Secaucus Resident Helps Lead MKA Hockey
Secaucus resident Aiden Jia has helped lead the Montclair Kimberley Academy ice hockey team this winter as the Essex County private school hockey squad captured the regular season Kelly Division championship in the New Jersey Interscholastic Ice Hockey League.
Jia, a junior, entered recent action with 4 goals and 9 assists while emerging as one of the top forwards for MKA, which entered the NJSIAA Non-Public state tournament field with a 10-4-3 overall record and an 8-2-2 mark in the Kelly Division.
“Jia is probably our most talented forward,” said veteran MKA Coach Tim Cook. “He has a next gear in his speed."
“I think he will continue to populate the score sheet as his high school hockey career continues and I am excited to see where his game end up next year.”
Jia has helped propel an MKA team which has allowed two or fewer goals in 13 of its first 17 games, including an impressive 7-1-1 late-season stretch with the only blemish being a 4-1 setback to Scotch Plains in the Feb. 10th Kelly Cup playoff final at Richard J. Codey Arena in West Orange when the Cougars led 1-0 before the Raiders went on a late surge spurred on by a power-play tying goal with 5:54 remaining in the third period.
“Aiden is a big part of the success of our team and is an important part of the great camaraderie and top-notch work ethic of our team,” said Cook. “This is one of my favorite teams in nine years coaching at MKA.”
