only 7 seconds left remaining in the first, which would carry over into the second.
Just before the second period began, freshman Luke Falzon was also placed in the penalty box due to a game sheet issue, making it a 3-on-5 in West Orange’s favor. Luckily, each had only been put in the box for 2 minutes, so the Mountaineers were unable to capitalize on Oratory’s penalties. With 12:36 to go, Mazzei was again placed in the penalty box after an interference call, giving West Orange yet another chance. This time, however, the Rams weren’t able to stop them, as West Orange forward Andrew Ruffo knocked it in off a rebound just 10 seconds after their power play began. However, from this point on, it was all Oratory. Freshman George Morgan, making his Oratory debut, made a quick cross to the right side of the Mountaineers’ net, allowing Tom Walden an easy tap-in goal with 1:24 remaining. The rest of the period went scoreless, and the Rams were ready to finish this one strong.
Oratory was leading 2-1 going into the third, and the game could’ve gone either way. But the Rams were not about to take the loss. At 9:25, a pass by Oratory forward Hudson Saunders allowed George Morgan to fire a quick shot, which deflected off the skate of a Mountaineer defender and into the net, putting the Rams up 3-1. At this point, if West Orange wanted to stage a comeback, they were going to need some quick scores and would likely have to pull their goalie. However, the Rams didn’t even give the Mountaineers a chance, as Tom Walden bounced the puck off the right boards and back to himself. Shooting all the way to the left side of the Mountaineers’ net, Walden somehow snuck it in for his second score of the game. Saunders got the assist, earning him a total of two on the day. With Oratory now up 4-1, West Orange never even took their goalkeeper out of the net, as Walden’s goal had effectively sealed the game for the Rams.
As the clock struck zero, many Oratory players skated over to goalie Tom LaFrance to congratulate him for his stellar performance. LaFrance finished the game with 40 saves, only allowing one goal during a power play. This gave him a .976 save percentage, compared to Mountaineers goalie Gabe Melendez, who had just a .846 save percentage—only stopping 22 of 26 shots. George Morgan had a great performance in his debut, scoring one and assisting one, and was named Player of the Game by Big State Sports. Hudson Saunders had two assists, and Will Mazzei, despite his two penalties, still recorded a goal. However, this one would’ve been much closer if it weren’t for Tom Walden. Walden led Oratory’s offense, ending the game with two goals and one assist to cap it off.
The Rams will return to Codey Arena Saturday night to take on the Hoboken Redwings. Like Oratory, the Redwings also won their first game of the season on Wednesday, taking down Central Regional 3-2. The Rams are hoping for a good season, and this was one of the best ways it could have begun. With young rising stars like George Morgan, experienced players such as Tom Walden, and exceptional goalkeeper play by Tom LaFrance, it will be exciting to see what this Rams team can do in the weeks to come. Looks like the Rams are the kings of this mountain.
Exclusive Interview with Freshman Forward & Big State Sports Player of the Game George Morgan:
Question #1: How does this win affect the Rams’ expectations for the rest of the season?
“I think it definitely sets a good standard for us. We know that we are a good team and that we can win hockey games and score some goals, but we will all have to work as a team and work hard to continue our success.”
Question #2: How do you feel about your performance in your first hockey game as a Ram, where you finished with a goal and an assist and were named Big State Sports Player of the Game?
“I feel pretty good about it. I’m happy with myself about it, and I couldn’t have done it without my teammates and my team. It was a good effort and a good start to my career at Oratory.”
Question #3: What’s the team’s mindset going into Saturday night’s game against Hoboken?
“I think it’s really working on our forecheck, being aggressive, and trying to cause a lot of chaos in front of the net.”
West Orange vs Oratory Prep Full Game Livestream:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2QtfpctFz8&t=6266s
Oratory Prep Varsity Ice Hockey Schedule & Stats:
https://highschoolsports.nj.com/school/summit-oratory/boysicehockey/season/2025-2026
