By Justin Feil, The Packet Group
There was a time not so long ago when a Robbinsville-Randolph ice hockey matchup would have been a laugher.
No one, particularly not Randolph, was laughing and everyone was asking about the Ravens after they pushed the two-time defending champions to the brink of elimination before falling, 3-2, on a controversial goal in overtime in the quarterfinals of the state tournament.
Randolph would go on to win a third straight state title with a win over Bridgewater.
”Randolph was a two-time state champion, and we’re a seven-year program and we’ve barely been in the states,” said Robbinsville senior goalie Kellen Anker, who made 43 saves. “We gave them a heck of a run.”
The Randolph game-winner came with the goal knocked off its moorings as the puck went in during a scrum in front of the net, but even in ending their season painfully, Robbinsville took another step forward.
”At the game,” said Ravens head coach Dan Bergan, “people were asking our fans, ‘Who is Robbinsville? Where is Robbinsville?’ I think that game put us on the map.”
For the first time in program history, the Ravens advanced past the first round of the Public A state tournament. Robbinsville went 13-1 in the Colonial Valley Conference, losing only to Notre Dame in the CVC regular season and then again to the Irish in the Mercer County Tournament final. The Ravens closed the year with a program record for wins in a 20-6-1 season. They upset Roxbury, 4-3, in overtime on a goal by Chris Deck after Logan Fredericks provided the first three goals in the state second round.
”We couldn’t have expected to get as far as we did,” said Anker, who made 32 saves in th win over Roxbury. “We broke through everyone’s expectations, including our own. We were hoping we could, and this would be our year to win the second game of states. It was a close game and a hard fought battle.”
Robbinsville put Randolph in its first hole of the state tournament early in the third period when Keith Allen scored from the point for a 2-1 lead. Zack Bryan deflected in Robbinsville’s first goal of the game to tie it, 1-1, with 16 seconds left in the first period off a shot from Fredericks.
”In between periods, we felt better,” Anker said. “We were tied, 1-1, after one and I was thinking, this team isn’t that scary. After three, we were tied, and we thought we have a chance against the two-time state champions. In the back of our minds, we were thinking we can do this.
”It was tough. It was a tough loss because so close. We have nothing to regret because put together a solid game and gave them all we could.”
The Ravens had hoped to get the game into a shootout and ride the experience and skills of Anker, who has been a staple in the program for four years.
”If we last eight more minutes,” Bergan said, “I like our chances in a shootout with Kellen Anker.”
Anker would have enjoyed the chance to help push his team to a state semifinal date. He was happy to see the way the program jumped.
”The whole four years, we’ve been getting progressively better and better,” Anker said. “Freshman year, we didn’t win a state game. Sophomore year, we got blown out. Last year, we won our first game. Our record has improved every year.”
The Ravens improved five games over last year’s 15-9 season, even though their schedule also improved. Four of their losses are to state semifinalists Chatham, Livingston, Bridgewater-Raritan and Randolph.
”We played more as a unit this year,” Anker said. “Last year was a lot of people trying to pad their stats. It was more of individual thing, not that we weren’t playing as a team. This year our coach, Dan Bergan, built into our heads that if we wanted to do something this was the year. We had two solid lines and a good goalie and two solid defensemen and the addition of John Martin, a freshman. All the pieces fell together. We realized the potential we had and didn’t let it go to waste.”
Anker had his best year. His save percentage went from .929 to .939 this season. He leaves big shoes to fill, along with a senior crew that includes Bryan, Deck and Fredericks.
”We’re losing considerable talent right across the board,” Bergan said, “but we do every year.”
Anker has seen good players come and go through his years, and each year the Ravens have returned better and better. He knows that will be tough next year.
”They’re going to have to bear down and try hard every day and practice and put in the blood, sweat and tears that we did this year, the same work ethic we did this year,” said Anker, whose brother Coleman will be a senior next year. “They have to listen to whatever ol’ Dan Bergan says. He’s proven his worth after building this program up from nothing. He’s made a name for himself in New Jersey.”
As for Anker, he may continue to play at the club level in college if it is the right fit and there is a receptive coach. In the meantime, the returning Ravens will try to start to build on the success of this season and the standards set by an eye-opening finish.
”I think it’s huge,” Bergan said. “It puts Robbinsville on the map. There we are at the Mecca of New Jersey high school hockey, Mennan Arena, and we’re taking the two-time defending state champions to overtime.”
Said Anker: “In the long term, this year did help our school’s reputation.”

