Oratory Prep Hockey has been on a tear as of late, starting the season 7-3-1, at one point being ranked as the top team in the state’s power points. The group accomplished a major win against Whippany Park, highlighting their depth and overall team chemistry. I had the opportunity to sit down with Junior Forward Matt Moran and talk about their early success, their main contributors, and what to expect for the remainder of the season. In his second varsity season, Moran has stepped up to the plate and taken a larger role compared to last year.
A notable improvement this season has been the addition of Freshman George Morgan, who has come in handy scoring goals in “crucial moments.” Matt remarked on how four-year varsity player Will Mazzei has also continued his contributions from last season, netting four goals and five assists. On top of that, Senior Forward Henry Zahn leads the team with 12 points. Both seniors have “taken leadership roles on and off the ice.”
Another significant addition to this 2025-26 team has been a new head coach, Coach Barry Dreger, who, as Matt told me, “changed the culture of the team by showing us what it means to compete.” Moran remarked on how Coach Dreger uses his 11 years of Minor league hockey experience to help lead the team to a successful start. This professional hockey experience brings a unique perspective to the team, teaching them a new angle of strategy that elevates them to another level. However, they have not been without competition, as Matt remarked, “Our toughest game of the season was against Morristown, and we learned that if we do not compete all the way through the game, we will not be able to succeed.”
When discussing team goals for the rest of the year, Matt discussed how he wants “to win the division (McMullin) and to keep competing and winning.” The Rams last won the McMullin in 2018, finishing that season with a 13–7–1 record. This year’s team appears poised to surpass that success, currently sitting atop the division and on pace for its best season in years.
