(Photo by Frank Wojciechowski) caption: SKY JUMP: Princeton Day School boys’ hockey star Skye Samse clears the puck in recent action. Last Saturday, senior defenseman and co-captain Samse picked up an assist as PDS fell 4-1 to Moses Brown (R.I.) in the title game of the 41st annual PDS Invitational Ice Hockey Tournament. Samse’s move to defense from forward this season has solidified things on the blue line for the Panthers. PDS, now 2-2-1, plays Hun on December 15 at Ice Land Skating Center before heading up to New England to compete in the Barber Tournament on December 17 and 18.

PDS Boys’ Hockey Falls at Invitational; but Encouraged by Competitive Effort

Bill Alden

Looking at the score sheet, it would appear that the Princeton Day School boys’ hockey team was outclassed by Moses Brown (R.I.) last Saturday in the title game of the 41st annual PDS Invitational Ice Hockey Tournament.

The Panthers were outshot 40-18 on the way to a 4-1 loss to the undefeated New England school.

But PDS head coach Scott Bertoli saw plenty of positives as his team battled the Quakers all over the ice at the Lisa McGraw ’44 Rink.

“They are obviously bigger and more physical than we are,” said Bertoli, whose team dropped to 2-2-1 with the setback.

“Our kids got a little overwhelmed in the first five minutes but we weathered the storm and came out of that at 0-0. I think the last seven or eight minutes of the first period is the best hockey we have played in two or three years here.”

It was important for Bertoli to see that brand of hockey from his players as PDS faces a big week, hosting Montgomery on December 14 and playing at Hun the next day before heading up to New England to compete in the Barber Tournament on December 17 and 18.

“I told the kids that this is a measuring stick of how you are going to gauge what the level of competition is going to be next weekend,” added Bertoli, whose team topped St. Joe’s Prep 4-1 on Friday in the opening round of the tournament.

“We are going up there because we feel like we can compete. I think the kids can take away from this morning’s game that we can compete if we play hard and remain disciplined.”

Bertoli was proud of the character his team displayed as it didn’t fold when it fell behind 2-0 with 5:44 left in the second period.

“We could have let the game go there at 2-0; the kids adjusted,” said Bertoli. “We go on a power play and we score; they executed. I called the timeout when it was 2-0 and I said your objective now is to cut this to a one-goal game. You do that and we set ourselves up for the third period.”

In Bertoli’s view, the performance could set the Panthers up for some good things ahead.

“Whether I lose 2-1, 4-1, 5-1, it doesn’t matter, a loss is a loss,” added Bertoli, whose tally came from senior forward and co-captain Peter Blackburn.

“We will take away from this that we can compete against that team. It is encouraging going forward. Hard work and execution is going to count for a lot and give us some positive results.”

Blackburn has been a positive influence on the Panthers this winter. “Peter has been a different player from last year to this year,” said Bertoli, noting that Blackburn played through a stomach illness on Saturday.

“He is working hard. He understands that to be a good hockey player, you have to play at both ends of the rink. He’s conscious about where he needs to be and how to play defense. Offensively, he is just such a threat, whether he is in a 1-on-1 situation and tries to deke guys or whether he uses his linemates. He has been a pleasant, pleasant surprise.”

The play of the Panther defensive corps has also been a pleasant surprise for Bertoli.

“Our defensemen played very well,” said Bertoli, whose defensive unit includes Samse, Will Powers, Bump Lisk, Tyler Olsson, and Taran Auslander.

“Moses Brown had a ton of opportunities and shots from the point. We did a good job of clearing the front of the net; we moved the puck well. Our defense has come a long way in the five games we have played this year. It is encouraging because that has been our achilles heel for the last couple of years and I feel a lot more confident with that group back there.”

The move of senior co-captain Samse to defense from forward has bolstered PDS along the blue line.

“There is a learning curve, playing a new position,” said Bertoli of Samse, who picked up an assist on Blackburn’s goal.

“You are playing the game in front of you and skating backwards as opposed to always being on attack. The thing with Skye and the reason I put him back there is that he is a strong kid and he was good in the defensive zone as a centerman. He did a good job today. He is composed; he is a big body back there and he is a threat in the offensive zone.”

Junior goalie Walker Ward showed his composure as he held the fort under the Moses Brown onslaught.

“He played great, Walker has been very, very good this year,” said Bertoli. “I didn’t see the first goal but he didn’t have much of a chance on the other three goals. He played well; he kept us in that hockey game.”

Bertoli is confident that the Panthers can stay in their games this week, both locally and up north.

“The kids should be encouraged,” said Bertoli. “You don’t want to be satisfied but looking ahead to Montgomery, Hun, and next weekend, the kids want to play. They are competitive; they will get those opportunities. I think they will be ready.”

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