Popkin enjoys locals’ test
By Justin Feil, Assistant Sports Editor
Nobody else in Mercer County seems thrilled that Princeton Day School entered the county hockey tournament this year, but Max Popkin is.
The PDS junior has been looking forward to the new opportunity.
”I think the coolest thing is it finally gives us a chance to play against kids who we grew up playing club with,” Popkin said. “Usually we don’t have the chance to play publics.”
PDS may still have a long wait until it actually plays a public school. The seventh-seeded Panthers won their Mercer County Tournament opener, 3-0, over Pennington on Friday. They will play parochial power Notre Dame, the No. 2 seed, in the quarterfinals on Feb. 25.
”It was definitely fun to play Pennington,” said Popkin, a Pennington resident. “It was a hard match for the first round. We got seeded pretty low. It was a pretty hard game for the first game. It was good to start off strong.”
PDS had already beaten Pennington once this season. There was cause for some concern that the Panthers could suffer a letdown on the heels of an emotional 3-2 win over Bergen Catholic last Monday on a goal by Popkin. The Panthers skated away from a scoreless first period against Pennington to advance in the MCT. In other MCT action Friday, Princeton High School dropped a 4-1 decision to No. 4 Hopewell Valley with Fraser Graham getting the lone goal.
”The Bergen win was huge,” said PDS head coach Scott Bertoli. “It’s the best win I’ve been a part of in my year and a half. They were ranked third in one poll. With (Mike) Darrar and (Eric) Donovan out and (Clint) O’Brien only playing the first period, you look at the lineup and there’s not much for us to produce. So scoring three goals in the third period was pretty remarkable.
”Bergen should have put us away in the second and they didn’t. We found a way to win. I told the guys, the same thing could happen today with Pennington. It’s a team we’ve beaten and a team I would expect to win against. They had chances in the third period. They had a goal disallowed on a high stick that could have given them a lead. Pennington is a solid team. They gave us trouble the first one-and-a-half periods. They were tighter this time around. They got better goaltending. Their kid made bunch of big glove saves. I’d like to think we’d convert a bunch of those.”
The Panthers got their first two goals against Pennington from Popkin’s second-line mate, Skye Samse. His first didn’t come until the final three minutes of the second period.
”Skye got that first goal and it shifted the momentum of the game,” Popkin said. “It gave us confidence. We started hitting some passes and playing better.”
Samse’s insurance goal came midway through the third period and backed the shutout goaltending of Nick Jabs. PDS improved to 9-3-2 with the win.
”My role on the second line, it’s a great spot to be in,” Popkin said. “We’re expected to play really strong defense and be back-up for first line. We have a chance to play D and be ready. Skye had two big goals. He and Spencer and I are working the puck. Our expectations are to play solid defense and help out the first line, and when we score goals, it’s great.”
Popkin was thrilled with the chance for a game-winner against Bergen Catholic. He is happy to be playing a bigger part in the Panthers’ season this year.
”Last year, I was on the fourth line,” Popkin said. “We would get really lucky to get one shift a game. Being on the second line feels good to be relied on. It felt good to be part of the team last year. I have no complaints either year.
”I definitely expected a little better role this year. I wasn’t expecting to get as much time as I’ve been getting. I’ve been playing a lot in these big games.”
The Panthers have needed contributions from all their lines. PDS has been happy with its second-line play.
”If they chip in, it’s a huge bonus,” Bertoli said. “Skye Samse scored both goals today. They came on the power play.
”Max has been good. He scored the first goal against Hun. He scored a couple on our New England trip. He was in the right place at the right time for the Bergen game. He’s responsible defensively. He’s a good guy in the locker room. They like him and respect him. That’s bigger for us.”
The Panthers will need contributions from everyone as it gets into the important part of the season. After PDS hosts Portledge on Wednesday, they host Pennington on Monday in the Prep B state semifinals. Beyond their regular-season finish and the Prep B finals, PDS is happy to have another tournament title to chase with the MCT.
”I think the tournaments are awesome,” Popkin said. “Every game you win really means something. Every game in regular season means something. But when you win in a tournament, you look forward to the next game then. There’s nothing like winning.”
The Panthers will match up against Notre Dame in a meeting of two of the area’s hockey giants. They do not play in the regular season.
”It’s a few weeks and we have some other stuff to focus on,” Popkin said. “It’s really fun to be in a tournament. A lot of us have played as kids with guys on Notre Dame. These are two of the strongest teams in the area. It should be fun.
”It’s not like we have any easy games,” he added. “Pennington was such a hard game. If we play Hopewell or Notre Dame, or any team that comes up, it’s going to be a hard game. Everyone wants to beat us. It raises the level of our game more.”
The game could be an earlier showdown than expected of two of the top teams. It’s a matchup that neither can be too excited to see in the quarterfinals.
”I don’t know that much about the CVC,” Bertoli said. “I know Notre Dame had a tremendous team last year and has a good team again. I know they have a great goaltender, one of the best in the area. I think it’ll be a good game. It’ll be two good teams going at it. People said it should have been a semifinal. At the end of the day, you have to face each other either way. We look forward to the challenge.”
It’s a rare chance to continue a run at the county’s best teams. After all, going after the title was one big reason the Panthers wanted to get in the MCT.