Hocket team is no underdog
By: Justin Feil
There are new players and a new leadership core after the graduation of four seniors, but there is no hiding the hopes of the Montgomery High School ice hockey team, and no hiding for the Cougars anymore.
They want to return to Continental Airline Arena, where their season ended last year with a 2-1 overtime loss. It completed a 24-3 year and sewed the seeds of this season’s promise.
"I think it makes it a little tougher," said MHS tri-captain Tim McMinn. "There’s no more underdog story."
Not when you come within an overtime of winning a state title. The Cougars lose four huge contributors to graduation, but their replacements are capable freshmen and transfers.
"It’s different but still really exciting," McMinn said. "There’s a lot of hype. It’s a new bunch of players. Hopefully everything works out well again."
A year ago, the Cougars began the season with plenty of question marks. Head coach Rob Scarpa was in his first season. MHS was coming off a year in which it had a number of close losses while winning just four games.
"Last year, there was uncertainty with trying to bring the team together and the change to a different division," said Scarpa whose team opens today against Hunterdon Central. "Last year, in the beginning, we were trying to find out what we wanted to be. This year, we have a better sense of what we can be and where we can go. Like last year, there was a question of would it come together, will they play for each other."
Added McMinn: "It’s a little hard to tell right now. We have a lot of talent from freshmen coming up. We didn’t really know last year how it would go. And we don’t know this year. We’ll have to see. I think the practices have been the same. Everyone is still wanting to go to Continental."
That goal is the focus for this season, and it figures to be quite a challenge. MHS has moved up from the Central White Division to the Red Division. And the Cougars will be looking to defend their Somerset County Tournament championship.
"I’m pretty sure everyone will want to beat us," Scarpa said. "For some teams, it will make their season if other teams knock us off. Last year, we wanted to beat the Bridgewaters and Ridge of the world. Now teams are looking to beat us.
"With being in the Red Division vs. White Division, everything will be tougher. We moved up and Cranford moved down. It’s definitely a tougher division. We play Bridgewater twice, Ridge, St. Joe’s, those are decently tough and respected teams. Some other teams in there are good too. There’s no easy games like in the past. You can’t show up to win. We have to play our game."
The Cougars are preparing for the challenges that last season’s success has raised. Teams will come that much harder at them. Every team figures to give the Cougars their best showing.
"We have to approach every game the same," McMinn said. "No game is going to be a cakewalk. Every team can show up and win a game. We have to prepare equally for each game."
As one of the new captains, along with Mike Yetter and fellow defenseman Nick Esposito, McMinn will be one of the players counted on to ensure that the Cougars are prepared for every game. While he wants to keep the focus purely on this season, last year’s team leaders served as a strong example.
"I learned from all the other captains and what they have done," McMinn said, noting the biggest lesson to take away is, "A lot of heart can go a long way."
So can a strong defense and offense along with goaltending. The Cougars have all that in place. And there’s no fear that MHS won’t be hungry enough this season after going all the way to the finals last year.
"I don’t think it’s anything we have to worry about," McMinn said. "Everyone wants to win."
He saw the first proof of that hunger in the offseason. Workouts were even a step above last season’s preparations as success has fueled more desire to do even better this year.
"The whole team worked out before the season together," McMinn said. "We’re all preparing for the season together. We did it last year but we did it more often this year."
Always there was a sense of growing anticipation and excitement, not because of last year, but for this season. That attitude has shown up when practices began.
"They’ve been extremely motivated in practice," Scarpa said. "They were extremely dedicated in the offseason. They want to get back to where they were. There’s a great emphasis to continue what we did last year.
"We had kids that stayed and are going to play for Montgomery because of what happened last year. They want to be part of this team."
The Cougars graduated Tom Coffey, Sean Hover, Rob Sparno and Jim Yetter, but the team will play similarly this year. That’s because the talent is in place to not miss a beat.
"I’m pretty sure we’ll be very similar to how we were last year," Scarpa said. "We’re still built on speed and defense, and we’re looking for goals off transition. I think we’ll be very similar. I’m hoping we can get the grit we had last year and that determination in the corners. That’s what helped set us apart."
Several new players are being counted on to fill in the holes left by graduation. How well they mesh with the returning players will determine whether the Cougars can sustain last year’s success, and set a new standard this year.
"The kids seem to want it bad," Scarpa said. "Everyone’s out to prove themselves."

