As the Devils enjoy a much needed break enjoying another great start of the season, perhaps the best in their history, I thought I would change things up a bit.

I spent some time with Greg Toskos, the Hockey Director and Head Varsity Coach at Don Bosco Prep High School in New Jersey and spoke a little bit about High School Hockey.

Greg, thanks for taking some time with me. First off, How did you get involved in New Jersey High Sschool Hockey?
I played hockey for Don Bosco in the early 90's and after I graduated college in 1999, I wanted to get involved in coaching. My first job was as an assistant under Peter Rizzotti at Don Bosco. Peter was a great coach to learn from. After 2 years I wanted to run my own bench so I took a coaching job with the North Jersey Avalanche Club hockey organization and spent a few years there before coaching with the NJ Bandits at the Ice Vault in Wayne, NJ. Then, 4 years ago, the Athletic Director at Don Bosco called and offered me the head coaching job. It was a great opportunity and the only high school job I really wanted.

Tell me about Don Bosco's Hockey Program and standouts the Program has seen over the years.
Don Bosco has a very rich hockey tradition. The program started in the late 1960's by a priest on campus, Fr. Guy Morin. Throughout the years the program continued to grow. In the late 1980's some of the players to come out of Don Bosco played top Division 3 hockey (John Kennedy at Babson, Bill Fortescue at Villanova) and produced it's first professional hockey player, Rob Kenny. Rob played at Northeastern and eventually in the New York Rangers organization. Most recently, Bryan Miller (a BU grad, former Lowell Devil and current Alaska Ace in the ECHL), Andrew Kramer at D1 Merrimack and John Conte at Penn State all played at Don Bosco. The team has won a few league titles, Van Cott titles and has been to 1 state championship losing to Christian Brother's Academy (CBA) in 1994.

What are the best games to see this year?
The league playoffs and the State Quarterfinals on to the State Finals in March are always the best games of the year.

What does the current NJ High School Hockey landscape look like?
Delbarton has been the team to beat the last few years. This year is no different. They have produced some top flight hockey players including Alex Velischek, son of former Devil Randy Velischek who is now at Providence. CBA, Seton Hall, Bergen Catholic, Don Bosco, St. Augustine and Bishop Eustace all have strong program's this year. In the Public High School world, Ramsey is the top program in the State and defending state champ. They have a top 5 goalie and have the ability to repeat. Randolph, Kinnelon, Northern Highlands and Ridge are other public schools that will give Ramsey a run for the top in the state.

When you think of High School Hockey, one doesnt necessarily think "breeding ground for NHL players". How is NJ hockey doing country wide and in the future?
The odds of making the NHL are extremely low. Even playing Division 1 is a long shot for most seniors in high school. But the reality is, NJ and NJ High School Hockey are producing some excellent hockey players. James van Riemsdyk, a recent top draft pick, is currently playing for the Flyers. He is a NJ developed hockey player playing his first two years at CBA before going on to the USA National team. Kyle Palmieri, who played at St. Peters Prep, was drafted in the first round of the draft by the Ducks is another top flight prospect. Tough guy George Parros of the Ducks played his High School hockey at Delbarton. There are many more Division 1 players from NJ than in years past. And Team NJ won its first Chicago Showcase tournament in the 25 year history of the event.

What are some things High School Hockey could do to foster more future professionals? Would you recommend structural changes?
There is always an issue with High School hockey and club hockey. I would really love the two sides to come to some sort of agreement where kids can play both and compete at both without worrying about the conflicts. Kids grow up in club hockey and the top quality players advance through club hockey BUT you can never take away the experience of playing with your school friends and playing in front of your school crowds. It is an experience that the kids should have. It is also something "structural" that could be worked on.

Speaking of Jersey hockey, the New Jersey Devils' fan-base has seen a boom demographically that can also be noticed in the attendence figures. It helps having a new arena but I think alot of fans have become old enough and financially able to go to games. What is the feeling of the New Jersey Devils hockey club in the High School kid's eyes?
There are many more Devils fans today than when I was in High School. The success of the team the past 15 years has been the biggest driver. Young players had Devils to "look up to" like Scott Stevens, Marty Brodeur, Scott Niedermayer - Hall of Fame players. And the kids following the team back then are now of working age go to the games and bring their kids. The Devils have also done an awesome job of supporting HS Hockey in NJ. Mr. Vanderbeek and Mr. Lamoriello have gone out of their way to bring players in to the Rock, bring teams to the Rock and host the championships at the Rock. If you go to the arena, there is a jersey from every HS Hockey program in the state hanging in the concourse level. It is a great event to go to the games now.

What was it like being awarded the NJ High School Hockey Player of the year award by Lou Lamoriello in 1994?
It was a pretty cool experience. It was the second year that the award was given. My good friend, Paul Giblin won the initial year in 1993 so it was fun to follow him. The Devils and at the time Sportschannel sponsored the award. My family, friends and coaches were invited to a pregame dinner at the Meadowlands. Before the game started, I got to go out on the ice and was given the award by Scott Stevens and Stan Fischler. It's great that the Devils continue to support this award and it's nice to be associated with some of the great players who have won the award in the past.

Uncle Lou has instilled a culture into the Devils organization. Do you take some pointers and apply to your program?
Mr. Lamoriello has really built the best sports team in all of sports. His structure, discipline and hockey sense is unquestionable. I remember him saying that building a team is like building an orchestra. Each piece has to fit for the music to sound good. Each musician has to play to the best of their ability to make the music great. It's no different in hockey. Each player has to know and understand his role. That's the building blocks of the team. Each player has to play to the best of their ability in that role for the team to be great. Mr. Lamoriello has been able to find the players to do this, time and time again. Look at the goaltending of Scott Clemmenson last year, or the rookies this year. Every year he finds the players and coaches to believe in the system. We try to install the same beliefs with our program. It is always a work in progress but anytime I can learn for the Devils I will.

Greg, thank you again for taking some time with us sharing a bit with our crowd. We look forward to seeing you guys on the ice and good luck the rest of the way!

Truly yours,
The Devils Advocate

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