Freddie Brutto is 26 points away from Manalapan High School’s scoring record in ice hockey.
Brutto has rung up 131 points while he bids to break Manalapan’s program mark at 156 points.
The senior captain was the leading scorer as a freshman, sophomore and junior for the Braves. Last year, he posted 21 goals and 20 assists.
Brutto is an elite scorer and facilitator, and he is already the center of a prolific offense in 2018-19.
Manalapan has 19 goals in six games. Brutto leads the team in points (12) and assists (seven).
Manalapan, which is 2-3-1 in this young season, will seek to knock off Marlboro High School on Dec. 21. The opening face off is set for 5 p.m.
The Braves went 7-12-1 in 2017-18.
But coach Matt Inzerillo is expecting improvement this year. He is high on his roster because it can score with anyone.
Another senior captain, Ryan Marsala, had 11 goals and 25 assists last winter. He has thrived alongside Brutto for three years. But in 2018-19, Marsala is running his own line.
Inzerillo separated the duo to disperse Manalapan’s talent across the lineup, instead of loading up the first line.
“We think it’s making us stronger,” Inzerillo said. “Ryan can assist guys. With Freddie he was able to showcase that. We’re hoping he can showcase it without Freddie this year.”
Brutto and Marsala are established high school scorers. Two younger teammates, sophomores Joe Mazza and Dylan Stein, could reach that level this season.
Mazza is 6-2 and a natural athlete. He also plays football in the fall and baseball in the spring. In hockey, Inzerillo switched Mazza from wing to center, and it’s working.
The sophomore has six goals and four assists in four games.
“Once he gets going, he can carry the team. That’s how talented he is,” Inzerillo said. “He could have close to 30 points this year.”
Stein was the Manalapan ice hockey team’s Freshman of the Year in 2017-18, recording 10 points in 12 games. He is playing with Brutto on the first line this year.
“We think he has the offensive ability to put the team on his shoulders as well,” Inzerillo said. “We have a lot of kids who can light the lamp.”
With all this firepower, Inzerillo thinks the Braves will win between 12-15 games, make the Shore Conference Tournament and earn a top 15 seed in the NJSIAA Public B championship.
“I’ve been telling the guys with this team, the talent and experience we have, there’s no reason we shouldn’t accomplish those things,” Inzerillo said.
To get there, though, the Braves will have to improve on defense. They have allowed 23 goals in six games, including 17 in their three losses.
Since then, however, the Braves have improved, beating Red Bank Regional High School, 6-1, on Dec. 8, tying Freehold Township High School, 3-3, on Dec. 9 and topping Red Bank Catholic High School, 4-2, on Dec. 12.
Senior captain Jake Caballero shifted from forward to defense this year, and he is stabilizing the Manalapan zone.
“He’s been our leader and backbone. He doesn’t even know how many points he has. He’s one of those kids. He just wants to win,” Inzerillo said. “We knew he was capable of doing it because he played forward and defense for club. We knew he was a guy we could leave on the ice for 25-30 minutes.”
If Manalapan’s defense continues to improve, the Braves can exceed Inzerillo’s expectations.
“This is one of those teams that genuinely cares for each other. They don’t settle for losing or getting bullied,” Inzerillo said. “That leads to really good chemistry.”
