Raiders win first two games under Biggs
By Bob Nuse, The Packet Group
Gary Biggs couldn’t ask for a much better start to his ice hockey coaching career.
Biggs, a former goaltender at Bridgewater-Raritan High and Youngstown State University, is in his first season as the head coach at Hillsborough High. The Raiders have helped their hew head coach get off to a nice start, opening the season with a 9-1 win over Edison and a 4-2 win over Hunterdon Central last weekend.
”It was good to start off with a win and then get another win in a conference game,” said Biggs, who takes over as head coach for Joe Bennett. “It is a lot more work than I think I anticipated. It is always on my mind. I am always preparing. Even when I am relaxing I am thinking about what I am going to do tomorrow at practice. I preach that to our guys — to be prepared. We want to be the most prepared team on the ice every game.”
The Raiders have certainly seemed prepared their first two games. While they have a new head coach, this year’s team does have a veteran presence with five seniors and six juniors on the roster. But there is also plenty of young talent with six sophomores and 10 freshmen.
”We have 10 freshmen, but we have a good core senior group,” said Biggs, who graduated from Bridgewater in 2007 and is very familiar with the teams and coaches in the Skyland Conference. “I told them by no means is this a rebuilding year and I fully expect to have a strong playoff run. Our senior class is very talented. They are our leaders and play a lot of minutes. They are essential to the team and we also have some strong freshmen to fill in the areas where we need them.”
The Raiders, who finished 12-11-2 a year ago, have strong leaders in the senior class. Forward Brad Bowers is the captain, while assistant captain Thomas Deane plays on the second line with a pair of freshmen. Senior assistant captain Alex Winza anchors the defense, while assistant captain Ryan Bolton is a key player on the power play. Kyle Domitrowski rounds out the senior class.
The junior class is comprised of Brian Ely, Steve Leoszewski, Eric Oeckinghaus, Ryan Oeckinghaus, Reid Siegrist and Tommy Wagner. The sophomores are Steve Alboum, Ed Dorsey, Beuk Forrest, Sean Ismaili, Michael McGrath and Tim Sweeney. The freshmen are Cristian Alfaro, Greg Bowers, Robbie Bryant, Matt Cappadano, Nick Cizin, Owen Deletsky, David Ely, Nick Monticchio, Marty Paro and Nick Volonnino.
Ryan Oeckinghaus scored two goals and added an assist against Edison in a game in which eight different players scored. Brad Bowers had two goals and two assists in the win over Hunterdon Central. Dean and Brian Ely also scored in the win over the Red Devils.
Biggs likes the look of his team so far and because he played so recently, knows what to expect from the other teams in the conference.
”It was only five years ago that I played so it was not that long,” Biggs said. “Coach (Patrick) Alvin is still at Bridgewater. Coach (Rob) Scarpa is still at Montgomery. A lot of the guys are the same.
”I have tried to take a little bit from everyone that I have played for as a coach. I don’t model myself after one person. My college coach gave me good advice and said don’t try to be anyone else, just be yourself. Coach Alvin at Bridgewater helped me every step along the way in the interview process. But once we get on the ice it is who is better that day.”
Biggs knows he is jumping right in and coaching against some of the best in the state when it comes to the Skyland Conference.
”It goes Mennen and then Skyland,” he said. “If we end up on top of Skyland Conference we’ll do well in states. We have Watchung Hills on Friday in a big conference game. We would like to get off to 2-0 start in the conference and then we have a big one against Bridgewater.”