FAMILY TIES: Princeton High boys’ hockey player Anthony Trainor goes after the puck in recent action. Last Saturday at Baker Rink, senior forward Trainor tallied a goal and an assist to help PHS defeat WW/P 9-0 as the program held its annual Senior Night celebration. Trainor was joined in the ceremony by younger brothers and PHS teammates, sophomore forward Robbie and freshman forward Aidan. In upcoming action, the Little Tigers, now 14-2-4, will be competing in the Mercer County Tournament, where they are seeded first and will face the victor of the Steinert/Paul VI opening round game in the quarterfinals on February 8 at Mercer County Park. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

There was a family feeling in the air at Baker Rink last Saturday night as the Princeton High boys’ hockey team held its annual Senior Night celebration.

One of the highlights of the ceremony, held between the second and third periods of the game against WW/P, came when senior forward Anthony Trainer was honored, standing on the ice with younger brothers and PHS teammates, sophomore forward Robbie and freshman forward Aidan.

In the third period, senior star Brendon McCormick, the third of four brothers to play for the program, scored his 100th career goal to cap off a 9-0 victory for the Little Tigers.

Afterwards, PHS head coach Terence Miller sounded like a proud father as he reflected on the team’s senior group.

“It is a little bittersweet; this is a special group for me, they were my first freshman class when I took over,” said Miller.

“I actually coached a few of them in 8th grade so I have known these boys. I have seen them rise up before me. It was a pleasing night.”

The most pleasing moment of the evening came when McCormick swooped into the crease in the waning seconds of the contest to score his fourth goal of the evening and the 100th of his stellar career.

“Of course the highlight was Brendon getting his 100th career goal,” said Miller.

“He is a special kid, he comes from a line of good hockey players. His brothers were stars and he is a star but the thing I really admire most about Brendon is that he is the most humble kid. His humility really speaks volumes to me. He is a leader by example. It really couldn’t happen to a more deserving young man. I am a big, big fan of Brendon. Not only is he one of the more skilled guys, but he is the ultimate team guy.”

The Trainor clan is making its mark on the PHS team as well. “The Trainors might be the new McCormicks,” said a smiling Miller.

“Anthony is a hard working player; he has put in four hard years for us. Now he is getting to play with his two younger brothers. Anthony is a kid I pull for and I enjoy seeing him succeed because he works hard. He is a quiet kid, he deflects. I admire that in these young guys.”

For senior stalwart Trainor, sharing the ice with his siblings has enhanced his PHS hockey experience.

“Having your brothers on the team is really cool,” said Trainor.

“Being by yourself on the team is a lot of fun because you have all of your friends but then once you bring your brothers on the team, it is family bonds that are even closer. Family is first, it is a lot more close.”

The Trainor brothers have been skating together since grade school. “My younger brother Aidan started playing first and then me and Robbie started playing a year after at age five or six,” said Trainor.

“We have been playing all the way through. We have been always playing together, whether on teams or off ice, or just going to skate time.”

Trainor enjoyed playing for the large crowd that showed up at Baker Rink for the Senior Night festivities.

“It is very exciting to see everyone and then you have a lot of turnout from the school,” said Trainor.

“It has been four years here with all the same kids. You have a lot of relationships with them, it is just a great time.”

Pumped up by the atmosphere, Trainor chipped in a goal and an assist on the evening.

“We tried to get all of the seniors a goal, we just try to keep the game fun,” said Trainor.

With PHS improving to 14-2-4 with the win over WW/P and getting seeded first in the upcoming Mercer County Tournament, Trainor believes the Little Tigers could have a lot of fun in the postseason.

“We want to try to go as far as we can, we just take it one game at a time,” said Trainor, who is heading to Montclair State and is hoping to play hockey there.

“It is just a lot of excitement, building up the momentum. Brendon getting 100 goals and all the kids that normally don’t get in, getting out there and having a lot of fun. We just have a lot of skill and a lot of chemistry on the team, everyone works really well together.”

Miller, for his part, wants to see the team’s Class of 2017 end things on a high note.

“This is really a monumental class, they have accomplished a lot together,” said Miller, whose group of seniors includes Sawyer Peck, Eamonn McDonald, Tooker Callaway, Zach Bouchenoir, and Pascal Meier in addition to Trainor and McCormick.

“I would really like to see them go out on top. They have won the CVC Colonial Division. I would really like to see them go out with a bang and really close out their high school careers in style.”

With PHS facing the victor of the Steinert/Paul VI opening round game in the MCT quarterfinals on February 8 at Mercer County Park, Miller is looking for his players to stay in the moment.

“We earned the one seed over the course of the year, which is great, but now we wipe the slate clean,” said Miller, noting that senior goalie Peck’s sharp play lately is giving PHS an additional boost of confidence heading into the MCT.

“We are back to everyone is 0-0. In the single elimination tournaments, you came out and have a bad night, a bad hiccup and that is it. We have really tried to preach that, one shift, one period, one game at a time and take it as it comes.”