Bridgewater-Raritan Player's Goal Earns ESPN SportsCenter Top 10 Spot

Sasha Abolenskiy's breakaway goal for the Panthers was ranked #5 on the popular sports highlights show.

Published on Feb. 7, 2026

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Sasha Abolenskiy, a junior on the Bridgewater-Raritan hockey team, scored a dazzling breakaway goal that earned the #5 spot on ESPN SportsCenter's Top 10 Plays on February 6, 2026. The goal came during a 6-3 home win over Hillsborough, Abolenskiy's second of a hat trick performance that brought his season total to 25 goals.

Why it matters

This is the ninth time a highlight from New Jersey high school sports has made it onto the prestigious SportsCenter Top 10, showcasing the high level of talent in the state. Bridgewater-Raritan's inclusion continues to raise the profile of New Jersey hockey on the national stage.

The details

Abolenskiy's highlight-reel goal came after a long pass from Bridgewater-Raritan goalie Justin Madison. Abolenskiy went in on a breakaway and made a slick move to beat the Hillsborough goalie and find the back of the net.

  • Abolenskiy's goal was scored on February 6, 2026 during Bridgewater-Raritan's 6-3 win over Hillsborough.
  • The goal was featured on ESPN SportsCenter's Top 10 Plays that same day, February 6, 2026.

The players

Sasha Abolenskiy

A junior forward for the Bridgewater-Raritan hockey team who scored the highlight-reel goal that earned a spot on ESPN SportsCenter's Top 10 Plays.

Justin Madison

The Bridgewater-Raritan goalie who started the play with a long pass to Abolenskiy for the breakaway goal.

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What’s next

Bridgewater-Raritan will look to build on this national exposure as they continue their season, hoping to make a deep playoff run.

The takeaway

Sasha Abolenskiy's electrifying goal not only thrilled local fans, but also earned national recognition on ESPN SportsCenter, further cementing New Jersey's reputation as a hotbed for high school hockey talent.