Sports
Michael Criscitello Makes Hockey History at Woodbridge Community Center
The Woodbridge Community Center was home to hockey greatness, as a state scoring record is broken on its ice.
The Edison High School hockey team skated past any chance at the championship finals earlier this week following the blowout defeat by South Brunswick High at the Woodbridge Community Center. The Eagles defense proved not enough to overcome the top ranked, South Brunswick team who ended the game with a final score of 11-1. However, not even this defeat could overtake the momentum of Edison’s star player and record breaker, senior forward, Michael Criscitello.
Despite the loss, Criscitello’s leadership was evident on the ice and throughout the season for that matter. Just last week, #97 made history at the Woodbridge Community Center after he broke a state record of 157 scored goals. He ends his high school hockey career with 171 goals, earning him the 6th highest all time scorer title in the state of New Jersey.
Coming into this week’s game Criscitello said he definitely felt the added pressure, both on a personal level and from his teammates. He explained, “My teammates really look up to me. They look to me to get the offense going.” And that he did. He assisted the only goal Edison scored during Monday’s game and as the lead puck handler, he also tried relentlessly to set up several other opportunities for goals, for his teammates, as well as for himself.
Essentially, when he is isn’t scoring he’s assisting. Criscitello’s approach to scoring sounds a lot simpler than it is, “shoot and crash the net, garbage goals as us hockey players call it.” With a technique like this - consistent effort and an unabashed attack of the net, it is no question as to how he was able to make history.
Criscitello began skating at the age of two and by six years old he was already playing hockey. Aside from legendary hockey player Wayne Gretzky, his biggest influences in the sport are his father and older brother, Anthony Sr. and Jr.
On how hockey has added to his life, Criscitello said effortlessly, “It is my life. Anything else is added. Any free time I have is devoted to either playing or watching hockey.”
A high school senior, he is anticipating acceptance to The College of New Jersey where he plans to major in mechanical engineering while simultaneously playing hockey. Immediately following Monday’s game, Criscitello was still in high spirits, a true testament to his sportsmanship and leadership. And though his high school hockey career has come to a close, the future is as bright as ever for this record breaking forward.
