STICKING POINT: Princeton High boys’ hockey player Patrick McCormick controls the puck in recent action despite a foe’s outstretched stick. Junior defenseman McCormick picked up an assist in a losing cause as 18th-seeded PHS fell 6-4 at No. 15 Sparta last week in the opening round of the Public B state tournament. The defeat left the Little Tigers with a final record of 11-9-1. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

For the Princeton High boys’ hockey team, its Public B state tournament opening round contest at Sparta last week proved to be a microcosm of the season.

Midway through the second period of the February 26 contest, 18th seeded PHS trailed No. 15 Sparta 4-1 and appeared to be headed to a one-sided loss.

The Little Tigers, though, fought back and drew to within 5-4 late in the third period. Sparta responded with an empty net goal to hand PHS a season-ending 6-4 defeat.

PHS head coach Tim Campbell was proud of the way his team battled to the final whistle.

“We really did make a comeback,” said Campbell, who got two goals and an assist from Jackson Andres together with a goal and two assists from Connor McCormick, a goal from John Reid, and an assist from Patrick McCormick in the defeat which left PHS with a final record of 11-9-1.

“We came into the third period down by two and I told them in the intermission that we had a lot to play for and not a lot to lose. We were a little shorthanded; we had guys dealing with injuries and Harrison Naylor was out. The game was emblematic of the season.”

Over the course of the winter, the Little Tigers showed resolve as they encountered a series of hurdles.

“We never fully got up and running,” said Campbell, whose team started 3-4-1 before surging in January.

“We started with some injuries. We had some tough losses. I feel good about the season; we dealt with adversity. We won some close one-goal games. We started the calendar year really well. Some of those wins could have been losses.”

Campbell had a feeling that his team would be facing an uphill battle this year.

“It is what I expected with our graduation losses,” said Campbell. “I knew it was going to be a battle for us every night and we were going to have a lot of one-goal games. We can take a lot of positives. Coming into the year, our two biggest goals were to do well in the Mercer County Tournament (MCT) and to make states. We got a fourth seed in the MCT but we didn’t go as far as we wanted. The next thing was the states. The kids knew the math and we were over .500 at the cut off.”

PHS certainly got some good work from its senior kids. “It is a good senior class,” said Campbell of the team’s Class of 2013, which included Matt DiTosto, Danny Kingsley, Mike Dunlap, and Gabe MacGregor.

“They made it to the MCT finals in their first three years and won it as sophomores. Matt was a good leader. He is a very skilled player and a hard worker. He plays three times his size. Mike stepped in the first part of the season when we didn’t have our starting goalie. Danny was an emotional leader; the kids loved him.”

The Little Tigers have some skilled players coming back in juniors Patrick McCormick, Harrison Naylor, Spencer Reynolds, and Robert Quinn together with sophomores Andres, Reid, and Connor McCormick.

“The sophomore and junior classes are loaded with talent,” said Campbell. “They have a lot of experience and they are producers. Robert Quinn has come a long way at goalie.”

As his players head into the offseason, Campbell is confident they will keep productive.

“I just want them to stay competitive; any coach will tell you that it is good for them to play other sports,” said Campbell.

“I enjoy seeing them make the transition to lacrosse and baseball. Over the summer, they will do clinics and camps. A lot of them play travel and are in early fall leagues. I know they will be ready and in shape when we start again on November 15.”