PODCAST: Princeton High boys’ hockey player Nathan Podgalsky controls the puck in a game earlier this season. Freshman forward Podgalsky has caught fire for PHS in recent play, scoring two goals in a 5-0 win over Paul VI on Friday and then contributing two more in a 4-4 tie with with Cranford last Saturday evening at Baker Rink. The Little Tigers, now 4-2-2, are next in action when they play Woodbridge on December 28 in the Old Bridge Tournament. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Nathan Podgalsky was a defenseman by trade when he joined the Princeton High boys’ hockey team this winter for his freshman campaign.

But PHS head coach Terence Miller sensed that the newcomer could give a jolt to the offense.

“He had been playing defense with his club team; we like his size and he just goes right to the front of the net,” said Miller.

“He does a lot of good things and causes a lot of havoc. We put him at forward and I saw the way he went to the net and I said he could be more like a power forward for us.”

The move is paying dividends as Podgalsky has caught fire for PHS in recent play, scoring two goals in a 5-0 win over Paul VI on Friday and then contributing two more in a 4-4 tie with Cranford last Saturday evening at Baker Rink. Podgalsky is developing a comfort level with his new spot on the ice.

“It is definitely a bit of a transition, they are two very different positions,” said Podgalsky.

“One is less aggressive and forward is much more in your face. It is definitely fun, I feel like I have improved as a player overall.”

Playing Cranford at Baker Rink on Saturday, Podgalsky had fun. “I felt a little slow in the start but I definitely got my momentum throughout the game,” said Podgalsky.

The precocious freshman helped PHS regain momentum after it fell behind 3-1 on three straight Cranford goals in the second period, tallying a goal with 6:44 left in the period as the Little Tigers cut the lead to 3-2.

“I was devoted and determined,” said Podgalsky. “I just wanted it really bad.”

Showing determination in the third period. PHS knotted the game at 3-3 on a power play by junior star Brendon McCormick and then took a 4-3 lead on Podgalsky’s second goal of the evening.

“He said we are definitely playing well and we are going at it so if we just kept this up, we would win or at least tie,” said Podgalsky. “That was also just busting it again on the goal.”

PHS head coach Miller liked the way his players busted it collectively in the third period as they rallied to take that lead before settling for the 4-4 stalemate.

“We said let’s come out and tie the game on the lay over on the power play,” said Miller.

“We really wanted to start the period by tying it up right there, which we did. We regained the momentum and then took the lead. We tried to lock it down, they got the late one to tie it, but, all in all, we took the entire game as a positive.”

Miller sees Podgalsky as a positive force for the Little Tigers. “He has really had a hot start to his high school career; he had two goals yesterday and he is our second leading scorer,” said Miller.

“For a freshman playing out of position like that, it speaks to his overall hockey ability. He has got the size and strength to do it. He has a nose for the goal and really gets right to the crease. He keeps fighting.”

Junior goalie Sawyer Peck showed plenty of fight in the crease against Cranford, making 40 saves in the contest.

“I felt Sawyer had a strong game, they threw 44 shots at him,” said Miller. “That shorthanded breakaway he stopped in the third was huge and then we came right back and tied it so instead of going down two, it was 3-3 and we were right back in the game.”

The Little Tigers started the game on a high note as sophomore forward Justin Joyce tallied late in the first period to give PHS a 1-0 lead.

“J.J. has been huge, he had a great goal tonight,” added Miller. “We have asked him to play a little bit of center for us so he has switched to a brand new position and has done a fantastic job for us. Justin has been really great for us.”

With PHS taking a 4-2-2 record into the holiday break, Miller is hoping that his team can keep doing a good job when it returns to action by playing Woodbridge on December 28 in the Old Bridge Tournament.

“I am a little disappointed with the timing because our layoff is coming up,” said Miller. “We are really starting to peak a little bit, hopefully we can carry that over.”

Podgalsky for his part, believes that the Little Tigers will keep coming on.

“I like where we are at, I am loving it actually,” said Podgalsky. “We need to talk more on the ice, coach has been saying it is like a library out there a lot of the time. Also for me personally I have to keep my head up on the ice.”