(Photo by Bill Allen/NJ SportAction) GO TIME: Princeton High boys’ ice hockey senior star Jeff Goeke controls the puck in action last winter. PHS will be depending on Goeke to be its key playmaker this season. The Little Tigers open their 2008-9 season when they play Steinert on December 1 at the Mercer County Park rink.

After Taking Plenty of Lumps Last Winter, PHS Boys’ Hockey Primed for New Season

Bill Alden

Going with a youth movement by necessity last winter, the Princeton High boys’ ice hockey team took it on the chin night after night.

With only three seniors on the team and relying on five main players, PHS struggled to a 4-17 record in Tim Campbell’s debut season as head coach.

But as the 2008-09 season approaches, Campbell believes his young players have absorbed the tough lessons they learned last winter.

“Last year was a huge learning experience; we had to deal with a lot of stuff and learn to not give up,” said Campbell, whose team opens its season by playing Steinert on December 1 at the Mercer County Park rink.

“It is hard for teenage young men to see that ideal and not get discouraged. The returning players are confident.”

One reason for confidence around the Little Tigers is the addition of freshman goalie Josh Berger.

“He’s on the smaller side but very quick,” said Campbell, whose team was plagued by spotty play in goal last winter.

“He may be a freshman but he’s a leader on the ice. He is involved in the plays; he’s vocal. Having Josh makes the defensemen more confident. They can get involved in offense and not be concerned about having to stay back so much on defense.”

Campbell is happy with his crew of defensemen which is led by senior star Billy Ward and features sophomores Dean DiTosto, Griffin Peck, and Adam Millar together with freshmen David Wright and Coleman Preziosi.

“Ward leads by example,” said Campbell. “DiTosto was good as a freshman, he is going to be a leader for us. Preziosi and Griffin Peck are going to be on the ice. Wright will see some time as will Millar.”

Buoyed by increased depth, PHS will have several forwards seeing plenty of ice time.

“We should have three lines of forwards,” said Campbell, who opted to go with one main line for much of last winter. “We will be running in two lines most of the time.”

Leading the way up front will be senior star Jeff Goeke together with battle-tested sophomores Fraser Graham and Peter Twining.

“Goeke will be quarterbacking every shift he is on,” said Campbell, who will also be using sophomore Michael Irving and a pair of freshmen Kirby Peck and Will Greenberg at forward. “Graham has grown; he has more size and speed. Twining is also looking good.”

The team’s maturity has translated into a more serious approach to the game.

“We have a very strong work ethic from the top to the bottom,” asserted Campbell. “Every kid is working really, really hard; even the kids who may not see a lot of ice time this season.”

With PHS playing Hun at Iceland on December 3 and then facing Hopewell Valley two days later at Mercer County Park, Campbell will get an early read on what kind of time his team may have this winter.

“This is a team that should win a lot more than four games,” said Campbell.

“I look at every game as a potential win. We shouldn’t be intimidated by anyone; we have depth. We have to give 45 full minutes; we can’t just come alive in the third period.”

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