PDS Boys’ Hockey Steps Up in Tie With Bishop Eustace As Senior Star Garrymore Shows Savvy on Blue Line
As the most experienced defenseman on the Princeton Day School boys’ hockey team, Will Garrymore knows that his knowledge will come in handy this winter.
“I have been learning a lot of things over the last four years; the younger guys haven’t been told as much as I have,” said senior standout Garrymore.
“I think we only have seven upperclassmen; it is going to be a learning year.”
Last week, the young Panthers showed a good learning curve, bouncing back from a 7-4 opening day loss at St. Joseph (Pa.) last Wednesday to tie Bishop Eustace 0-0 a day later.
“Yesterday we were pretty bad in the defensive zone but today we were pretty strong in the defensive zone which led to some good offensive opportunities,” said Garrymore, reflecting on the tie with Bishop Eustace.
“We came out fresh today and it was just see how it goes. We did pretty well against a pretty good team. I think that a lot of the older kids on our team stepped up. We were matching lines so I think we did a really good job of that.”
Garrymore enjoys matching up with junior Chris Helmlinger to form PDS’s top defensive pair.
“I like playing with Chris a lot because we both know a lot of the simple things like getting behind your partner and making the strong forehand plays,” added Garrymore. “I think that was really good today.”
PDS head coach Scott Bertoli is looking for the pair of Garrymore and Helmlinger to provide good leadership for the team’s younger defensemen.
“Between Will and Chris on the back line, they are out there with three freshmen and a sophomore,” said Bertoli.
“They are going to have to carry the load. They are going to have to be physical, they are going to have to be vocal leaders back there and playing in every situation, whether it is 5-on-5, penalty kill or power play and at times match up against the other team’s top line.”
In the tie with Bishop Eustace, the defense stepped up in a variety of situations, giving cover to junior goalie Mark Anarumo, who made 26 saves in earning the shutout.
“The penalty kill was unbelievable tonight; we tried to use a lot of guys that we have used in years past,” said Bertoli.
“Even the new guys when we plugged out there, they did what we asked them to do. Mark made some big saves but he didn’t have to make a ton of big saves, which is good.”
Although PDS didn’t find the back of the net in the tie, Bertoli saw some good things at the offensive end.
“I knew that was going to be an area of concern yet I thought we had some nice chances,” said Bertoli, whose team hosts its annual Harry Rulon-Miller Invitational this weekend, starting play in the event by playing Rye Country Day (N.Y.) on December 12 with the consolation and championship games being held the next day.
“Their kid made some nice saves at key situations. I thought our power play did a good job. In the third period, we had the right guys get opportunities. I am happy with the fact that we are getting the opportunities. If we were sitting here and we got totally outplayed and didn’t have opportunities, that would be a little more concerning. I thought we had opportunities, they just didn’t go.”
Bertoli was happy with the progress his team made in just 24 hours after its opening day loss.
“The fact that you were able to respond and come out with that kind of concentrated effort and focus into today’s game was good,” said Bertoli, recalling his postgame message.
“I don’t care about the results at this point. It is nice to win games but I care more about the process and the fact that you are improving on a daily basis and I think we can take a lot away from today’s effort.”
Garrymore, for his part, is confident that PDS will produce good results as the season unfolds.
“We are going to have to improve from the beginning of the year,” said Garrymore.
“Last year, we were a really strong team with a lot of really good offensive players. This year we have a lot of strong defensemen. Coach Bertoli is going to have to make some adjustments. He has been really doing a good job of that and I think today showed that.”