(Photo by Bill Allen/NJ SportAction) LEADING ROLE: Princeton High girls’ ice hockey senior captain Suzanne Hudis controls the puck in a game this season. Hudis’ leadership and solid work on defense helped PHS go 10-11-1 this season.

PHS Girls’ Hockey Had Rollercoaster Season, Solid Foundation in Place for Bright Future

Bill Alden

There wasn’t a dull moment for Jeff Schneider as he took over this winter as the head coach of the Princeton High girls’ ice hockey team.

“It was a rollercoaster,” said Schneider, reflecting on the team’s 10-11-1 season.

“We had some attrition. We had a couple of winning streaks. We had a couple of losing streaks.”

The Little Tigers did fight through the ups and downs to make it to the final four of the Women’s Interscholastic Hockey League of the Mid-Atlantic (WIHLMA) tournament.

PHS, though, ended things on a down note as it fell 10-0 to Portledge (N.Y.) in the semis and 5-2 to Shady Side Academy (Pa.) in the third-place game.

While Schneider was disappointed with the outcomes that final weekend, he saw no quit in his team.

“I thought they gave a good effort,” said Schneider. “It was tough, the games were one-sided. They didn’t get down; they skated to the final whistle.”

“The second game with PDS was a highlight,” said Schneider. “We were up by one goal late in the game and we were shorthanded in the last minute of the game. They held on for the win and that clinched our spot in the playoffs. They came together as a team and persevered.”

Schneider credited senior defenseman and team captain Suzanne Hudis with holding things together over the season.

“Suzanne contributed tremendously; the season would not have been as successful without her,” said Schneider, whose other seniors included Carly Ray, Christine Schulte, and Blair Thompson.

“Her support and dedication to the girls and the team was great. She really made a commitment to the team.”

The team also got a solid commitment from junior goalie Olivia Bayles and sophomore Rachel Bozich, who both produced some solid efforts down the stretch of the season.

“The goalies made a lot of progress,” said Schneider. “Neither one of them had played a full game for the team before this year; they stuck with it.”

If PHS’ core of returning players sticks with things, the program should have a bright future.

“We have a solid group of returners who work hard,” asserted Schneider. “The freshmen made a lot of progress; having a heavy JV schedule helped.”

The Little Tigers' two leading scorers this season were sophomores Haley Thompson (18 points on 13 goals and five assists) and Gabby Vukasin (12 points on eight goals and four assists).

Other solid returning players include junior Maddy Sturm and Katie Carreno together with sophomores Fiona Mahon, Olivia Ray, and Stephanie Miezin and freshman Neta Nakash.

Schneider acknowledges that he had a learning curve this season along with his players.

“I think there is a lot of improvement I can make,” said Schneider. “A lot of things were handed to me. I will do things differently organizationally both in terms of scheduling games and practices.”

In Schneider’s view, such fine-tuning can only enhance the unity he found this year on the team.

“For the most part, it is a great bunch of girls with tremendously supportive parents,” said Schneider. “That is a true positive. The girls really support each other.”

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