LOCKED IN: Princeton High boys’ hockey player Ethan Garlock controls the puck in recent action. Last Friday, junior defenseman Garlock tallied a goal and an assist to help PHS defeat Hopewell Valley 5-0. The Tigers, who defeated Nottingham 10-4 last Monday to improve to 4-1-1, play at Tenafly on December 17 to wrap up the 2021 portion of their schedule. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

It is a good thing for the Princeton High boys’ hockey team when there is a Garlock wearing No. 4 and playing at defenseman for the squad.

From 2014-18, Max Garlock starred along the blue line for PHS with the No. 4 on his sweater, helping the Tigers make runs to the state tournament semis in his junior and senior seasons.

Inspired by his older brother, junior Ethan Garlock is following the family tradition, emerging as a standout defensemen for PHS.

“I definitely got into hockey because of him,” said Garlock of his older brother.

“He taught me a lot through the years, especially in my driveway helping me out and doing stuff with him. I am really grateful.”

Last Friday against Hopewell Valley, Garlock showed how well he learned those lessons, tallying an assist and a goal as PHS jumped out to a 2-0 lead and never looked back on the way to a 5-0 victory.

Just under four minutes into the contest, Garlock’s assist came on a feed to senior star Cooper Zullo, who ended up scoring three goals in the victory.

“I had the puck down low and I saw Cooper wide open on that so that was a given,” said Garlock.

“Obviously he is going to put that in the back of the net. He is a great player for us, he is a great asset.”

About three minutes later, Garlock found the back of the net on his own, showing some fancy stickwork in the crease before firing the puck past the HoVal goalie.

“It was a good pass from Julian Drezner; it was a good heads up play and I finished it,” said Garlock.

The Tigers showed some heads up play all game long at the defensive end, stifling the Bulldogs in holding them scoreless and limiting them to 13 shots on goal.

“I think we did really well in the defensive effort, especially our goalie Dan [Prokoshin],” said Garlock.

“He played a really good game, he had a shutout. He showed up big for us.”

With two years of high school experience under his belt, Garlock is taking a bigger role on the squad this year.

“We do really well in the defensive zone, I am trying to help out everywhere,” said Garlock.

“Last year was a short season. I and the whole team have improved over the offseason. We really put in the work and it is showing.”

PHS head coach Dave Hansen liked the work he got from his players collectively against HoVal.

“We wanted to have a team effort tonight,” said Hansen. “I was rolling three lines throughout the whole game, every line contributed tonight. We have one top line but the second and third lines really work hard for their goals.”

Hansen wasn’t surprised to see Zullo contribute a hat trick.

“Cooper is putting a lot of pressure on himself,” said Hansen.

“We lost Colm Trainor to graduation and Cooper learned a lot from him last year. He knows you have got to shoot the puck a lot, you have to put pucks on net. His hockey IQ is high and he moves the puck well.”

Garlock is getting things moving from the blue line.

“He has got the size and the hands,” said Hansen. “He brings the puck well from the defensive end.”

In goal, the battle-tested Prokoshin, a four-year starter, is doing very well.

“Dan is playing great for us right now, he has got two shutouts,” said Hansen.

“He wanted to come in and have a really good senior year and he is really showing it.”

With the Tigers playing at Tenafly on December 17 to wrap up the 2021 portion of its schedule, Hansen is looking for the squad to bring some momentum into the new year.

“The boys are just happy to have a full season this year, I love coming into games,” said Hansen, whose team defeated Nottingham 10-4 last Monday to improve to 4-1-1.

“Last year we had five games, that is behind us now. The boys want to win the CVC and do well in the states. It is great when we have a full team. We played Southern Regional the other night (a 6-2 win on December 6), they are a good team. We played well against them and we had a good game tonight. I am hoping to
continue this before Christmas and see where it goes.”

Garlock, for his part, is confident that good things are on the horizon for the Tigers.

“I am happy with our quick start, how hard we work as a team, and how well we work with each other,” said Garlock.
“I look forward to the rest of the season, I think we can do really well.”