North-South see positives
By Bob Nuse, Sports Editor
There is nothing quite like a high-intensity rivalry game in the first week to get your season up and running.
In just the second game of the season for both West Windsor-Plainsboro North and WW-P South, the two ice hockey teams met at Mercer County Park on Wednesday, playing to a 2-2 tie before a full house that brought plenty of intensity to the game.
WW-P North had opened the season with a 4-2 win over Rancocas Valley, while the Pirates had played Tenafly to a 5-5 tie in its opener. Both teams were happy to have had at least one game under their belt before meeting each other on Wednesday.
”That’s why we scheduled Tenafly on Monday, in order to get that in before this game,” said WW-P South coach Brian McGurney, whose team had taken a 2-0 lead on a pair of goals by Mike Nestel. “You don’t want this to be your first game of the season. We’ve played two good teams and I’m fine with these two ties. The frustrating part is that both of these games we were up by two and kind of let them come back in.”
The Knights cut the Pirates’ lead in half with 40 seconds left in the second period on a goal by Scott Litwak. They then drew even when Mark Raziano scored with 4:18 left in the third period.
”It’s an emotional game,” WW-P North coach Bob Weiss said. “It’s the biggest rivalry in the CVC. As much as you try to keep your players calm and focused, they’re not used to playing in front of that kind of a crowd.
”I think it’s better to play it early. All of our focus is on getting ready for this game and they are always a tough opponent. It doesn’t matter what our record is or what their record is, it’s always a tough game. The guys have to really focus in practice, so it’s a good thing.”
Both the Knights and Pirates came into the season with expectations of playing well. At North, a veteran group is looking to improve on last year’s successful 14-win season.
”The core of this team has been together for four years now,” Weiss said. “We have some good senior leadership. They’re disappointed because they felt we could have done better. If we hadn’t taken the penalties, we thought we could have scored more.
”I think we could have done better. But with all the penalties, I’ll take the tie.”
The two teams combined for 17 penalties, which in part was due to the emotion of the game. And it’s a game a young team like the Pirates will learn and grow from.
”We have three seniors,” McGurney said. “This is the most talent a freshmen class has had since I’ve been here. (Darren) Stafford, our goalie, is only a sophomore. My junior class is strong. That’s why I’m fine with games like this.
”A game like this pays off later. Looking towards the end, you come to the county tournament or the state tournament and their gripping the stick a little bit lighter. Their knees aren’t knocking against each other.”
The Pirates nearly pulled out the win. But a late goal by the Knights meant leaving the ice with a second straight tie.
”It was a nice shot,” McGurney said. “We got caught out of position. You give a team like that that kind of an opportunity and you see what happens.”
And even a veteran team like North can learn a few lessons from a game like this so early in the season.
”It doesn’t matter what you do in practice, the speed of the game is going to be intense,” Weiss said. “Their goalie was outstanding and ours played well. It was a good game all around.”
And one in which both teams can walk off the ice satisfied with the final result.

