IRISH STEW: Princeton High boys’ hockey player Cooper Zullo skates past Notre Dame goalie Cole Werthman on his way to scoring a third period goal last Friday in the Mercer County Tournament championship game. Zullo’s heroics weren’t enough as top-seeded PHS fell 7-2 to the third-seeded Irish. The Tigers, now 16-4-3, are next in action when they start action in the state Public B tournament. PHS is seeded ninth and was slated to play at eighth-seeded Randolph in a first round contest on February 22. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

In its run to the 2022 Mercer County Tournament championship game, the Princeton High boys’ hockey team displayed a penchant for rallying to victory.

Top-seeded PHS found itself trailing ninth-seeded West Windsor Plainsboro 3-2 entering the third period of their MCT quarterfinal clash on February 11 and then reeled off four unanswered goals to win 6-3.

Facing fourth-seeded Paul VI in the semis last Wednesday, the Tigers were down 2-1 after the first period and then exploded for five goals in the second on the way to a 10-3 triumph.

Last Friday as PHS faced third-seeded Norte Dame in the title game before a standing-room only crowd packing the Mercer County Park rink, the Tigers dug a 3-0 hole early in the second period.

But true to form, PHS fought back as Tiger star defenseman Ethan Garlock scored a power play late in the period to narrow the gap to 3-1. Minutes into the final period with Notre Dame on a power play, PHS captain and standout forward Cooper Zullo swooped in on a loose puck and raced up the ice and slotted the puck into the back of the net to make it a one-goal contest.

“We were shorthanded, their goalie (Cole Werthman) is really good,” said Zullo. “I just tried to do something to get around him and it worked out.”

Things, however, didn’t work out for the Tigers as the Irish responded with a power play goal and then with PHS on a 5-on-3 power play came up with a short-handed goal of their own and never looked back on the way to a 7-2 win.

With senior goalie Dan Prokoshin having been sidelined for weeks due to injury and defenseman T.T. Zhao getting hurt in the semis, PHS was shorthanded as it took the ice for the title game.

“It is a pretty unfortunate bounce the way our season has turned out,” said Zullo, reflecting in the loss which moved the Tigers to 16-4-3. “There is not really much to say, we just got unlucky with injuries.”

PHS head coach Dave Hansen, whose team had defeated Notre Dame 4-1 and 6-3 in two regular season contests with Prokoshin between the pipes, knew things would be different in a title game.

“I kept telling them before the game that it is tournament time and this is not going to be the same team that you played in the season and it showed,” said Hansen. “Notre Dame came out and they played hard and they won the game.”

While converted defenseman Nico Vitaro played valiantly in goal making 22 saves in subbing for Prokoshin, the Tigers just couldn’t overcome a fired-up Irish squad.

“I give Nico a lot of credit, we had a short bench tonight,” said Hansen.

“Beating a team three times in a row is hard. I commend them, they played well. Their goalie played well, I give him lot of credit. I just feel that if we have Dan in net, it is a whole different game.”

With PHS starting action in the state Public B tournament this week where the Tigers are seeded ninth and were slated to play at eighth-seeded Randolph in a first-round contest on February 22, Hansen is hoping the loss to Notre Dame can fuel a run in that tourney.

“I hope they walk out of here with their heads up,” said Hansen. “We are going to come hungry. Hopefully they take their aggravation out on Randolph. If we play our game and we are unselfish we will give them a good game.”

In Zullo’s view, the Tigers can be a tough out in the state tournament.

“They are a really good team,” said Zullo. “There is always a new day. I think we can turn it on and figure out to win a few games in the state tournament.”