(Photo by Frank Wojciechowski) caption: MASS PRODUCTION: Princeton Day School boys’ hockey player Conrad Denise fires the puck in a game earlier this season. Last week, Denise had a goal and an assist as PDS topped St. Mark’s (Mass.) 4-1 in the third-place game at the Barber Tournament in Middlesex, Mass. The Panthers went 2-1 at the tournament, their best showing at the event in recent memory. PDS, who improved to 5-4-1 with the victory over St. Mark’s, gets 2011 underway by playing Pingry on January 4 in the Bridgewater Sports Arena and then playing St. John Vianney at the Wall Sports Arena on January 7.

PDS Boys’ Hockey Plays Well in New England; Hopes to Harness That Effort as It Enters 2011

Bill Alden

As it headed up to New England before Christmas to play in the 40th annual William Barber Tournament, the Princeton Day School boys’ ice hockey team didn’t bring great expectations.

“We weren’t going up there with a good feeling; the confidence wasn’t high,” said PDS head coach Scott Bertoli, whose team stood at 3-3-1 coming into the event. “We had just lost to Montgomery High and had played poorly.”

But rising to the challenge of the traditionally tough competition at the tournament hosted by the Middlesex School and St. Mark’s, the Panthers played some of their best hockey of the season.

PDS won two of its three games at the tournament, topping Worcester Academy 5-4 in overtime in the opening round and skating past St. Mark’s 4-1 in the third place game. In between, the Panthers fell 4-0 in the semis to eventual champion Middlesex.

Bertoli, for his part, was pleasantly surprised by his team’s performance.

“I don’t know exactly what happened,” said Bertoli.

“We got up there and walked into the rink and watched the game before us as a team and then went out and played so well. It was like nothing I have seen.”

The Panthers’ opening round victory was certainly something to see as the game turned into a dramatic nailbiter.

“It was really exciting hockey; it was a back and forth game and it went into overtime,” recalled Bertoli.

“We played five on five for 10 minutes and then there was a shootout. Peter Blackburn scored a goal to keep us in the game; it was a beautiful shot over the goalie’s shoulder. Sean Timmons put us ahead and then George Blinick made a save to preserve the win. The guys all came on the ice, celebrating like they had won a championship.”

Although the Panthers didn’t get a championship shot as they fell to Middlesex in the semis, Bertoli saw the performance as a step forward.

“We had a ton of opportunities; we executed to a tee,” said Bertoli, whose team outshot Middlesex 28-23 in the contest.

“We were down 1-0 after the first period. In the second period, we played some of the best hockey I have seen since I have been here. It was end-to-end and there was a lot of rough stuff. The refs let the kids play and our guys didn’t back down. They had a great goalie; I think he gave up one goal in three games.”

Despite the tough loss, PDS didn’t give in as it battled St. Mark’s in the third-place game.

“They gave Portledge a good game in the semis so we knew they were good,” said Bertoli, who got two goals and an assist from sophomore forward Conrad Denise in the win with Timmons and Cody Triolo notching the other Panther goal.

“We were tired and we played a smart game. We trapped them in the third period and kept their shots down. They never threatened us. Conrad played a great game.”

Bertoli got some great work over the weekend from his co-captains, senior defenseman Skye Samse and senior forward Blackburn.

“Skye Same is really getting comfortable playing on defense,” said Bertoli of Samse, who played at forward during his first three seasons as PDS.

“He played hard in the defensive zone and got in on rushes. He was physical. Peter was really good and showed leadership. He had a bruised sternum coming into the second game and still played great.”

With PDS starting the 2011 portion of its schedule by playing powerful Pingry on January 4 in the Bridgewater Sports Arena and then playing St. John Vianney at the Wall Sports Arena on January 7, Bertoli is hoping his team can build on the way it played in New England.

“I was thrilled with the way that we played; we showed focus and determination,” said Bertoli, whose team brings a 5-4-1 record into the new year.

“If we can harness this, we can have a successful second half of the season.”

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