Hockey team eyes Sweet 16
By: Justin Feil
In Jon Naylor’s first two seasons with the Princeton High School boys’ ice hockey team, he has never seen an earlier exit than in the Sweet Sixteen.
The PHS junior helped ensure that trend could continue when he scored the game-winning and insurance goals in a 5-3 win over Roxbury in first-round action Thursday. With the win over No. 47 Roxbury, the 18th-seeded Little Tigers were scheduled to play at No. 15 Middletown North on Monday after Packet deadline. With a win, PHS would return to a third straight Sweet Sixteen, against either No. 2 seed Ridge or No. 32 seed Toms River East.
"I just feel like everybody steps it up come state tournament time," Naylor said. "Everybody steps it up every game and everyone plays a little better and little better. We come up big in big games. We build off that momentum when we have success. That’s what contributes in the state tournament every year."
The Little Tigers weren’t happy with the start of the 2007 public state tournament. They took a 3-1 lead before Roxbury scored two goals in the third period to tie it.
"We came out a little flat the first period," said PHS head coach Paul Merrow, whose team improved to 13-8-3. "Maybe it was the fact we hadn’t played in almost a week since that last Friday. We controlled most of the play the first two periods and then it was 2-1 going into the third period, and they came out and played hard. For us, it was come out and score the first goal and grab some of the momentum. Then we allowed another one and let them back in the game. If we want to go any further, we have to come out and play consistently for three periods."
While PHS wasn’t happy with Thursday’s slow start and slower opening to the third period, it wasn’t largely out of character. The Little Tigers play their best when they are challenged the most. It wasn’t hard for PHS to overlook lowly seeded Roxbury.
"Ranking wise, I took them lightly," Naylor said. "It was a reality check when we realized we were in a hockey game and not going to walk over these guys. We came out flat, and again in the third period we came out slow. We can play better hockey than what we played Thursday night.
"We step it up in bigger games. We tend to play bigger and smarter. When we play these lesser teams, we play down to their level and that’s what gets us in trouble. When we play Notre Dame and Steinert, we always step up our game."
The good news is that all that is left for the Little Tigers is good teams, probably mostly ones seeded higher than they are. PHS has the advantage of coming into the states playing some of its best hockey of the season and having plenty of past postseason wins to build on this year.
"We’ve improved from December I’d say tenfold defensively," Merrow said. "But I think with this senior class being in this situation, in the state tournament in their four years, advancing three rounds to the Sweet 16 each of those years, they’re confident in playing in big games. This is a big game. It’s win or go home. We came out in the third period and shut the door on them. It took a little effort, but they got it done."
On a team with some big-name scorers, Naylor was an unlikely big-goal scorer. He has been a consistent contributor through the years, but these were some of most meaningful goals for the Little Tigers. The first came on a centering pass that hit of a skate and caromed to Naylor who slid it in. The second came on a scramble in front of the net.
"I just was in the right place in the right time on those goals," he said. "It’s normally how I score. I don’t have a lot of finesse goals. Mine are more garbage in front of the net."
Added Merrow: "He’s been a contributor for his three years. He’s always helped. He had a solid game, and had a great third period for us."
Naylor was just happy to help a team that is just finding its groove in the perfect time. Winning over Roxbury was just the first step for a Little Tiger team that has plenty of motivation in its lineup with a number of key seniors.
"You want it to be memorable for them," Naylor said. "You don’t want to go out and have a poor showing. You don’t want to have your seniors remembering regrets."
The Little Tigers don’t expect that to happen with a strong senior class. It’s one that has been through the state tournament before and shown it can win.
"They’re familiar with the tournament," Merrow said. "They’re comfortable in it. They don’t get rattled. With the slow start, their confidence was always there. They knew if they came out and played a big third period, we’d advance. It never was an issue of urgency. They took it out in the third period and did the job. There’s three periods in hockey, and they could have taken care of it earlier, but Roxbury played tough.
"Roxbury, they played a very good defensive game against us," he added. "They weren’t allowing any easy shots in front of the net. They were forcing shots from the outside early. Their goaltender played great. We were able to get those three in the third period to pull ahead."
That overall feeling is an intangible that the Little Tigers have on their side. They know that if they play well, they have a good chance of moving on, regardless of their opponent. PHS has the offensive weapons as well as a solidified defense and experienced goalie. But most of all, as they did Thursday, they know they have the ability to raise their play to challenge anyone.
"It’s that confidence," Naylor said. "You know you can step it up and play at that next level and keep it going. It’s more like when we’re playing down, we know we have another level that we can go to. That’s what will help us keep moving through the tournament knowing we can step up to the competition and play with it."

