STICK SKILL: Princeton Day School boys’ hockey player ­Connor Fletcher takes the puck up the ice in a game last season. Junior forward Fletcher figures to be a top offensive weapon for the Panthers this winter. PDS gets regular season action underway by playing at St. Joseph Prep on December 3, hosting Bishop Eustace on December 4, and then playing at St. Augustine on December 9. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Over the last two winters, the Princeton Day School boys’ hockey team turned to stellar groups of seniors for production and leadership as it enjoyed big campaigns.

This winter, though, PDS will need a bunch of younger players to grow up in a hurry in order to match the achievements of last year which saw the Panthers win the state Prep title or the season before when it posted a record of 21-3-1 and shared the Prep title with Morristown-Beard.

“It has been some time, maybe four or five years since we have had to fill so many spots,” said PDS head coach Scott Bertoli, who guided the Panthers to a 14-7-2 record last winter.

“There is sense of apprehensiveness among the younger players. The biggest challenge is are they big enough to compete physically against some of the teams we will be playing against. Our schedule is challenging and difficult.”

In order to compete at a high level, the Panthers will need to get on the same page tactically.

“The biggest thing is to figure out what kind of team we are going to be and what is going to be our identity and what is the make up,” said Bertoli, whose team gets regular season action underway by playing at St. Joseph Prep on December 3, hosting Bishop Eustace on December 4 and then playing at St. Augustine on December 9.

“I think it will be similar to last year. We have to work hard and be very good and responsible defensively. It will be a lot of low scoring games, we are not going to score a ton of goals.”

Bertoli is depending on juniors Kyle Weller and Connor Fletcher along with senior Will Wright, to carry the scoring load.

“Fletcher, Weller and Wright are the only three returning forwards who I would slot in as a first or second line player,” said Bertoli.

“They look good. We are going to struggle to score goals, we will be challenged to score on 5-on-5. We will put some things in to be effective on the power play. We lost our top five wingers from last year, that is a tremendous void.”

Other options at forward include junior Keith Asplundh, senior Harrison Latham, and freshman Tyler Coffey.

“The guys offer different skill sets,” added Bertoli. “Keith Asplundh played on the third line last year. He has improved, he is a year older and looks more comfortable. Tyler Coffey is a freshman, he is a highly skilled forward. He will be on the first line with Weller and Wright.”

The one-two punch of junior Chris Helmlinger and senior Will Garrymore along with sophomore Gianluca Travia will spearhead things on the blue line.

“Defense looks to be a strength, Chris and Will are big kids who have played a ton of minutes for us,” said Bertoli. “Gianluca played more at the end last year and gave us solid minutes.”

A trio of freshman, Nick Petruolo, Eric Sherman, and Eugene Yoon, should solidify the Panther defensive unit.

“Nick Petruolo is a high-end, two-way defenseman,” said Bertoli. “He is big, strong, and poised; he likes to get involved offensively. Eric Sherman is very skilled, he is a tremendous skater. He is a little undersized but plays hard and really competes. Eugene Yoon is a wide body, physical, high energy player. I think the three freshmen will be seeing a lot of time right from the start.”

At goalie, sophomore Logan Kramsky and junior Mark Anarumo give PDS depth between the pipes.

“I am looking at them as a strong tandem; both guys have a level of experience,” said Bertoli.

“Logan was unbelievable as a freshman in big games for us last year. When Mark got his opportunities, he played well. I think we will go back and forth with them.”

In Bertoli’s view, the Panthers have the opportunity to produce another big season.

“The kids will get stronger and mature,” said Bertoli. “I know they will work hard, they take this seriously. I expect us to go out and play hard, improve and win games. I expect us to have some growing pains early on. We should improve as we go on. We have some good smart players who have played at a good level. We will need to develop them. It will be a lot of coaching and putting them in a position to be successful.”