BY PAUL BRUNO

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

Pat Verney and Brandon Doria each vividly recall the long hours spent as youngsters playing street hockey at the St. Mary’s school parking lot in Bayonne.

The endless shifts on that blacktop forged a friendship and fire that steered both players to memorable endeavors on hockey rinks throughout New Jersey during the late 1990s.

“Brandon and I were very competitive,” recalls Verney, “even when we were in the fourth grade playing hockey at St. Mary’s. We both hated to lose, and competing against each other from a young age definitely made us better. We pushed each other, but we were great friends.”

The two went on to have exceptional scholastic ice hockey careers – Verney at Hudson Catholic and Doria at Seton Hall Prep.

And now the two Bayonne natives will have another special bond as both have earned induction next spring into the 2014 New Jersey High School Ice Hockey Hall of Fame.

Verney and Doria will highlight the third induction class into the Hall of Fame, to again be hosted by the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center this spring.

The 2014 Inductees:

(Players): Mats Carsberg, West Windsor/Lawrenceville; Bob Crothers, Morris Knolls; Dustin DePalma, Christian Brothers Academy; Stan Gutt, Bayonne; Chris Ohlweiler, Chatham Township; Michael Pendy, Delbarton; Chris Seebode, Seton Hall; Pat Sullivan, Seton Hall.

(Coaches): Bruce Shatel, Delbarton; Bob Smith, Brick/CBA; Mike Reynolds, Madison/Toms River South/CBA.

(Builders & Contributors): Rick Bliwise, The Star-Ledger; Lou Lamoriello, New Jersey Devils; Mike Morreale, The Star-Ledger.; Ben Leuzzi, New Jersey Golden Blades.

(Teams): 1979-80 Livingston; 2001-2002 Delbarton.

(Officials): Bill Sidun, High School Official.

Verney, now the head coach at Montclair, had a magnificent career at Hudson Catholic and is one of just five New Jersey players to finish with 300 points or more. Verney collected 301 points on 117 goals and 184 assists at Hudson Catholic. An All-State pick as a senior, he led Hudson Catholic to two Van Cott Cup crowns.

Doria, currently guiding the hockey program at Millburn, was a two-time All-State honoree (and the State Player of the Year in 1998-99) and helped lead Seton Hall to two Gordon Cup titles, three Parochial crowns and two Tournament of Champions. He finished with 159 points on 77 goals and 82 assists at the Prep; and had 39 goals and 33 assists for 72 points in his freshman year at Hudson Catholic. Doria then had an excellent career at Holy Cross, scoring 53 goals with 86 assists in 136-game collegiate career.

“This is such an unexpected honor,” said Doria, who was named the MVP at Holy Cross his senior year. “I have so many memories, but it’s all the friendships and bonds you have that are really meaningful. High school hockey is so special. I’m excited for all the other inductees, especially Pat (Verney).”

Verney recalls those early days and learning to cut the ice with his blades the first few times.

“When I first started skating I couldn’t do it,” Verney said. “Brandon (Doria) and I had some battles back in those days but he’s one of my best friends. This (Hall of Fame) is huge. I’m very appreciative and honored by this. New Jersey hockey has done so much for me. It got me to where I am today.”

Gutt will make it a Bayonne Trifecta into next year’s induction class.

Currently a successful coach at Middletown South, Gutt still holds the state record for goals in a season with 79, which he totaled in 1988 at Bayonne. He finished that season with 108 points. Carsberg and Shatel each finished with 225 career points.

Shatel has gone on to an immensely successful career coaching at Delbarton, where he has helped New Jersey high school hockey gain national recognition.

In 12 years at the Morristown power, Shatel has amassed an incredible 288-32-27 record that includes eight state champions, one group title, five Gordon Cups, three Mennen Cups and 17 major championships overall, second only to Brick Hall of Fame coach Bob Auriemma (21).

Bliwise was instrumental in initiating media coverage of high school hockey at The Star-Ledger in 1978-79 and was the first writer to formulate state rankings along with an All-State team. Bliwise’s original rankings were a Top 10 when New Jersey had less than 40 varsity programs. It was Bliwise who devised the idea for a New Jersey High School Hockey Hall of Fame five years ago.

Morreale built on that foundation with dedication and writing skill, working at The Star-Ledger for 17 years and further enhancing the coverage throughout the state with the Top 20, All-Area teams and the All-Century Team in 2000. He has worked as a feature writer for NHL.Com for the past five years. Morreale earned the McMullen Award in 2008, presented by the National Hockey League’s New Jersey Devils to an individual or individuals who have supported amateur hockey throughout the state.

During Morreale’s time at The Ledger, the number of schools participating in varsity hockey grew from 56 to over 150.

“I am truly humbled and honored to be even mentioned in the same breath as those great athletes and builders inducted before and with me in the great sport of ice hockey in the Garden State,” Morreale said. “I have never forgotten where it all began for me – the outdoor rinks in Warinanco Park, Toms River and Mackay.

“Covering and helping build the sport of ice hockey in New Jersey was a passion. It’s a period of my life I will never forget because the great people associated with the sport are equally passionate and determined.”

For more information and Hall of Fame history click on its link … http://njhshockeyhof.com/the-class-of-2012/