Senior wing hopes to increase scoring for young Cougars
By: Justin Feil
Matt Bartle admitted it himself.
"I don’t think I’m the best player on the team," he said. "I only started playing in ninth grade. Other kids have been playing nine or 10 years and they have better skill levels than me. I have no special talents, no special skills."
But Bartle, one of just a handful of seniors to return from last year’s Montgomery High School ice hockey team, has one important talent that the Cougars need – leadership. Bartle is captain of the Cougars this season.
"Probably the most important thing he will do is set an example how to play the game," said Yury Tarnavskyj, who begins his third season as Cougars head coach. "He’ll play with a lot of heart and determination and as a team player. He’ll set the tone and be a team player. It forces other players to put the team first as well."
It will take a team effort this year, in what many have labeled a rebuilding season for MHS. Bartle is the only one of the last year’s top seven scorers to return. And though the 17-year-old who scored three goals to go with 15 assists last season won’t point out any one skill or talent he has, Tarnavskyj describes a well-rounded skater.
"He can put the puck in the net," Tarnavskyj noted. "He can do a lot of things. He’s a very hard worker. He plays hard. He’s a physical player and he passes the puck well."
Bartle has steadily improved since he took up the game on ice three years ago. He started playing ice hockey at the urging of friends who saw how talented he was at street hockey. The move from roller blades to ice skates was easy enough. The skills took a bit longer to develop.
"I had skated enough on the street that I was able to skate on the ice pretty easily," said the 6-foot-1, 170 pound wing. "I did have a tough time stopping. The tough part was going out there and playing the puck. When you use a ball first, then try to lift a puck that weighs a lot more, it’s a lot different.
"And my shots, they needed to improve. You can see those kids that come up from playing early, they have it. I’m still trying to find a good stick to use. Either they break or they’re too big. Most guys buy the same stick every time. I buy a different stick every time. I’m still looking for the right one."
With whatever stick he’s used, Bartle has come remarkably far, however, considering he’s one of the rare good high school players these days that doesn’t play club hockey. He started out playing in the Ice Land summer league and has kept up with that, but he relies on working hard in practice more during the season under Tarnavskyj’s guidance for much of his development.
"Yury is a great coach," Bartle said. "This is my third year with him as coach and he’s upped my improvements. I’m thinking that the third year with him will be the best. The way I play for him has helped me a lot."
It is Bartle’s own work ethic that he now puts to use in his leadership role.
"I’ve had a lot of kids who’ve come up to me and said they’re ready to quit because they’re not playing or something," Bartle said. "I tell them to find out what Yury wants and to keep working. A lot of those people are my friends. I wasn’t in the exact position when I was younger, but I didn’t get a lot of playing time. You either decide to quit, or you decide to work and get better."
Bartle chose the latter, and it’s paid off. He plans on continuing to play – either at a recreation or possibly on a college team – next year.
"He’s a lot better skill-wise than when he began," Tarnavskyj said. "His puck handling, his skating, it’s all improved. It’s unusual to have someone playing well when they don’t play year-round. But he plays soccer, and that helps. You tend to see more of the ice from it. It makes you a better passer."
Bartle ranks hockey as nearly the equal of his original love, soccer, and he’s worked hard to make himself a valuable part of the Cougar team. Coming off a Central Jersey Group II semifinal berth with the MHS soccer team, he’d love to have the same kind of success on the ice, but knows it will be difficult.
"After the season we had in soccer, it’s hard to get back on the ice," he said. "We’re younger, smaller and we’re missing those people like (last season’s leading goal scorer) Matt Pentz who could just skate up the ice and score any minute. I don’t think I can fill those places. I’ve never been a big scorer.
"I kind of want to be that high scorer. I have to step it up, start the hitting and start the scoring. We’ll get a lot of unity from this team. Even if we don’t win, we’ll have fun. I’m finally one of the bigger people, and I expect to win some games."
Bartle has always played the front line for the Cougars, though he has moved from right to left wing and even spent time as center. This season, he’ll try to pick up his scoring from the right wing position and try to pull together the young Cougars at the same time.
"They’re all going to try as hard as they can," Bartle said. "We have the talent, we just need to put it together. If we win some games, we’ll get the confidence to play together. We just have to work hard."
Bartle will make sure of that himself.
"He’s vocal as well," Tarnavskyj said. "He’ll get the guys and talk to them as well. He’ll talk to guys in the dressing room and on the ice. It’s good to have a vocal leader. He reinforces what the coach is saying. He’s at times like a coach on the ice. I think the kids look up to him and listen when he talks."
It’s a big part of the reason that Bartle was selected to wear the ‘C’ this year on his jersey.
"I have a lot more responsibilities than last year’s captains," Bartle said. "Last year’s captains were just the best players. I have to do more of the leadership things this year."
The leadership to guide a young MHS team is a special skill of its own. Matt Bartle has that talent. Not bad for a guy who doesn’t pretend to be the best player on his team.