ICE HOCKEY
By Tim Falls, Sports Editor
The Lawrence High School ice hockey players had to face some tough questions Friday morning.
That was before the Cardinals lost to Robbinsville that night and Hopewell Valley on Monday.
The Lawrence ice hockey players visited the second grade class taught by their coach, Andy Borowsky, at Ben Franklin Elementary on Friday morning. The Cardinals, treated like hockey stars, signed autographs for the second grade students, took part in an English exercise and answered questions prepared by their coach and asked by the second graders.
If having an entire second grade class wear Lawrence’s red and black — many sporting Lawrence Ice Hockey sweatshirts – boosted the Cardinals’ egos, the questions coach Borowsky had his class ask were enough to take his team down a peg. More playful jabs than actual inquiries, the questions were all in good fun and got plenty of laughs from both players and second graders.
One young second-grade student asked a three-year varsity veteran if he needed the off sides rule explained to him. Another second grader complimented a Cardinal player on a powerful slap shot, but asked why he couldn’t hit the net.
Lawrence senior goalie Matt Azrolan was asked if he worried about losing his spot to his brother, while sophomore Brian Azrolan was asked why he thought he could be the starting goalie after giving up five goals to Ewing in the Cardinals’ season opener.
”Those questions were intense,” said Lawrence junior captain Tim Finnerty, who was grateful for the second graders’ support. “It’s good to have fans out there at a young age. They’re all wearing their ice hockey shirts and supporting us.”
Aside from those prepared questions, the second grade students seemed like Lawrence’s biggest fans and treated the Cardinals like NHL players. Lawrence looked the part, with the players all wearing their new warm-up attire.
”It’s fun, everybody had a good time,” said junior captain Brock Krawczun. “We like to come and do this because they wear our jerseys, show up at our games and are always there supporting us. We like to come back and give something back to them.”
The questions asked in jest after the Cardinals started the season with a strong win over Ewing, might have been a bit harsher if asked after the loss to Robbinsville Friday night.
The Ravens rallied to defeat Lawrence, 6-5, with three third-period goals. The Cardinals led 5-3 after the second period, with Finnerty and Krawczun each scoring twice and a goal from freshman Corey Crafford. However, Robbinsville held Lawrence scoreless in the third period while tallying three goals of its own to take the lead.
While that loss bothered Borowsky, Hopewell’s 8-2 victory over Lawrence on Monday was less upsetting.
”Today we got beat,” said Borowsky, “on Friday we lost. They understand there is a big difference. We played hard today, real hard. Everybody was working. If it makes any sense, this was a good loss, Friday was not.”
Hopewell scored to take the lead late in the first period and then added five goals in the second period to establish control.
Finnerty scored twice in the second period with assists from senior Jake McClister and Krawczun. Matt Azrolan made 38 saves as Hopewell out shot the Cardinals, 46-13.
Lawrence (1-2) takes on West Windsor-Plainsboro North today and then again on Monday and then skates against Nottingham and Hightstown on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively. After Hightstown, the next scheduled CVC game for the Cardinals is Jan. 18 against Ewing.
NOTE: The Lawrence Cardinals will host an open public skate session at the Lawrenceville Prep School on Monday Jan. 21. The event on Martin Luther King day is open to all Lawrence residents.

