Watch Mendham Win Overtime Thriller in Hockey Playoffs

It was as even as a game could be, and what more could you expect in the NJSIAA ice hockey playoffs? 

Mendham’s Minutemen weren’t looking for even, though. They wanted a win.

And so five minutes into overtime against the No. 11 seed Verona at Mennen Arena Thursday night, Grant Jozefek, the state’s overall points leader, punched Mendham’s ticket to the next round.

With an assist from Pierce Mead, Jozefek split two defenders down the center of the ice, crossed the puck from his left to his right – sending the goalie crumbling – and netted his only goal of the game, sealing the victory for Mendham, 5-4, and putting the Minutemen into the Public B quarterfinals. 

Each team had 32 shots on goal, according to nj.com. Jozefek, along with his game-winning score, had three assists on the night, padding his total to a New Jersey best 101. The senior holds the state record of 103 points in a season, set in 2012-13.

A scoreless first period gave way to a barrage of goals in the second and third frames. Paul Michura scored twice in five minutes in the second period, giving the Minutemen a 2-0 lead heading into the final frame. Verona wouldn’t be denied, quickly scoring twice to tie things up in the third.

Mendham’s Nik Hendergren scored less than three minutes later to put the Minutemen back on top, but Verona hit the back of the net two more times in less than three minutes to go on top, 4-3, nj.com’s box score showed.

Nearly 14 minutes into the final period, it was Hendergren again off a pass from Nathan Biery, getting past Verona’s goalie to tie the score for the final time in the game. 

Jozefek’s four points led all scorers, with Michura adding three of his own, followed by two each from Mead and Hendergren.

The Minutemen will play the winner of No. 3 Glen Rock vs. No. 14 Middletown North, which hits the ice at 7:45 p.m. Friday night. The quarterfinal matchup is scheduled for Monday, March 3.