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 (Photo by Bill Allen/NJ SportAction) caption:
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Defense Helps PDS Boys' Ice Hockey Earn Shot at 8th Straight Prep Title
By Bill Alden
Charlie Bird didn't see a lot of ice time in his first three years with the Princeton Day School boys' ice hockey team.
With the Panthers undermanned this season and suffering some injuries, Bird has gotten his chance to break into the starting line-up.
The senior defenseman has responded to the opportunity by developing into a key cog for the Panthers' stingy defense.
Last Monday, Bird and his teammates were at their stifling best as PDS blanked Montclair-Kimberley 4-0 in the state Prep semifinals to earn a shot at its eighth straight prep title.
As he reflected on the Panthers' win, Bird made it clear that he is savoring his increased responsibility. "This has been a big year for me," said the curly-headed Bird with a smile. "I've put a lot of emphasis on stepping up. I've put a lot of effort into focusing on the task at hand. I feel more comfortable on the ice which you can only hope to achieve after playing a few years."
The Panthers certainly feel comfortable when it comes to advancing in the state Prep tourney. "We're not the strongest, the tallest, or fastest guys," asserted Bird, whose efforts helped hold Montclair-Kimberley to a measly eight shots last Monday. "Somehow we always end up pulling together and getting the job done."
In Bird's view, this year's team has developed a special bond as it has fought to overcome the obstacles in its way and has posted a 12-4-2 record.
"The tournament we went to in Boston and the games we played in Maryland helped us come together on and off the ice," said Bird. "We've done some pretty fun things and it has helped the underclassmen to come together too."
PDS head coach Chris Barcless likes the way his team has come together. "I think the guys are jelling, at practice, in film sessions," said Barcless, who got goals in the win last Monday from Eric Czapka, Derek Mayer, Brett DePace, and Justin Mimmo. "Everything at this time of year should be paying off. These kids deserve so much credit."
Barcless credits the efforts of Bird and his fellow defenders with helping to put PDS back in the title game. "Surprisingly, our defense has been doing a nice job," said Barcless, noting that two of his defensemen, Bird and Fred Mittnacht, had little or no previous varsity experience, while two others, Mimmo and DePace, are converted forwards.
"The goaltender [Jared Tepper] has been doing a nice job. Our team defense has been doing a nice job, We've had six or seven shutouts which is just amazing."
For Barcless, advancing to the prep championship game never gets old. "This is something we want to win," declared Barcless. "We take pride in winning it. We still have a lot of things left to do. We'd like to win preps, we'd like to win our tournament, and we'd like to knock one or two of the top teams in the state."
With PDS hosting Morristown-Beard in the title game on February 16, Barcless knows his team has its work cut out.
"For a few years, we had it easy," acknowledged Barcless, whose club will tune up for the final by hosting Malvern Prep on February 9 and St. Joe's Metuchen on February 11 before playing at Seton Hall Prep on February 14. "The last five or six years, we've really had to work for it. Morristown-Beard is a very strong team and we're going to have to earn it." Bird, for his part, is primed to close out his PDS career with another championship. "It means a lot," said Bird, referring to the title shot. "After this season, I don't know if I'm going to be playing hockey again. We just want to keep doing what we can do."
If PDS could achieve its eighth straight title, it would make Bird's time on the ice this winter that much more special.
