OPENING SALVO: Princeton High boys’ hockey player Justin Joyce controls the puck in a 2016-17 contest. Last Monday, senior forward Joyce contributed a goal and three assists to help PHS defeat Nottingham 11-1 in its season opener and first game under new head coach Tim Chase. The Little Tigers play the Hun School on December 1 at the Ice Land Skating Center before facing Lawrence on December 4 at the Mercer County Skating Center. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Tim Chase enjoyed a superb hockey career, starring at Brown University before joining the Montreal Canadiens organization in 1993 and making several stops in his stint as a pro.

After hanging up his skates during the 2005-06 season, Chase went into the financial sector as a trader.

But Chase couldn’t resist the pull of hockey for long. “When I quit playing, I was in Tampa and was good friends with one of the assistant coaches for the [Tampa Bay] Lightning,” said Chase.

“He was involved with youth coaching in the area and he got me to help coach one of his teams. I loved it.”

In 2010, Chase moved to Princeton to work for Eagle Trading Systems on Palmer Square and quickly became involved in youth hockey in the area. At the end of 2016, he left Eagle to become the Director of Hockey at ProSkate Ice Rink in Monmouth Junction and the general manager for the New Jersey Stars travel program.

Now, Chase is diversifying his coaching portfolio by taking the helm of the Princeton High boys’ program, succeeding Terence Miller, who stepped down last summer after taking a job in New York City.

While Chase, 47, had a lot on his plate, he couldn’t pass up the chance to get into high school hockey.

“It wasn’t really what I was looking for this year, but opportunities pop up,” said Chase, who is leading a program that went 19-4-4 last winter on the way to the state Public A semifinals. “You look at the team and I thought it was a great fit.”

As the Little Tigers went through the preseason, Chase looked to instill a blue collar ethic.

“We will definitely be hardworking, we will definitely force the play all over the ice and we will be aggressive and physical,” said Chase, who enjoyed a big debut as PHS defeated Nottingham 11-1 in its season opener last Monday.

Chase likes the quality of work he has been getting from his new players. “I try to make things up tempo, I want to play that way,” said Chase.

“It is good. I am thankful to Terence, he handed off a team that has got a lot of good talent. We are pretty deep up front and we have got some good defensemen. I think that our goalies are much better than anticipated.”

The depth at forward includes senior Justin Joyce, sophomore Rocco Salvato, junior Ben Drezner, sophomore Keith Goldberg, sophomore Ryan McCormick, sophomore Stephen Avis, and the Trainor brothers, junior Robbie, sophomore Aidan, and freshman Colm.

“They are good, we are pretty fortunate there,” said Chase. “We are going to roll three lines.”

The team’s defense unit features senior Max Garlock, junior Nathan Podgalsky, junior Augie Preziosi, sophomore Danny Mulligan, and freshman Patrick McDonald.

“We have five solid defensemen,” said Chase, in assessing his blue line crew.

“Max is solid; he is a big kid and physical. Patrick is really good, especially as a freshman. Podgalsky is a big kid and reads the play well as does Preziosi. Danny didn’t play much last year. but he is pretty good.”

Juniors Harry Skopas and Scott Mayers are looking to fill the shoes of graduated senior star Sawyer Peck. “In the two scrimmages, they have looked good,” said Chase. “I will probably rotate them for a handful of games and go from there.”

The play of the goalies and getting the most out of team’s depth at forward will be critical factors in determining PHS’s success this winter.

“One of the keys coming into the season is how solid will our goaltending be to compete against the better teams not in our conference,” said Chase.

“Some programs try to stack a line or two and hope to fill in with the rest. I want to roll three lines against good teams. You can’t beat a good team on two lines, you are going to run out of gas in the second or third period.”

No matter what the record turns out to be, Chase is going to have a good time guiding the Little Tigers.

“For me, it is exciting,” said Chase, whose team plays the Hun School on December 1 at the Ice Land Skating Center before facing Lawrence on December 4 at the Mercer County Skating Center.

“Hockey is my full time job now, coaching high school hockey along with the travel programs. I coached some of them in the Princeton Youth Hockey Association and with the Stars organization. We have got a lot of good hockey players in the area.”