FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 28, 2007

CONTACT: Seb D’Elia, 908-527-4419
Tom Plante, 908-527-4746

Union County Teams Make Strong Showing in 2007 Cron Hockey Tournament

Warinanco Skating Center supervisor Kyle Gaestel presents Morris Knolls High School Captain
Don Nichols with the first place trophy from the Union County George T. Cron Memorial Hockey Tournament. Morris Knolls won the cup by defeating Westfield High School in the final round
by a score of 3-0.

ROSELLE, NJ – Long-time hockey champion Morris Knolls High School continued its dominance of Union County’s annual George T. Cron Memorial Tournament (Dec. 5-14, 2007) by taking first place for the sixth year in a row. However, in the tournament’s 25th Silver Anniversary Year, two of Union County’s own high school teams, Westfield and Cranford, also distinguished themselves on the ice.

Westfield goalie Caitlin Whitlock (33) defends against Morris Knolls forward Steve Osvald (8)
in the finals of the 25th Annual Union County George T. Cron Memorial Hockey Tournament
held at the Warinanco Park Skating Center in Roselle.

In the opening rounds at the Warinanco Skating Center in Roselle, the Westfield squad defeated Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School, 9-1, while Cranford defeated Summit High School, 6-2. Cranford gave defending champion Morris Knolls a strong challenge in the second round by forcing the game into overtime. Morris Knolls eventually prevailed by a score of 4-3. Meanwhile, Westfield skated to a 4-2 win over second-seeded Mendham High School.

In the semi-finals, Cranford earned the tournament’s third place trophy by defeating Mendham, 2-1. Morris Knolls once again took first place by defeating Westfield, 3-0 in the finals, but the Westfield team went home with their heads held high by making it to the Cron “final two” for the first time in the team’s history.

“The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is proud to host this long-standing hockey tournament in Warinanco Park,” said Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski, liaison to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. “High School sports are an important part of our community’s fabric. I know I speak for the entire Freeholder Board when I compliment all the tournament participants for their dedication and the spirit displayed by each player and the fans.”

The Warinanco Skating Center is open to the public for their skating pleasure from October until the end of March each year. Call (908) 298-7850 or visit www.ucnj.org/parks for information on sessions and lessons.