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(Photo by Bill Allen/NJ SportAction) caption: STICKING WITH IT: Hun School junior forward John Rankin fires a shot in the Raiders' 6-6 tie with Holy Ghost Prep last Wednesday. Hun, now 9-3-1 after going 3-14-1 last season, plays Steinert on February 23 in the quarterfinals of the Mercer County Tournament.d of caption

Hun Boys' Ice Hockey Edged in States But Loss Can't Diminish Turnaround

By Bill Alden

In guiding the Hun School boys' hockey team to a surprising turnaround, second year head coach Francois Bourbeau has emphasized the basics.

"We just have to keep it simple and not try to do extra things," said Bourbeau, whose team went 3-14-1 last year but brought a 9-2-1 record into last Monday's Prep B semifinal at Morristown-Beard. "If each player does his job, he can rely on his teammates and be confident that they will do their work."

Although Hun fell short of its goal of playing for the Prep B championship when it fell 3-2 in overtime to Morristown-Beard, junior forward Matt Torstrup has enjoyed the team's ride. "We didn't really expect to be this good," said Torstrup, who has scored a team-high 15 goals and had one in the loss to Mo-Beard. "It's been a nice little turnaround."

Torstrup, who transferred to Hun from Bridgewater-Raritan High, has fit in nicely. "It's been pretty easy," he said, referring to his transition to Hun. "I've played pretty well with my line and the team has been good."

In Bourbeau's view, the addition of Torstrup has been a major factor underlying the team's reversal of fortune.

"I think Matt has been a big key for our team," asserted Bourbeau. "I've been on him all year, I tell him 'I need you when it's important' and he's come out strong for us."

With the Raiders playing Steinert in the quarterfinals of the Mercer County Tournament on February 23, Bourbeau has a simple formula for getting his team to a championship level.

"I think the lesson is that we have to play three full, intense periods," maintained Bourbeau, who was a star goalie on a Middlebury College team that won four Division III national titles. "I think that has been the story for us before. We've been playing what I call pick-up hockey, coming back from behind a lot of the time."

Torstrup believes the team has the camaraderie to come together when it counts. "We all get along well," said Torstrup. "They're all good kids."

And they've produced some surprisingly good things on the ice this winter.