DeMarco helps MHS hockey into state semifinals
By Justin Feil, Assistant Sports Editor
Mike DeMarco played a key role in earning the Montgomery High School ice hockey team the rematch it wanted.
The Cougar senior’s shot was redirected in by Chris Sparno for a 4-3 overtime win over No. 7 Montclair in Sunday’s public A division semifinals. Tom Hackett’s third-period goal with less than four minutes to play forced the extra time.
”It was definitely a game of emotion,” DeMarco said. “We were up, 2-0, and we got a little too lackadaisical. When they scored their third goal, I think my heart my just sank. It was a great comeback win.”
With the win, DeMarco and the second-seeded Cougars advance to face third-seeded Randolph on Saturday in the semifinals at Mennen Arena. Randolph ended MHS’ season in the championship game in 2006 and last year in the quarterfinals.
”For me especially, me and another senior (Steve Papsin), we were the only two freshmen to go four years ago,” DeMarco said. “It’s a big game for us. It’s special for us. Beating them will be great.”
To get to the rematch wasn’t easy for a Cougars team that was the faster and more skilled of Sunday’s pairing. Montclair tried to keep MHS trapped at center ice to nullify the speed.
”Their game plan was to stay close,” said MHS head coach Rob Scarpa after seeing his team improved to 21-5-2. “We were all over them offensively, but we didn’t finish. They took advantage of what we gave them. Eventually, our kids figured out our defense had to skate.”
DeMarco, paired on defense with Tripp Garringer, was happy to help. The former forward who made the transition last year, helped all over the ice Sunday. He made sure that the Cougars at least go to overtime by helping to kill off a final Montclair power play in the final minute of regulation. The penalty carried into overtime, but once it was broken it didn’t take long for the Cougars to end the game.
”I was confident we’d go down and score if we could kill that penalty,” Scarpa said. “Once we were back in the zone, I felt we were going to score. We had some really good chances. They had their chance to finish us off and weren’t able to.”
Said DeMarco: “We had a lot of good opportunities to score but their goalie made some good stops. We were happy to get that last shot to win.”
DeMarco took a pass back from Jeff Garringer, who along with Papsin scored first-period goals, and fired it on net where Sparno got a piece of it to deflect it perfectly in for the winner.
”When I shot it, I didn’t really see where it went,” DeMarco said. “I just saw the ref’s hand pointing to the net and started skating toward our goalie.
”We knew we had to move the puck well with them,” he added. “We knew we had to get it to the point or the side and get a shot in and look for a tip in. Jeff had a great pass. I was wide open at the blue line. Sparno got a nice piece of it.”
Sparno’s game-winner gave the Cougars their eighth victory in their last nine games. Their only loss came against top-seeded Ridge, a 10-0 winner over eighth-seeded West Windsor-Plainsboro North on Sunday. The Cougars pulled a step closer to a third meeting with Ridge, but first they must go through what’s become an almost annual playoff opponent in Randolph.
”We knew we had a great team at the beginning of the season,” DeMarco said. “I wanted to expect to be here. I’d like to think I saw this coming.”
DeMarco does his part to alleviate any pressure on MHS. A team captain, he keeps things “loose and fast.” When it’s time to play, however, he’s proven he can do that with the best of them.
”He can move the puck,” Scarpa said. “He can skate. He’s quick. He has pretty quick hands. He’s what a first-line defenseman should be. He’s with Tripp, and those two are clowns together. The kid loves hockey. He’s a three-season hockey player.
”He switched over to D at the beginning of last year. He had a little adjustment period, but by the end of the season, he became one of the top two. He stepped up and has improved every year in the program.”
When the Cougars needed a lift into the state semifinals, DeMarco was happy to help.
”Defense has no glory for our team,” he said. “Today we did. And Tom had the third goal. There was a lot of offensive defense.”
Enough to make sure that the Cougars will be facing Randolph again in the state tournament. It’s just what Mike DeMarco wanted, and this time Montgomery is the higher seed.
”Any big game like this, you have to show up,” he said. “It should mean something since they’ve beaten us in the past. Everyone should come ready to play.”

