EXTRA EFFORT: Princeton High boys’ hockey player Patrick McCormick heads up the ice in recent action. Last Thursday, sophomore defenseman McCormick scored a goal in the last minute of regulation as 16th-seeded PHS forced overtime in its clash against top-seeded Kinnelon High in the second round of the state Public B tournament. PHS went on to lose 3-2 in the extra session to end the season at 15-7-2. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

When the Princeton High boys’ hockey team edged Rumson-Fair Haven in the first round of the state Public B tournament to earn a shot at top-seeded Kinnelon High, the PHS players were fired up for the challenge.

It didn’t take long for the 16th-seeded Little Tigers to prove last Thursday that they were going to pose a major challenge to the powerful Colts, jumping out to a 1-0 lead after first period in the game played at the Skylands Ice World in Stockholm.

“We got off to a really good start; I wouldn’t say that we were dominating them but we were playing really well for us,” said PHS head coach Tim Campbell, who got the early tally from senior star Will Greenberg.

“We played like there was no tomorrow. We usually play up to the competition. They are the biggest, fastest team we have seen and we skated with them. It was so much fun to watch.”

The Little Tigers yielded a goal in the second period and then fell behind 2-1 with 2:33 remaining in regulation. While PHS could have been satisfied with hanging in there, the plucky squad kept skating hard.

“We pulled Josh [Berger] from goal with a minute left and Patrick [McCormick] scored with 31.5 seconds left to force overtime,” recalled Campbell. “At that point, I really thought we were going to beat them.”

But the Little Tigers’ upset bid fell short as Kinnelon cashed in on a power play in the extra session to pull out a 3-2 victory.

“We had to take a necessary penalty in the overtime; they had a guy all alone in front of the net,” said Campbell, whose team ended the winter with a final record of 15-7-2.

“He would have buried it so we had to pull him down. They just barely scored on the power play.”

In the wake of the disappointing defeat, Campbell urged his players to be proud of their effort.

“Other than winning, which everyone would choose, this was Plan B,” asserted Campbell, who got 32 saves from goalie Berger in his finale.

“The best way you could go out is losing to the No.1 seed in overtime. I told them to walk out of the locker room with their heads held high. They can be upset that the season is over but not upset about how they lost.”

It is going to be upsetting for Campbell to say goodbye to his trio of seniors, Greenberg, Berger, and Kirby Peck.

“The three seniors are really important to us; it is going to be a big loss,” said Campbell.

“Josh was a four-year starter and Will and Kirby have been go–to players for us. They will be sorely missed.”

PHS has a solid foundation in place with such returners as Matt DiTosto, Gabe MacGregor, Mike Wasson, Bence Stipsicz, John Reid, and the McCormick brothers, Patrick and Connor.

“All the underclassmen now know what it is like to be where we want to be in the postseason,” added Campbell.

“You are taking bumps and bruises in December and January then playing your best hockey in February. We have established ourselves as one of the dominant programs in the league, going to three straight county finals. They know this is what PHS wants to do every year.”

While Campbell and his players wanted their year to last a little longer, the Little Tigers produced one of the more rewarding seasons in program history.

“Last year was special, doing what we did with that group of seniors,” said Campbell.

“There was something extra with this season. Everything we got, we worked so hard for. Nobody expected us to do what we did so it was really sweet. We proved we could win without last year’s seniors.”