JUSTIN TIME: Princeton High boys’ ice hockey player -Justin Joyce heads up the ice in recent action. Last week, sophomore forward Joyce chipped in a goal and an assist as PHS topped WW/P-S 5-1. The Little Tigers, who moved to 3-1-1 with a 5-1 loss to Pennington last Monday, face Hopewell Valley on December 16 at Mercer County Park, play at Paul VI on December 18, and then host Cranford on December 19 at Baker Rink. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Coming into this season, Justin Joyce was primed to play a bigger role for the Princeton High boys’ hockey team as a sophomore.

“We lost a few seniors so I need to step up and get some goals in,” said forward Joyce.

Last week as PHS played WW/P-S, Joyce stepped up, getting a first period goal and adding an assist in the second to help the Little Tigers post a 5-1 victory.

Hitting the ice for the December 8 contest, Joyce and his teammates were looking to set the tone early.

“Coach (Terence Miller) is a stickler about getting on them early and getting a few goals,” said Joyce.

“It really worked out because they lose confidence in themselves when they get put down early.”

In reflecting on his goal and assist, Joyce noted that he was in the right place at the right time on both scores.

“I was in the front, the puck came out in the middle and I just came up and knocked it in,” said Joyce.

“On the assist, the puck went deep and I got on it hard. I stopped in the corner and I turned around and Brendon (McCormick) was right in front and I passed it right to him. It was pretty much an open net right there.”

Joyce has established a good connection with junior star McCormick, who had three goals and an assist in the victory over WW/P-S.

“It is awesome having such a skilled player on your team and your line,” said Joyce, referring to McCormick.

“He definitely has a lot of hockey knowledge, he knows when to pass and when to shoot. He always knows where I am. We played together on the travel team with the PYHA so we have a good chemistry.”

With a year of high school hockey under his belt, Joyce has developed a good comfort level on the ice.

“It took a little while to get used to it freshman year, getting used to the different style of play and stuff,” said Joyce.

“It is a lot different than travel, having such older kids. They are definitely a lot more physical than your own age group.”

PHS head coach Miller is pleased with Joyce’s progress. “Justin is huge for us, we have an expression, he brings a lot of jam to the rink,” said Miller.

“He brings energy, he brings speed, and it is contagious. The other guys feed off of that stuff, you can see them getting excited. JJ is a nice complement to Brendon and he is finishing. That is a nice combination, they are starting to build their chemistry a little bit better.”

Junior captain and top scorer McCormick brings sterling character to go along with his exciting play on the ice.

“I am already running out of things to say about Brendon; the best part is that he really is a great kid,” said Miller.

“He is a low maintenance guy. He just shows up. He is there every day, he doesn’t miss a meeting, he doesn’t miss a practice. Sometimes you will forget he is in the room, he says two words. He just quietly gets hat tricks and you don’t even think twice. He is really a coach’s dream. He is a leader and he doesn’t ask for anything. I have never been happier to sew a ‘C’ onto a jersey than onto Brendon’s.”

Miller is happy with how his team has come together in the early going.

“We only have four seniors this year so we are a pretty young team but a lot of these guys have gotten good minutes in years past so we have some experience,” said Miller.

“The ladder is higher, we only have four seniors but it is a big junior class. We are just looking to slowly build up, we are slowly making our way there.”

PHS will have to make its way through playing some solid defense.

“Every goal is going to count, we are going to have to be sure that our back end is solid,” said Miller.

“So far, Tooker (Callaway), Eamonn (McDonald) and Max (Garlock) have done a nice job on defense. We are going to ask more and more of them as the games get bigger and bigger. Augie Preziosi has stepped in along with Colin Beatty and Joe O’Donnell. We can’t take anything for granted.”

With some big games coming up before the holiday break, Miller will get a better idea of how his young team stacks up.

“We have had some good results; they have been against Valley Division opponents so as we come into our division, it is going to get tougher and tougher,” said Miller, whose team moved to 3-1-1 with a 5-1 loss to Pennington last Monday and is slated to face CVC Colonial Division rival Hopewell Valley on December 16 at Mercer County Park, play at Paul VI on December 18, and then host Cranford on December 19 at Baker Rink.

“We are still building up, we are going to know soon enough so hopefully we have brought it up to that level. All in all, we are off to a pretty good start. We are hoping to keep it going.”

Joyce, for his part, is hoping to have an even greater impact for the Little Tigers.

“Playing all around with better players and older kids, I have gotten a lot better,” said Joyce.

“I have been watching some of the older kids, seeing what they are doing and trying it out myself. It is really working.”