COLM AND COLLECTED: Princeton High boys’ hockey player Colm Trainor controls the puck in a game earlier this season. Last Monday, freshman forward Trainor scored two goals, including the game winner, as 11th-seeded PHS upset third-seeded Ridge 4-3 in overtime in the state Public B quarterfinals. The Little Tigers, who improved to 18-8-2 with victory, will now face second-seeded Northern Highlands in the Public B semis at the Mennen Sports Arena on February 28. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Coming off the ice after falling to Hun in the Mercer County Tournament boys’ hockey final, the players on the Princeton High squad slammed their sticks in their locker room and screamed in frustration.

Fueled by that disappointment, PHS bought a sense of urgency as they faced Middletown North in the Round of 16 in the state Public B tournament last week.

“They realized after the Hun game that if we want to win, we have to play a full game and not just one period,” said PHS head coach Tim Chase, assessing his team’s mindset as it headed into the February 20 contest.

“They didn’t think that much about the seeding, they were just like, you know what, this could be our last game of the year. Everybody bought into the simple style of hockey and that worked out well.”

After falling behind 1-0 against Middletown North, the Little Tigers answered with a goal by sophomore star Aidan Trainor.

“That was huge, the guys responded right away, which was nice to see,” said Chase. “Sometimes in the past, we have have made a dumb play on a goal and dumped our heads and it has snowballed.”

Freshman forward Colm Trainor, Aidan’s younger brother, came up huge, scoring a goal in the waning seconds of the second period to give the Little Tigers a 2-1 lead.

“That was a great play by him,” said Chase. “He went out and did his job, blocking a shot and the puck bounced in our direction and he finished it. That was a big momentum change.”

With the younger Trainor adding a goal and an assist in the third period, PHS pulled away to a 4-1 win.

“The confidence got a little better,” said Chase. “I think we bought into that style of take your chances and be creative in the offensive end but from the neutral zone back keep it simple.”

Keeping in the zone, freshman Trainor starred again last Monday, scoring two goals, including the game winner, as PHS upset third-seeded Ridge 4-3 in overtime in the state Public B quarterfinals. The Little Tigers, who improved to 18-8-2 with the victory, will now face second-seeded Northern Highlands in the Public B semis at the Mennen Sports Arena on February 28.

Chase credited Trainor with stepping up his game at the right time. “He has had moments through the season where he has had flashes and showed he can play but he has done some things where it is ‘OK he is a freshman,’” said Chase.

“He played a complete game, he was physical, he was jumping on the puck. We are definitely a better team when he is playing like that.”

PHS played better at the defensive end in the win over Middletown North. “In the first five minutes we were a little sloppy on defense and then we started cleaning it up and they kept it simple,” said Chase.

“They kept it chipping off the glass. Rocco [Salvato] and Max [Garlock] took their opportunities when they had to rush the puck up. It was a good overall defensive effort. Harry [Skopas] probably played one of his better games all year. I never played goalie but from the bench you can see when they are tracking the puck and when they are not. You could see him working to find that puck all the time and that makes a big difference.”

With PHS keeping on track for a Public B title in the wake of the win over Ridge, Chase saw a special sense of urgency in his players as they started their state tourney run.

“They were fired up, you could see it in their eyes that they wanted it,” said Chase.

“No one wanted the season to end, they came out and bought into a style of play and everyone was on the same page.”