(Photo by Bill Allen/NJ SportAction) SENIOR GUIDANCE: Princeton High boys’ hockey star Kyle DeBlois controls the puck in a game last season. This winter, senior captain DeBlois has been providing leadership on and off the ice as PHS has struggled to a 2-5 start. The Little Tigers will return from the holiday break when they play Lawrence on January 2 at Mercer County Park and then play road games at Monroe on January 4 and Pennington on January 7.

With DeBlois Providing Leadership and Heart, PHS Boys’ Hockey Pushing Through Adversity

Bill Alden

Kyle DeBlois has played on a lot of winning teams during his athletic career at Princeton High.

In the fall, DeBlois has been a stalwart for a PHS boys’ soccer program that won a Central Jersey sectional crown in 2006 and won the Mercer County Tournament (MCT) this past fall on the way to a 17-1 season.

Over the winter months, DeBlois has starred for the Little Tiger boys’ hockey team which advanced to the sweet 16 in the Public state tournament the past two winters and made it to the MCT title game last season.

This winter, though, DeBlois has been getting a steady diet of losing as the PHS boy’s hockey team has struggled to a 2-5 start.

After the Little Tigers fell 11-1 to Madison High at Baker Rink on December 21, the senior captain acknowledged that the he is experiencing some bumps in the road.

“It’s pretty tough,” said DeBlois. “We came out of a great season this year in soccer. Last year we had a great season in hockey but we lost our coach [Paul Merrow]. It’s been hard but we just have to push through it.”

DeBlois admitted that the team had a rough night at the office in the loss to Madison.

“It was definitely a tough game,” said DeBlois. “I feel like we let our coach down and our team down. Hopefully from here, it won’t be as rough as it was today.”

While the defeat was disappointing, PHS still showed progress over the week as it picked up its first two wins of the season.

“We came out 2-2,” said DeBlois. “We expected all four games but not everything goes your way. At least it lets us know that we are doing something right.”

Getting those victories under their belt before the holiday break gave the Little Tigers a psychological lift.

“It keeps your morale up instead of going without a win,” said DeBlois. “It lets you know that you can compete with teams. We are showing it.”

The PHS starting lineup is pushing itself hard to compete as DeBlois, together with Jon Naylor, Billy Ward, Jeff Goeke, and Fraser Graham, are logging the lion’s share of the playing time.

“It’s physically demanding,” said DeBlois. “I think coach does a good job in practices getting us fit for that. He knows we have a short bench.”

DeBlois is dealing with an additional challenge as he has been shifted to defenseman from his normal position of forward.

“It’s a new change,” said DeBlois. “I’ve never really played defense before but I’m willing to step in and do my part to help the teams. It’s not a big deal for me.”

PHS coach Tim Campbell liked the way his players stepped in and kept plugging as they played four games in five days.

“Those guys are exhausted; this is our fourth game in five days,” said Campbell.

“I’m proud of my guys, they played hard all week long. We got two really, really big wins that I am proud of. I think fatigue set in tonight.”

The first-year head coach acknowledges that he is going to have to extend his rotation as the season unfolds.

“We don’t have a deep bench,” said Campbell, whose team beat Nottingham 11-1 on December 17 and topped Hamilton 9-3 on December 20.

“We have a lot of strength at one end and a lot of inexperience at the other end. As a coach, myself and my assistant (Terrence Miller) need to sit down and think about strategy; mixing up our talent and evening things out a little more.”

Campbell has no qualms with how his starters have handled their heavy load.

“They are my five starters for a reason,” said Campbell, who has been working freshman forward Peter Twining and freshman defenseman Dean DiTosto into the rotation.

“In a 45-minute game, they’ll play 42 minutes. There is a chemistry there that does exist between them.”

Campbell credits DeBlois with positively influencing the team’s overall chemistry. “I wish I could clone his heart, that kid has a heart of gold,” asserted Campbell.

“He plays defense, he plays offense. That kid would play goalie if I asked him. He never quits and he’s a great leader off the ice. He says a lot of things that a coach wouldn’t necessarily say in situations where it needs to be said.”

The contributions DeBlois has made in the locker room dovetail with Campbell’s vision for the program.

“My priorities are a lot bigger than wins or losses,” said Campbell.

“I’m looking to build a program and the key is the team atmosphere. My focus is on the off the ice things that you don’t see. The wins will come when they come.”

Now that the team has tasted victory, Campbell is hoping more wins will come when PHS plays Lawrence on January 2 at Mercer County Park and then plays road games at Monroe on January 4 and Pennington on January 7.

“We have some league games coming up that we can capitalize on,” said Campbell. “On January 2 we have a game right off the bat against Lawrence. We want to come out and keep pushing.”

As the team captain, DeBlois is going to make sure the team keeps pushing. “It’s my duty to stay positive and set a good example for the team,” said DeBlois.

“I need to make sure that no one gets their heads down. We have to get some rest and then come out ready to win the games that are coming up.”

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