WW-P North vs. South rivalry brings a house divided
By: Justin Feil
There’s been a lot made of the first-year matchups between the West Windsor-Plainsboro High South sports teams and their offshoot of West Windsor-Plainsboro High North.
But nothing about the schools’ split has hit so close to home (literally) until now.
When the Pirates’ ice hockey team takes to the ice against the Northern Knights 7:45 p.m. Monday at Mercer County Park, it won’t just feel like they’re playing their brothers when they face their former teammates. In one case, it will be exactly that – brother vs. brother.
The schools’ split separated the Boyle household right down the middle. Older brother Tyler remains at South for his senior year while John attends and, more importantly Monday, skates for North as a junior. John is one of the senior players for the Knights, however, because the school does not have a senior class this year.
In coming years, the North-South contests might be more of a neighborhood rivalry, pitting one section of West Windsor vs. their neighbors. In this case, however, the enemy is just down the hallway.
"I live in the same house as him," Tyler said, "And we both go to public schools, but they’re different. I’ll admit it’s my senior year and I would have liked to have a full team, but the administration did what it needed to do."
John could have stayed with Tyler at South – for a year. After Tyler graduates this spring, John would have had to move back to North just for his senior year. He’s elected to remain with his WW-PN friends for his final two years of high school, meaning he and Tyler will square off against each other for the first time officially. The only time they’ve ever faced each other, other than one-on-one drills last season for the Pirates, was when they played street hockey.
What makes Monday’s plot so much more made-for-Hollywood is the fact that both Tyler and John are captains of their respective teams. And they’ll faceoff for most of the game directly against each other – Tyler is a defenseman for the Pirates while John is a forward for North.
"My coach has given me and the other defensemen liberty to guard him," Tyler noted. "But nothing negative will come out of it. We’re brothers. It’s been on our minds since we found out the schools split. We just got more excited when we found out it was the first game this year."
For the previous 10 years, the two have laced up their skates together and put on the same team uniforms. And though they knew before the end of last year about the possibility of facing each other and looked forward to this day, it’s arrived even quicker than they anticipated.
"Not until this year did I really realize it all," John said. "That’s when it hit me. At first, I couldn’t believe we’re at different schools. Now, I can’t believe we’re at different schools and on different teams. But I hope we both play good games."
That last sentiment is something echoed by Tyler and the entire Boyle household. The game is a hot topic at 2 Quail Ridge in Princeton Junction.
"It’s regularly discussed," Tyler said. "The whole family is talking about it."
But John and Tyler aren’t talking about every aspect of the game.
"Starting this week, secrets are being kept from each other," John said. "Who’s paired with whom and what the lines are. He’ll just have to wait until the game to see what they are."
Still, there are some secrets that those two know very well – namely each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Neither Tyler not John believes they have an advantage over the other.
"I’m pretty sure it will cancel each other out," Tyler said of their knowledge of each other. "We’ve been playing together for 10 years. I think I know his game better than anyone. Maybe something will happen if one of us catches the other off guard."
"I wouldn’t say either has an advantage," added John. "We’ll be going at each other and we’re familiar with each other’s games."
In this case, however, familiarity does not breed contempt. The Boyles will be going hard at each other, but they have a lot of respect for each other and their skills. In other words, don’t expect anything dirty.
"In my opinion," Tyler began, "he’s one of the best players in the league. From last year to this, his skating, his whole game, has gotten better."
Tyler is already one of the fastest defenseman in the league and a legitimate threat to score. He frequently makes rushes up the ice himself looking for those chances.
John is the physically bigger of the two and brings a rocket of a shot that has had opponents skate away from rather than defend. But those are the things that players from both teams know about the Boyles. Monday’s game is more than just about the brothers. Like in many of the other North-South meetings in the fall, having played together last year, players from both teams have close relationships.
"Everyone’s pretty pumped for it," Tyler said. "It’s a rivalry, but it’s not going to be a mean-spirited rivalry. Both teams cannot wait for Monday night."
After Monday, both Tyler and John said that things will return to normal for the most part. They’ll go from being opponents to each other’s biggest fans.
"I’ll definitely be rooting for him," Tyler said. "I’ll be at the majority of his games and he’ll come to mine. Other than this game, I’ll be all for his team. I think they’re going to surprise some teams. Teams that aren’t ready, they’re going to beat them. Hopefully they can knock off some teams and help us out."
John is looking for the same in the Knights’ first season. He’ll be cheering for his former teammates from WW-P South, particularly his brother.
"Of course, I’ll pull for him," John said. "Hopefully, he leads the league in scoring. I’m always rooting for him to do his best. When we play, I hope he does his best. But I hope our teams’ best is a little better."