GOING AT IT: Princeton Day School boys’ hockey player Wyatt Ewanchyna brings the puck up the ice in a game last season. Senior forward Ewanchyna, who led PDS in assists last year with 20, will be counted on to be an offensive catalyst for the team again this winter. The Panthers will be opening their 2024-25 season by playing Delbarton on December 12 at SportsCare Arena in Randolph. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

While the Princeton Day School boys’ hockey team has utilized a freewheeling, end-to-end style over the years, Scott Bertoli realizes that isn’t always the best fit for his squad.

As PDS head coach Bertoli looks ahead to the upcoming season, he will be instilling a more grind-it-out approach.

“I think we want to get back to playing kind of a heavier brand of hockey,” said Bertoli, who guided the Panthers to a 10-8-1 record last year and a spot in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Non-Public quarterfinals. “We have to get back to being really good five-on-five in zone offense, using the points, getting in front of the net, and scoring dirty goals.”

Bertoli is encouraged by the way PDS played as it ended last season by battling eventual state champion St. Augustine to a 3-2 loss to overtime in the Non-Public quarters.

“They bought in; in that game against St Augustine, the kids played unbelievably well,” said Bertoli, whose team opens its 2024-25 season by playing Delbarton on December 12 at SportsCare Arena in Randolph. “They implemented the style of play we were looking for. It is a small sample size but hopefully for the returning kids they understand that we are going to have to play that way against the very good teams. We are not going to run up and down the ice with the Delbartons, the Don Boscos, the CBAs and outscore them.”

Bertoli is looking for his trio of veteran forwards — senior Wyatt Ewanchyna (7 goals, 20 assists in 2023-24), junior Jake Harrison (6 goals, 12 assists), and junior Filip Kacmarsky (10 goals, 4 assists), to be very good this winter.

“We fully expect and need those three to really drive the offense,” said Bertoli. “Those three kids play at a high level on the club scene. They can really play in every situation and be effective in every situation. From a purely offensive talent perspective, those are our three most dynamic players. They had pretty productive years last year.”

While each of those forwards had good stats last year, PDS will need one of them to emerge as a go-to finisher.

“One of them is going to have to step forward as a goal scorer and be a little more selfish,” said Bertoli. “We have been playing Jake and Wyatt together, they have typically been pass-first kids and are tremendous playmakers. They are going to need to shoot the puck and score some goals. Filip has really progressed and developed as a player. He is a very complete player. He is physical, he is strong, and wins most 50/50 puck battles. He has a nice little knack around the net. He gets in on the forecheck. It is impressive. It has been fun to watch him evolve as a player.”

The Panthers boast some impressive depth at forward with senior transfer Zach Meseroll, junior Fred Ringblom (1 goal), sophomore Holden Chang (1 goal, 2 assists), sophomore Marshall Matyszczak (1 goal, 4 assists), and senior Colton Simonds (2 goals, 8 assists).

“Zach is a big powerful kid, he is going to play on one of our top lines and will be a key guy in every situation,” said Bertoli. “Fred is going to get a real opportunity to play with really good players, whether it is with Jake and Wyatt or Filip. He can score goals, he has had success at the club level this year playing for the Chiefs. Holden and Marshall started to see increased minutes last year, both of those kids have looked really good. Colton is a solid defense-first kid. He brings a physical element, he kills penalties.”

On defense, PDS will need to deal with the void left by the graduation of four-year starters Han Shin and Connor Stratton. “You are not going to replace those two kids,” said Bertoli. “They could break pucks out, they could get involved in the offensive end, and shut teams down defensively.”

The Panthers do have a quartet of returners that should break through with some good play along the blue line in senior Max Guche (1 goal, 4 assists), senior Reilly Gilligan, junior Hubert Shin (1 goals, 4 assists), and sophomore Tyler Nevrotski (1 goal, 2 assists).

“We have got four returning kids in Max, Reilly, Huber and Tyler,” said Bertoli. “Those four will be the key, it is just figuring out what the pairings are and who will play on the two power play units. It will take a little bit of time but those are four we are really comfortable with.”

Bertoli is comfortable with his two returning goalies, senior Calvin Fenton (351 saves in 2023-24) and sophomore Drew Picker (65 saves). “Calvin has the potential to be an unbelievable goalie, what he did in the Lawrenceville game in what was arguably one of the best goaltending performances I have ever seen,” said Bertoli of Fenton who made 45 saves in a 3-2 win over Lawrenceville last January.

“He was so locked in, he is a kid that is going to make the highlight saves more often than not. What has held him back a little bit is his lack of focus on some of the routine things; those are things that if you are an elite level goalie are second nature. He has worked to improve in that area. Drew got a little bit of time last year and did well. He is a very, very good goalie. He is big and plays at a high level outside of here.”

In order for PDS to compete at a high level this winter, it will need to excel in special team situations.

“We have the top end guys who should really be effective on the power play,” said Bertoli. “When you look at the good teams, they make it happen on the power play. Even when they are not scoring, they are generating a ton of chances and it puts pressure on you. We need to be really good on the penalty kill — that will also be a big point of emphasis.”