North Jersey Review
by Mike Morreale, The Star Ledger
Top freshman: Forward Kyle Palmieri (11, 11) of St. Peter's Prep.
Top sophomores: Forwards, Bryan Robinson (nine, 16) and Tim Miller (10, 13) of St. Peter's Prep.
Coach of the year: The miraculous recovery of St. Peter's Prep coach Joe Maione, who last June suffered a major stroke on the left side of his brain and another in his brain stem, was truly the most inspiring story of the season.
After undergoing 17 days in intensive care at Hackensack University Medical Center, Maione was transferred to the Kessler Rehabilitation Institute in West Orange, where he remained for five weeks. On Aug. 6, he received clearance to return home, despite the fact he didn't have his full eyesight. From his hospital bed at Kessler, Maione still arranged his summer camp for his hockey team in Florida and, on Aug. 8, hopped on a plane to join the team in the Sunshine State. He was there for each game this winter as St. Peter's finished with an 10-10-4 log. Maione was also named North Jersey Coach of the Year during the 2003-2004 campaign.
"It's amazing to me that his goal, throughout his recovery, was more about coaching hockey than getting healthy," Delbarton coach Bruce Shatel said. "It's the most courageous story of the season."
