Let’s go back to 2024. Morris Knolls is 8-12; they have just been bounced in the semi-final round of the Mennen Cup, and after the Seeding Committee meeting, are ranked as the 6th seed in the North Public Co-Op Tournament. With a bye in the first round, they looked to play the 11th-seeded Lakeland Lancers. Nick Trento was a freshman, Wes Vnenchak and Brandon Strunck were sophomores, and Luke Dickerson was a senior forward, who was forced to delay his return to the diamond to play hockey. What followed was a dominant and complete campaign that led the Eagles to state glory. It was Knolls’ fifth state title, and its fourth Co-Op championship.
Fast forward now to 2026, and after a 9-13 campaign, Morris Knolls/Hills hockey is back on their road to the state title. Now led by seniors Brandon Strunck and Wes Vnenchak, Knolls looks poised to make a return to Prudential to have a shot at the ultimate prize. After Tuesday’s Seeding Committee meeting, the Golden Eagles are the third seed in the North Public Co-op Tournament. While they had a cold start to the season, this team has been thriving as of late. Now, they have as good a shot as ever to win Morris Knolls’ sixth state championship.
With four consecutive Mennen Division losses, Knolls began a challenging season. While they kept it close in most of the games, they were unable to find wins. However, they broke through with an overtime win against KJS, but they only found one more win prior to the new year. For the first half of January, the five losses piled up fast, and they were drowning with a 2-11 record. Suddenly, a trip to the playoffs was no longer looking like a given. The Golden Eagles would have to earn the right to play, and the change would have to be swift.
Fortunately, it was a swift change. Since January 19th, this team has only lost two games. It started with a 4-0 win over West Essex. A 7-2 divisional loss to Mendham was a wake-up call, but they answered with a 4-0 win three nights later. Then a 4-2 victory. They beat Morristown 4-1 and Chatham 3-0. Another shutout: a 5-0 victory. One win became two, and a win streak was born. They dropped the next one to Morristown, but defeated Rumson-Fair Haven 4-3 to close out the regular season.
A continuous stretch of success like this one can completely change a locker room. Senior defenseman Ethan Shumaker-Gromek was one of the leaders on this team who noticed the change. “It brings everyone closer together,” Ethan said. “And it gives everyone more confidence. Especially after struggling to secure a win in the first part of the season, to now pulling everything together and playing as a team.”
An offensive surge ran through Brandon Strunck and Ryan Nevins. They scored 28 goals combined across the season, including 16 in the final nine games. Junior goalie Nick Trento also found his spark. After coming in halfway through a 7-2 loss versus Mendham, he has not looked back. In the final seven games of the season, Trento has compiled a .929 save percentage, 1.57 goals allowed per game, 3 shutouts, 145 saves on 156 shots, and a 6-1 record. In the Morristown and Chatham games, Trento saved 32/33 and 34/34 shots, respectively.
Valentine’s Day may have been over a week ago, but Knolls has a date with the tournament 14-seed Clifton (12-10). When the puck drops at 8:30 Wednesday night, it will mark a matchup that can define this season. This team has proven they can stack wins, and when the pieces click, it’s a dangerous mix for opponents. Prudential is only 24 miles from Morris Knolls, but the road to the finals is much longer, and the MK/MH hockey team is ready for it.
