BEARING DOWN: Princeton High boys’ hockey player Graham Baird, left, controls the puck in recent action. Senior star and assistant captain Baird tallied a goal and an assist to help PHS defeat the WW/P Hockey Co-op on January 30. The Tigers, who lost 3-2 to Nottingham last Monday to move to 5-10, will start play in the Mercer County Tournament on February 9 where they are seeded fifth and will face fourth-seeded Notre Dame in a quarterfinal contest at the Mercer County Skating Center. In addition, PHS will be playing Robbinsville on February 11 at the Grundy Ice Arena in Bristol, Pa. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Graham Baird is showing his versatility and character this winter for the Princeton High boys’ hockey team.

Starting the season at defenseman, senior Baird has moved up the ice for PHS.

“I have been just where the team needs me, I am on offense for now,” said Baird. “It is good. Before we didn’t have much depth on offense. Mixing me into the offense gave us more of a second line and we are able to produce which is good.”

Last week, Baird produced in the clutch for the Tigers, tallying a goal and an assist as PHS rallied from 1-0 and 2-1 deficits to edge the WW-P Hockey Co-op 4-3.

With PHS trailing 1-0 in the first period of the January 30 contestant at the Mercer County Skating Center, Baird got PHS on the board as he found the back of the net on an odd-man rush.

“On that play, I saw the goalie hugging the near side of the post so I just wanted to slick it by him on the far side,” said Baird. “It was a 2-on-1 scenario, I opened up my blade just a little bit to hint at the pass.”

Early in the third period with the contest knotted at 2-2, Baird helped set up a go-ahead goal by Emil Vecchi.

“I didn’t have much of a look and I saw two of our guys in front,” said Baird. “I thought if I could put it off the goalie’s pad, we could  hopefully get something. It worked out for us.”

Posting four wins in five games after a 1-6 start, things are starting to work out for the Tigers.

“It is mostly just getting our confidence back — we had a few rough losses towards the beginning of the season,” said Baird. “It is a new year, new team type of thing. We had a lot of hard out-of-conference games. Now that we are back in the conference, we are gaining momentum. Hopefully we can bring that into the county tournament next week.”

As an assistant captain, Baird is looking to instill confidence in his teammates.

“It has been nice, it feels good to have a voice and be listened to,” said Baird, who also stars for the PHS boys’ lacrosse team. “I know I am playing with some young kids on the line at forward, so it is good to tell them what I can on the bench with some constructive criticism.”

PHS head coach Rik Johnson acknowledged that it took a while for his squad to get going against WW-P.

“We had sort of a shorter bench today, it was a little difficult,” said Johnson, who got two goals from junior star forward Brendan Beatty in the win. “Once we get warmed up and start moving the puck and relaxing, things start to click.”

Johnson credits Baird with helping the PHS offense click. “Graham is playing with a lot of young guys, I don’t have him with the seniors,” said Johnson. “He is playing veteran dad on his line. He is very solid on defense. We do have a solid d-corps, so I can bring him up and add a little more firepower and a little more depth.”

Beatty has been giving the Tigers firepower all season.

“Brendan always brings it, I know he is always going to bring the fire,” said Johnson.

Bringing a 4-3 lead into the third period, PHS was able to hold off WW-P with some solid defensive work.

“I am always going to push them,” said Johnson. “The important thing was don’t let up another goal. It was defense first and that did the job.”

Seeing progress after the 1-6 start, Johnson believes his squad is getting on the right track.

“It has been choppy with the rain stuff and the snow outs, we lost a ton of games,” said Johnson. “So a little consistency does help them out. They are a little more tired, but it gets them out there.”

PHS will need to show more consistency as it goes for a second straight Mercer County Tournament crown. The Tigers, who are seeded fifth in this year’s MCT, start their title defense when they face fourth-seeded Notre Dame in a quarterfinal contest on February 9 at the Mercer County Skating Center.

“It is really just getting in and take it game by game. You have to just be ready to go, whoever it is,” said Johnson, whose team lost 3-2 to Nottingham last Monday in a regular season contest to move to 5-10. “We have seen all of the teams. They could make a run, the MCT is definitely attainable. They are going to have to want it. They are going to have to be more hungry than they have been all season. They are going to have to play their best hockey.”

In Baird’s view, PHS has what it takes to achieve the MCT repeat.

“If we really get dialed in and lock in the games that matter, I  think we could be a team that once again could contend,” said Baird. “We need to play a full 45 minutes with good defense. As long as we are completely focused, then we should be all right. That is our goal for now. We are looking at MCTs first and then we will worry about states later. It is taking it one game at a time.”