Garinger grew into MHS standout
By Justin Feil, Assistant Sports Editor
Tripp Garinger was a sophomore when he first played for the Montgomery High School ice hockey team.
Making the jump to the varsity was a big step for him two years ago.
”He was a little timid,” said MHS head coach Rob Scarpa. “He was feeling his way out. He was our fourth defenseman. He struggled with confidence. Each year, he progressed pretty well and by the time he was a senior he was front-line player and everyone knew when he was on the ice.”
Garinger teamed with MHS captain Mike DeMarco to form an unbeatable 1-2 tandem on defense. Both were senior leaders in their own way, and Garinger provided a steadying influence.
”His personality and poise in the locker room helped a lot,” Scarpa said. “Kids looked up to him. He worked really hard. He did it in a way where he was able to relax others.”
The Cougars didn’t have a wealth of seniors, but Garinger was one who came up biggest when they needed it most. He had two assists in the Cougars’ 4-3 win over Gloucester Catholic to get to the McInnis Cup championship. It was Gloucester’s first loss of the season, their first in 21 games and they were the final unbeaten in the state. They had beaten MHS twice earlier in the season. He had an assist in the championship loss to Ridge, and he scored the only goal in a 2-1 overtime loss to Randolph in state semifinals.
”In the little games, the forwards could take it up and score,” Scarpa said. “In the big games, when you have to run an offense, we’d run plays for him and he’d get the shot off. We’ll miss him next year.”
Garinger scored five goals and had 16 assists, many from the point on his trademark low screamers from the point. And despite playing more than half of every game, he had just 12 penalty minutes while helping to fortify a defense in front of a new starting goalie, Dylan Dineen. Garinger helped the Cougars reach the public state semifinals where they lost to the eventual state champion and the McInnis Cup final for the Central Red Division where they lost to the state runner-up. MHS finished 21-6-2.
”When you’re a freshman and underclassmen, I never realized this is your last few years of hockey unless you’re a standout,” he said. “My senior year, I didn’t want to take that for granted. I wanted to make the best of it. I knew it was going to be my last year.”
Tripp Garinger is the Princeton Packet Ice Hockey Player of the Year.
”Our coach told us after we lost to Randolph our preseason rank was 37 and we ended up ranked No. 2,” Garinger said. “I thought we’d have a tough year with only five seniors. We stepped up and led well and made a good run in the state playoffs.”
Garinger had hoped it would go one step further. His goal in the third period against Randolph tied the state semifinals.
”When I scored that goal,” he said, “I definitely thought we had a legitimate chance to make it to the state final. I didn’t foresee the goal being the one we gave up on a shot they banked in off our goalie. When I scored that goal, I thought it was the game changer. We started to get some chances.”
Garinger was all about giving MHS chances. It was his role, whether it was even strength or a power play. The Cougars went to a new power play in part to take advantage of his skills.
”Our coach got it from the Boston University power play,” Garinger said. “I was at the top of the blue line running the power play with Mike DeMarco. I would shoot it or pass it over to Matt Fox. It was a big role leading the power play. It was a lot of responsibility, but I enjoyed having it.
”It seemed like whenever I did shoot a puck on net, it looked like it’d be able to go in. If they hit it, I’d get assist. I saw a direct correlation. I would shoot the puck at the net, and let (Will) Irving or Fox or one of the guys tip it in. I’d just shoot it low and let them get the rebound. That’s kind of what I wanted to do throughout my high school career — shoot it low so the forwards had a chance for a rebound.”
Scarpa found it to be a role perfectly suited for Garinger. He brought offense with his defense.
”He was the focus on our power play,” Scarpa said. “He has a good shot on the power play. He was able to hold the puck in to keep the power play going, and he’s very difficult to beat one on one.
”He scored a decent amount and he got a lot of assists from Will Irving. He was smart with his shot. He put it on net like we asked him. At the end of the year, in the big games, he was one of the guys that had an assist or goal in every game.”
Garinger’s play this season was another step up from when he began skating for the Cougars. While he also plays lacrosse, and hopes to do so at Siena College next year, he hasn’t completely ruled out walking on the hockey team.
”Junior year, I started to develop a little more,” Garinger said. “I got hit a lot of times. I was on my butt a lot. I was injured a few games. This year, people told me in the offseason to work on your hands and get better foot speed and be more aware of the players. I tried to have fun and I used what all the people told me to do to the best of my abilities and went out and played hockey. I definitely had a lot more confidence this year.”
It showed as one of the handful of seniors to lead MHS to one of its most impressive seasons yet. Garinger’s class leaves the bar high again for next year’s Cougars.
”We had great leadership,” Scarpa said. “For a class that came in without a lot of regard, most of them didn’t make an impact until late in their careers, but once they got the confidence and felt they could contribute, they did a great job.”

