With three games remaining, coach Drew Campbell’s Old Bridge High School ice hockey team is looking to finish strong and carry the momentum into the Greater Middlesex Conference (GMC) Tournament.
The Knights are 10-2-1 and have played well in the GMC, with their only conference loss coming against St. Joseph of Metuchen, 4-3. Old Bridge also forged a 5-5 tie with Monroe. In non-conference play, Old Bridge downed Hunterdon Central, 6-1, and fell to Marlboro, 5-1.
Campbell’s team has scored frequently this season, but the coach said the Knights are built around a solid defense led by net minder Dan Bergert that has posted five shutouts on the year.
Old Bridge boasts a veteran corps of defensemen led by Chris Bergert and Harry Kurth, a pair of four-year veterans who log the lion’s share of ice time on the blue line. Sophomore Dave Ferraro has been solid as well, and reserve goalie Justin Amato has done a good job between the pipes when called upon.
“Our teams have always been built around defense, and this team is no different,” the coach said. “We have very reliable defensemen, and we work very hard to play a positional game. We want to clog the neutral zone so we can take advantage of turnovers and capitalize when we force the other team into mistakes.”
Leading the offensive capitalization is senior Nick Ferraro, who tops the Knights with 18 goals. Line mate Mike Brusca has scored five times and added 10 assists, and junior Steven Weir, who rounds out the first line, has eight goals and eight assists to his credit.
The Knights have also benefited from an infusion of youth, enabling Campbell to put together a trio of freshmen. Jared Layer, Peter Kryczinski and Dan Kuykuyez have given Old Bridge a solid two-way line that has posted 15 goals between them.
Old Bridge has three games remaining before the GMC tourney, against conference foes Woodbridge, Monroe and South Brunswick. The Knights have also qualified for the NJSIAA Group A tournament.
“We think we can win the GMC and make a good showing in the state playoffs,” Campbell said. “This is an experienced team — we have nine seniors, and they’ve played in the tournaments before. They know it’s ‘one and done’ and that you have to play at a high level.”