ON A MISSION: Hun School boys’ hockey player Tanner Preston fires the puck up the ice in a game earlier this season. Last Wednesday, senior defenseman and co-captain Preston tallied a goal and two assists to help seventh-seeded Hun defeat second-seeded Lawrence 7-0 in the Mercer County Tournament quarterfinals and improve to 6-15. The Raiders, who are going after their fourth straight MCT crown, were slated to play third-seeded Notre Dame in the semis on February 14 with the winner advancing to the title game on February 17. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Facing second-seeded Lawrence High in the quarterfinals of the Mercer County Tournament last Wednesday, the three-time defending champion Hun School boys’ hockey team had a chip on its shoulder.

Due to a tough regular season which saw it go 4-15, the proud Raiders were seeded seventh and had to post a 7-1 win over 10th seeded Pennington in an opening round contest to advance to the clash with the Cardinals.

“It was a statement game for us, we weren’t happy with the seed we were given,” said Preston in assessing the matchup with Lawrence.

“We are coming into this tournament now playing an extra game that we haven’t in the past three years. We are here to win it all, we are here to win it four years in a row.”

While Hun came out flying and dominated puck possession from the opening face-off, the game was scoreless for nearly 10 minutes.

“It took a couple of minutes to find that pace and find our game and for us to bury some goals,” said Preston.

Preston helped get the offense going, threading a pass up ice to a streaking Blake Brown, who proceeded to bury the puck in the back of the net with 5:10 left in the first period.

“That was just a play we have been running for a while,” explained Preston.

“Blake got open, he is a great player, he has great speed, and I was lucky enough to find him.”

Less than two minutes later, Preston fired a one-timer from the point into the back of the net to give Hun a 2-0 lead and the Raiders rolled from there, cruising to a 7-0 victory and improving to 6-15.

“It felt incredible, it felt very vibrant on our bench,” said Preston, reflecting on his tally.

“Right from there we knew we were coming to win this game. We came to play. We came to win this tournament and that is exactly what we are going to do.”

While the Raiders, who are slated to face third-seeded Notre Dame in the semis on February 14 with the winner advancing to the title game on February 17, were happy with the win over Lawrence, there was a definite sense of unfinished business.

“It is just not enough for us yet, it is not enough until we see the ‘W’ in the championship game column,” asserted Preston, who ended up with a goal and two assists in the win.

In Preston’s view, Hun’s 4-3 loss in overtime to Morristown-Beard in the state Prep semis on February 1 helped get the team focused on making a championship run in the county tourney.

“After that Mo-Beard game, something just switched for the guys,” said Preston.

“I think we are playing very good hockey. I think there is something left and everybody is going to be able to see that in the next couple of games.”

Serving as a team co-captain along with classmate and star forward Blake Brown, Preston has looked to provide stability through Hun’s bumpy ride this winter.

“We are here to pick them up when they need us and when they get down,” said Preston.

“It hasn’t been easy. We have found it now and we are going to keep going from here on out.”

Hun head coach Ian McNally liked the way his players got things going in the win over Lawrence.

“We played the way we had hoped to play today and that is we just roll four lines out and possess the puck,” said McNally, who got one goal and two assists from Brown in the victory with Kyle Mandleur chipping in two goals and an assist and the trio of Jack Chapel, Kyle DePalma, and Wei Wu each contributing a goal. “All we ask them to do is skate fast and move the puck fast. It is very basic.”

In McNally’s view, having so many players in the scoresheet against Lawrence was a confidence builder for the squad.

“Through the whole year, we tried as hard as we could and now in a game like this where we get the puck more, it starts to pay off,” added McNally.

“Guys who were feeling the burden of not getting points were scoring goals and feeling really good about themselves which will only carry over into next week.”

McNally feels good about how his players have persevered through a steady diet of losing.

“The consistency of effort has always been there but it is hard not to get down when things aren’t going right and you try for 10 minutes and the other team scores on their first chance,” said McNally.

“It is tough; remarkably they have shown up the next day with a clean slate and let’s try again, what do we have to lose. We are playing for February and now here it is.”

Preston’s superb play in the quarterfinal came as no surprise to McNally. “Tanner is obviously our anchor; he is on our power play, penalty kill, even strength, he is an all time guy,” said McNally.

“We have been trying the face-off play with Tanner and Blake and it finally paid off. For Tanner, getting that early assist gave him confidence. He is a kid when he feels good, he plays good. Something early happening well like that is a guarantee that he is going to play great. He is very reliable for us.”

The Hun players are having a good time as they compete in the MCT.

“For them, this is the only playoff that they get; even the prep tournament is a maximum two games so it doesn’t feel like a tournament,” said McNally.

“You are not playing in a bracket with a tournament. This is one where kids feel like they are in a tournament; you can watch other games before and after. People watch you and you feel like you are moving on and that is why they look forward to it. It is a feel-good playoff moment, you don’t get that otherwise playing in the high school league.”

Preston, for his part, is determined to end his high school career with a fourth county title.

“It would make it a successful season; that is a championship,” said Preston.

“You don’t always get the success that you want but we play against the best and that is what happens. We are just here to win this and we are going to get it done.”