(Photo by Tim Pitts) HEAD PORTER: Hun School boys’ hockey junior defenseman Carrick Porter brings the puck up the ice in recent action. Porter’s fine play along the blue line has helped the Raiders produce a 5-2-1 start. Hun is currently on holiday break and will next be in action when it plays at Chestnut Hill on January 6.

Hun Boys’ Hockey Falls to LaSalle to End 2009; but Bringing Solid 5-2-1 Mark Into the New Year

Bill Alden

With some of its players having already left for the holidays, the Hun School boys’ hockey team faced an uphill battle in hosting undefeated LaSalle College High School (Pa.) last Friday.

The undermanned Hun squad fought valiantly, trailing only 1-0 going into the third period.

Over the last 15 minutes of the contest, however, the Raiders couldn’t hold the fort against the Explorer varsity ‘AA’ team, giving up three goals on the way to a 4-0 setback.

In assessing the defeat, Hun head coach Francois Bourbeau had no qualms with the effort he got from his players.

“We played fairly well; I think we were able to keep them in a close game for two periods,” said Bourbeau, whose team was outshot 43-17 on the day in dropping to 5-2-1 on the season.

“I think if I had my full team, we could have changed it a little because my guys started to run out of juice at the end. As you can see, they scored mainly in the third period.”

On the whole, Bourbeau likes what he has seen from his team in the eight games before the holiday break.

“Right now, I am happy,” said Bourbeau, whose team started the season at 4-0-1 before losing 4-1 to Princeton Day School on December 15 and then beating the Hill varsity ‘B’ team 5-1 two days later.

“The two losses we have were against two teams where I thought ‘OK these should be close games that could go one way or the other.’ I got my tie (1-1 with the Haverford School); I would have been happier if that one was a win. But overall we are around where I expected; it’s looking good.”

Junior goalie James Nawn has been looking good as he follows in the footsteps of graduated star Travis Potts.

“Since the start of the year, he has been playing well,” said Bourbeau of Nawn, who made 39 saves in the loss to LaSalle.

“He has been what a goalie is supposed to be, the backbone of the team. He assumed the responsibility and has stepped up.”

On the offensive end of the ice, junior forward Matt Johnson has stepped up big time for the Raiders.

“Matt Johnson has been playing hard; he has been skating hard,” asserted Bourbeau of Johnson, who scored two goals in the win over Hill and had Hun’s lone goal in the loss to PDS.

“He has been producing more than what I expected which I am happy with. Hopefully, he is going to keep working in that direction for the rest of the year.”

Bourbeau likes the direction his team is headed in collectively. “I have been happy with most of my team overall, that is for sure,” added Bourbeau.

“I am happy to see my freshmen doing a good job and getting integrated into my system so early and being able to understand it.”

The players have been happy to see the program join the Independence League, which consists of a group of private schools in New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania.

“The guys are looking forward to league games; it is good competition for us,” said Bourbeau.

“It is a good goal; the regular season means something for them and that is good. They are a little bummed that they are not doing the county tournament but we have our own playoffs now. The games mean something to those playoffs; their goal is to win the championship of that league. It’s fun and hopefully we and the league will keep improving.”

With Hun diving right back into league play after the holidays with a game at Chestnut Hill on January 6 and a home game with Pennington on January 12, Bourbeau is hoping his players don’t squander the progress they have made so far.

“The break is coming at the wrong time; we have to rebuild again after the break,” said Bourbeau, whose team will host a non-league game against Hopewell Valley on January 8.

“The guys need some rest. I hope they can find some ice time to skate around and keep those legs moving.”

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