STICKING WITH IT: Princeton High boys’ hockey player Nathan Drezner controls the puck in recent action. Last Wednesday, senior forward and assistant captain Drezner chipped in an assist as sixth-seeded PHS edged third-seeded Hopewell Valley 3-2 in overtime in the Mercer County Tournament quarterfinals.The Little Tigers, who improved to 12-6-4 with the win, were slated to face second-seeded Notre Dame in the MCT semis on February 16 with the winner advancing to the final on February 19 against the victor of the semifinal between top-seeded Hun and fourth-seeded Robbinsville. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Nathan Drezner brought a special sense of urgency to the ice as the Princeton High boys’ hockey team faced Hopewell Valley last Wednesday in the Mercer County Tournament quarterfinals.

“This could have been my last game at Mercer County Park and I was not ready for that,” said Drezner, a senior forward and assistant captain for PHS.

Drezner went out on the MCP ice and made sure that it wasn’t his last game there, contributing an assist as the sixth-seeded Little Tigers pulled out a 3-2 overtime thriller against the sixth-seeded Bulldogs.

Having rallied to beat HoVal 2-1 in the regular season finale a week earlier after previously dropping a 4-3 decision to the Bulldogs, gave PHS confidence heading into the MCT rematch.

“We have had two close games with them the past couple weeks,” said Drezner.

“It was a really close game two weeks ago; they scored one late in the game. Knowing that we had beaten them before and that we could come back and get a win, was definitely a confidence boost. Everyone in the locker room was ready to win.”

The Little Tigers jumped out to a 1-0 lead as Anthony Trainor scored with 5:54 remaining in the first period.

“There were a lot of rebounds going on, it was matter of finishing that,” said Drezner.

“It just helps so much having that lead and moving on from there.”

HoVal knotted the game at 1-1 with a second period goal and then PHS regained the lead as Drezner assisted on a goal by junior star Brendon McCormick. The Little Tigers were less than a minute from victory in regulation when HoVal scored with 47 seconds left, utilizing an extra attacker.

The Little Tigers maintained their composure despite the shock of the last-minute goal.

“They pulled their goalie and they got one late on us,” said Drezner. “Everyone got off the ice as soon as they scored that late goal, and we were on the bench saying that wasn’t the end of the game for us. We were just trying to come out; no one wanted to lose this game at all.”

PHS pulled out the victory as McCormick found the back of the net with 4:15 left in overtime as the Little Tigers improved to 12-6-4 and earned a shot at second-seeded Notre Dame in the MCT semis on February 16 with the winner advancing to the final on February 19 against the victor of the semifinal between top-seeded Hun and fourth-seeded Robbinsville.

Drezner was not surprised that McCormick came up big in the clutch in the extra session.

“We have got Brendon out there, he is a such a good skater,” said Drezner. “I play up with him. He will skate it and you just have to crash the net and get on that puck and just keep on pressing.”

For Drezner, serving as assistant captain along with junior defenseman Tooker Callaway and captain McCormick has been a good experience.

“We get the team pumped up,” said Drezner. “Cheering in the locker room, cheering before every single timeout, and before every single intermission, it is getting the team’s energy and vibe up.”

PHS head coach Terence Miller was proud of the energy his team displayed  as it overcame the late HoVal tally.

“I thought it showed a lot of character, a lot of spine and heart for us to be able to take that punch and come back and be able to win it,” said Miller.

“We have been playing well, so we really didn’t say to change much. It was keep doing what you are doing, keep getting deep and keep grinding them. We knew if we stuck to our guns, we would put ourselves in the best spot. We really didn’t want to change much. We kept playing downhill and kept chipping away.”

Having McCormick gives the Little Tigers a consistent scoring punch. “Brendon is really our engine, he is unbelievable,” said Miller of McCormick, who recently passed the 100-point mark in his PHS career.

“He just quietly goes about his business, night in, night out. He just brings so much, he plays in all three zones. He plays all special teams. He is just a real leader, a leader by example. He is a great, great kid. I am lucky to have him.”

Miller credited Drezner with taking care of business in the win over HoVal.

“Nathan had a great game; I thought he was probably the best player of the game tonight for us,” said Miller.

In Miller’s view, his squad is playing its best hockey of the season. “I feel like we are playing better hockey; we are starting to jell and our lines are starting to click,” said Miller.

“I think we have the right combinations there, especially in the back end, Tooker, Eamonn (McDonald), and Max (Garlock) with Sawyer (Peck) in goal are a little more stable. They are a little more poised, we are not running around in our zone as much. They are playing with more confidence and that just shoots right up to our forwards. It just helps us out. They are giving us a lot more stability back there, which is big.”

Drezner, for his part, believes that postseason pressure has brought out the best in PHS.

“This is tournament hockey,” said Drezner. “Everyone has to be playing their heart out and putting everything on the line.”