New Nutley HS ice hockey head coach Andy Surowiec excited to lead program

NUTLEY, NJ – First-year head coach Andy Surowiec is excited to lead the Nutley High School varsity ice hockey team this season.

The Raiders will begin the season Saturday, Dec. 3, against Cranford at Codey Arena in West Orange.

Key players:

Danny Caputo, senior defenseman
Phil Woodkotch, senior defenseman
Gerard LaFiura, senior forward
Andrew Spitalnik, senior forward
Tim Spitalnik, senior goaltender
Mark Frade, junior forward
Ryan O’Mara, junior forward

The following is a Q and A with coach Surowiec

Q: What are the strengths of the team?

A: The strength of our team relies heavily on our defense and goaltending, as we return two senior defenseman Danny Caputo and Phil Woodkotch, and our senior goaltender Tim Spitalnik. We also have two freshman defensemen – Leo Carrillo and Joe Melillo – as well as a solid freshman goaltender in Johnny Matrona, who all possess talent and maturity beyond their years, and we will be depending on them to assist in anchoring our defensive front. Our offensive strength is contributed to by the team’s hard work and aggressive mindset with each shift, led by senior forwards Gerard LaFiura and Andrew Spitalnik.

Q: What are the keys to success for this season?

A: The keys to our success for this season will be having the players buy into being extremely disciplined in our defensive zone, while at the same time creating more offensive opportunities through creativity and hard work. We will be implementing a power play system that we are hoping will make the difference in tight contests, therefore we must be disciplined in our attitude and approach to the game.

Q: What are your team goals and expectations for the team and season.

A: We have entered a new division this year – NJIHL Kelly Division – merging with several Union County schools. Although there is some unknown knowledge regarding our competition, we believe we have the capability of competing for the division championship this year, and surprising a few teams on our way to the state tournament. Off the ice, I strive to push the players to develop a work ethic and respect for their peers that will lead into their adult life. Some of the greatest lessons and experiences I have witnessed in my life have derived from hockey, and I plan on paying that forward to this team.

Q: What is your background?

A: I grew up in Clifton, NJ, and started playing ice hockey at Clary Anderson Arena in Montclair from the time I was 4-5 years old. I played travel hockey from the ages of 8 to 18 in the New Jersey youth travel leagues. I attended Clifton High School from 2002-2005, while playing all four years of ice hockey at the varsity level. After graduating from high school, I attended Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pa., where I majored in electrical engineering. During my first few years at Drexel, I concentrated on my studies over playing ice hockey. My junior and senior year I decided to get back into the game, playing for Drexel at the division 1 club level – ACHA. I was fortunate enough to be able to play at a very high level within club hockey, competing in a division with some of the top club hockey programs in Penn State, Rhode Island, and Delaware. My senior year I was voted best defenseman by my peers.

Upon graduating from Drexel in 2010, I began coaching midget hockey for the New Jersey Colonials, and then moved over to the Kinnelon Colts for two years. After a few years of coaching at the travel level, I decided to further advance my coaching career by taking a job as an assistant coach for Seton Hall Prep’s junior varsity team. The following year I was awarded the head coach position for Seton Hall Prep’s jv program. The following year, 2015-16 season, I took the job as the assistant varsity coach with Nutley High School, serving under head coach Anthony Yelovich – a longtime childhood friend of mine. Upon completion of last season, the head coach position for Nutley opened up, and without hesitation I took the job. It has been a longtime dream of mine to coach hockey at the varsity high school level, and I am thrilled to be able to advance as quickly as I have up the ladder.

In non-hockey related news, I received my master’s degree in electrical engineering in 2015 from Stevens Institute of Technology, and I currently work at Picatinny Arsenal, NJ as an electrical engineer. I live with my wife Megan and my dog Brodeur in Morristown, NJ.

Schedule

Home game at Codey Arena in West Orange

Dec. 3, Cranford, home, 5:45 p.m.

Dec. 5, Millburn, away, at Codey Arena, 6:15 p.m.

Dec. 10, Montclair, home, 3:45 p.m.

Dec. 13, Scotch Plains-Fanwood, at Warinanco Rink, in Roselle, 8:45 p.m.

Dec. 16, West Essex/Caldwell, home, 8:45 p.m.

Dec. 19, Sparta/Jefferson, at Skylands Ice World, in Stockholm, 5:40 p.m

Dec. 22, Newark East Side, at Newark Barnabas Health Pavilion, 7 p.m.

Dec. 26, Verona/Glen Ridge, Essex County Holiday Tournament, at Codey Arena, 5 p.m.

Dec. 28, Madison, Essex County Holiday Tournament, at Codey Arena, 4:45 p.m.

Dec. 29, Pascack Valley/Pascack Hills, Essex County Holiday Tournament, at Codey Arena, 7:15 p.m.