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PRINCETON: Little Tigers return with win

Break helps PHS boys ice hockey heal and improve

By Bob Nuse, Sports Editor
   Very few teams would look at a three week break from game competition as a positive.
   But for the Princeton High boys ice hockey team, having three weeks off to get healthy and rested came just at the right time.
   ”I think it was a break we needed,” defenseman Patrick McCormick said after the Little Tigers returned from the hiatus with a 7-4 win over West Windsor-Plainsboro South on Friday. “It was a long break and we were a little rusty. But in the end we needed that break. Right before it we had three games right in a row and everyone was a little beat up.
   ”Our last three games we went 0-2-1 and we could have played better in those games. After that break we knew we had to really step it up. Playing like that was not going to be acceptable again.”
   Princeton was helped by the return of Matt DiTosto, who has missed the first six weeks of the season with an injury, He scored the Little Tigers’ first goal of the game and later added a pair of assists. For the first time all season, Princeton was playing with its full lineup.
   ”We’re finally back to full strength,” McCormick said. “We were losing guys right before the break started. This is our first game back off the break. We had several practices. We knew coming in it was a fresh start to the season. This is the second stage of the season starting up and we want to fight for the state tournament.”
   Having DiTosto back on the ice helped with overall team confidence. And having him score early was another lift for the Little Tigers.
   ”That was exactly what we needed,” McCormick said. “I’m sure he was nervous coming into the game. It’s his senior year and he has already missed half of it. But he came back with a positive attitude. All the players came back with positive attitudes. We were excited to play this game.”
   Gabe McGregor and Jack Andres scored two goals apiece, while Spencer Reynolds and Connor McCormick also scored goals as Princeton evened its record at 4-4-1. Brian Tso, Steve Cangelosi, Matt Sayde and Chris Clancy each scored for WW-P South, which fell to 4-5 on the season.
   ”It was good to get healthy and get some rest,” Princeton coach Tim Campbell said of the break.” We were on the ice. We had four or five practices in the last week which is a good thing. It was a nice break but it can be too much of a break.
   ”We’re a January-February team and I think it is important to come out in the first game after a long break and get a win and back to .500. Every win we get is going to be scratching and clawing.”
   DiTosto’s return should help the offense, while Patrick McCormick and Harrison Naylor continue to lead the defense. The defensive tandem is on the ice most of the game and has been solid all year.
   ”We play a majority of the game,” McCormick said. “We kind of rely on each other the whole time. There is sort of a connection we have. We also have Tim Pogulski and Nick Palmer. They work hard in practice and whenever we need them they step up. And sometimes Gabe drops back on defense when need it.”
   Now that they are back at full strength, the Little Tigers are hoping to put together a nice January-February run as they head into tournament time.
   ”We’re back to full strength and can run three lines if necessary,” Campbell said. “From a confidence standpoint, having a full squad and the leadership back is a big thing. DiTosto came out with something to prove. He got a full shift under his belt and got some of his confidence back.”
   Added McCormick: “We said before the game that losing this game was completely unacceptable. We had to win this game. Coach said we had to play like there was no tomorrow and I felt like we did play like that.”