(Photo by Stephen Goldsmith) caption: SURPRISE PACKAGE: Princeton High boys’ hockey star defenseman Dean DiTosto controls the puck last Monday in the Mercer County Tournament championship game. Despite DiTosto’s iron man play which saw him on the ice for almost the whole game, ninth-seeded PHS fell 3-0 to No. 3 Princeton Day School in the title game. The Little Tigers, who ended the season with a 9-10-3 record, upended No. 8 Notre Dame, top-seeded Hopewell Valley, and No. 5 WW/P-S on the way to the MCT title game.

Sparked by DiTosto’s Iron Man Play on Defense, Underdog PHS Boys’ Hockey Makes MCT Final

Bill Alden

Sweat was rolling down his face and his t-shirt was soaked but Dean DiTosto wasn’t drained.

The junior defenseman and co-captain of the Princeton High boys’ hockey team was a bundle of energy after the ninth-seeded Little Tigers upset No. 1 Hopewell Valley 3-2 last Wednesday in the Mercer County Tournament quarterfinals.

Grinning and speaking in staccato bursts, DiTosto was a picture of joy as he reflected on the triumph.

“We came out flying; we came out wanting to win,” asserted DiTosto, who was on the ice for nearly all the game, only coming off briefly for two or three shifts.

“It always comes down to motivation. We are the only team left in this tournament that is not going to states. We don’t have anything to lose and we are playing our last game every single night.”

The Little Tigers started the tournament on a high note as they cruised past defending champion Notre Dame 6-1 on February 15.

“We set a goal for ourselves to beat the defending champs in the MCT and the top seed,” said DiTosto.

In the win over HoVal, DiTosto assisted on Fraser Graham’s game-winning goal with 10:43 left in the third period which came just after the Bulldogs had knotted the contest at 2-2.

“It kills your momentum but we came together as a team,” said DiTosto, referring to HoVal’s tally.

“It came down to who wanted it more and we put that goal in. The puck just fluttered out and Fraser took a slapshot and I guess their goalie wasn’t ready for it.”

DiTosto helped keep PHS’s momentum rolling two nights later, notching the game-winning goal as PHS topped No. 5 WW/P-S 3-1 in the MCT semis.

In the title game on Monday against third-seeded Princeton Day School, DiTosto and the Little Tigers produced another big effort but came up short in falling 3-0 to the Panthers.

PHS head coach Tim Campbell was proud of how his team fought to the final whistle as it ended the season with a 9-10-3 record.

“We did as best as we possibly could against a really fast, physical team,” said Campbell, whose team was outshot 39-19 even though it was on the power play for approximately 15 minutes.

“We got caught out of position a few times and we didn’t capitalize on the power play. PDS has so much speed. When we tried to move the puck they were immediately there. They transition well; they move the puck from one end of the ice to the other like no other team we have faced.”

Campbell likes the leadership and iron man play he got from DiTosto and fellow junior co-captain Graham.

“There are no secrets in this league,”said Campbell. “We don’t have a deep bench. We play 10, 11 guys and when one or two of them don’t come off the ice like Dean and Fraser, it is an inspiration to the rest of the team to want to be better.”

While Campbell would have liked to see a different outcome on Monday, he believes his team will be better for the experience.

“It’s a good learning experience to come this far and get this close,” said Campbell.

“Watching a really good team celebrate with that cup at the end of the year, we know where we want to be next year. The core of our team is coming back next year so we’ll remember this when we come back at the beginning of the regular season next year.”

In DiTosto’s view, the MCT run will be something the Little Tigers can build on for the future.

“This is going to give our whole team motivation for next year,” said DiTosto.

“Look we beat this team and we beat that team and we are losing two seniors compared to the teams losing three, four, or five. The team is going to remember this and they are really going to push to play at this level.”

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