January 21, 2015

PDS Boys’ Hockey Falls 6-0 to Lawrenceville, As Young Squad Gains Hard-Earned Experience

SEEING RED: Princeton Day School boys’ hockey player Kyle Weller unloads the puck in recent action. Last Thursday, junior star Weller and his teammates didn’t get the puck in the back of the net as they fell 6-0 at Lawrenceville. The Panthers, who dropped to 1-9-3 with the loss to the Big Red, are scheduled to host LaSalle College High (Pa.) on January 21, Notre Dame on January 22, and Holy Ghost (Pa.) on January 26.(Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

SEEING RED: Princeton Day School boys’ hockey player Kyle Weller unloads the puck in recent action. Last Thursday, junior star Weller and his teammates didn’t get the puck in the back of the net as they fell 6-0 at Lawrenceville. The Panthers, who dropped to 1-9-3 with the loss to the Big Red, are scheduled to host LaSalle College High (Pa.) on January 21, Notre Dame on January 22, and Holy Ghost (Pa.) on January 26. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Scott Bertoli knew that his Princeton Day School boys’ hockey team faced an uphill battle as it played at rival Lawrenceville last Thursday.

“Physically, we knew it was going to be a challenge,” said PDS head coach Bertoli. “It is just a bigger, older group over there.”

With Loucks Ice Center packed to the rafters, Bertoli was looking for his team to draw inspiration from the electric atmosphere at the rink.

“I told them before the game that everything that has happened to this point, just throw it out the window,” said Bertoli, whose team had beaten the Big Red 6-3 in last year’s installment of the heated local rivalry.

“At the end of the day, it is a fun environment. Look at how many people showed up for it. We were in here two years ago with the best team arguably we have ever had at this school and we had the same amount of people here today and we have won one game this year. They all showed up again, that is pretty cool.”

In order for PDS to make a good showing, Bertoli knew that his team had to play it close to the vest and keep cool heads.

“Our approach is to get through the first five minutes and get through the first period and hope that we are either even or ahead,” explained Bertoli.

“When you look at our results in games that we have been able to take into the third period with an opportunity to win, we have kept it together.”

Although outshot 14-5 in the first period, PDS was able to keep the game scoreless, largely through some dazzling saves by sophomore goalie Logan Kramsky.

Lawrenceville, though, broke through with two straight goals in the opening minutes of the second period. PDS had some good chances, including a breakaway by junior star Kyle Weller, but couldn’t find the back of the net and the Big Red tacked on a goal in the waning seconds of the period to make it a 3-0 game.

“I think the game swung when that goalie made that save on Weller’s breakaway,” said Bertoli.

“If we had scored there, it is 2-1 going into the third and it is a completely different game. Then they score right at the end of the second period. That is not to say that they didn’t outplay us because they absolutely outplayed us. That is the way we have to play this year. We have to take chances and we have to be opportunistic.”

In the final period, Lawrenceville buried its chances as it pulled away to a 6-0 victory.

“I said to my coaches at the start of the third period, this is going one way or the other,” said Bertoli, whose team was outshot 36-10 on the day as it dropped to 1-9-3.

“It is not going to stay a 3-0 game. It is either going to go to 6-0 or 7-0 or it is going to go 3-1 or 3-2. I don’t know what way it is going to go. It is a young group in there. We are going to come ready to go and we are going to take some chances. It could backfire and it did.”

Afterward, the PDS players trudged into their locker room with their heads down and some banging sticks in frustration.

“They are not happy, I said I feel bad for you guys,” said Bertoli. “I know you are disappointed. I know you wanted to play well. I know you wanted to win. I know you wanted to perform well in front of all of your friends, peers, and alumni. The next 24 hours is going to be tough for you guys. I feel for you because you are going to walk into school disappointed.”

Bertoli is confident his team can put that disappointment behind it as hosts LaSalle College High (Pa.) on January 21, Notre Dame on January 22, and Holy Ghost (Pa.) on January 26.

“It has been a struggle but it is a good group and I want them to stay positive,” said Bertoli.

“I want them to learn from this. We have got to get ourselves ready and pick ourselves back up. I keep telling them, don’t worry about the scoreboard. You can’t chase the score because once you start doing that you are going to get way from everything we are teaching you and want you to do.”

While it may take a while for those lessons to yield dividends, Bertoli believes his players are better for the experience.

“It may not happen this year because in the next four or five weeks no one is gaining 10 pounds and growing two inches; that’s a reality,” said Bertoli.

“They can get smarter as players. Some of these younger kids are gaining valuable experience playing in big games. I saw some really good things from the Russell Friedmans, the Ryan Lisks, the Eric Shermans, the Nic Truolos. Eugene Yoon had a good game. They have to take some positives from this. As hard as it is, when you step back and look at the big picture, it is another game.”