Team united by Hildebrand
By Justin Feil, The Packet Group
Eric Hildebrand credited the Robbinsville High School ice hockey team’s bond with producing the best season in program history last year.
The bond has picked up where it left off last season as the Ravens have come together to support their senior captain, whose father was in a difficult battle with cancer as Robbinsville opened the season Monday with a 6-3 win over Brick Memorial.
”The boys rallied around him,” said Robbinsville head coach Dan Bergan. “We dedicated this game to Mr. Steve Hildebrand. The boys rallied around him just incredibly. It was just a terrific job.”
Hildebrand had two goals and two assists, huge points for the Ravens, who skated away from a strong challenge. It’s the sort of challenge that his father has been battling off and on now for three years.
”He’s been a real strong supporter of the team,” said Bergan of the elder Hildebrand. “When I go to the preseason and talk to the parents about how we’re supposed to act, I say, everyone be like Steve. He’s classy. He’s quiet. He’s supportive. Their other son is a lacrosse player. He never interferes. He’s a great resource when you ask. He’s a classy guy. It’s one of the best families I know.”
Sadly, Steve Hildebrand lost his courageous battle with cancer on Tuesday night. Before the game began Monday, the Robbinsville huddle saluted the father of their leader, nicknamed “Hildy.” It was a touching tribute from a team that consists of 14 Robbinsville High School students and nine Allentown High School students. The Ravens gave a final cheer of “1-2-3-Hildy,” before they took the ice for another promising season. After the game, Hildebrand received a game puck.
”We wanted so badly to let the kid have a couple hours of escape,” Bergan said. “The boys rallied around him and he had a great game too. It was emotional in the locker room before and after the game.”
Cole Sousa scored the first goal of the year for the Ravens off assists from Scott Kurzeja and Keith Allen. Brick answered, but Rich Francis scored with helpers from Sousa and Kurzeja and Hildebrand scored twice in the second period, once off an assist from Dan Cox. Coleman Anker scored both third-period goals, with Hildebrand having an assist on both goals and Cox and Francis also credited with assists.
”They played beautiful team hockey,” Bergan said. “It was textbook systems play, disciplined, unselfish. I couldn’t be more proud of the kid and the team as well.”
The Ravens have 14 players from Robbinsville High and nine from Allentown High. They have come together quickly in support of Hildebrand, and their cohesion could help carry them to another big season.
Last year, the Ravens set the bar high with a 20-6-1 season and their second straight Colonial Division championship in the Colonial Valley Conference. They also advanced to their first Mercer County Tournament final and won two rounds in the state tournament before taking defending state champion Randolph into overtime. Robbinsville must replace a pair of former CVC Players of the Year in forward Logan Fredericks, who scored 42 goals, and goalie Kellen Anker. The offense will come as the players work more with each other, and it was Joey Nolan who drew the start in goal against Brick from among four candidates. The sophomore made 15 saves.
”We have four of them we’re working on,” Bergan said. “It’s going to be quite an interesting development. All four are developing nicely. It’s the first high school game this kid played. It’ll take some time to ramp them up and see who emerges. They’re way ahead of where they should be, but a long way to go until being championship caliber. Joey Nolan got the start and did a nice job. He made the stops when he had to.”
Alex Sherman is another sophomore candidate in goal and freshmen Nick Koch and Kyle Perez have impressed Bergan since he saw them in the summer.
”Nobody has had more than 18 months experience in net with only a total of one high school game experience between the four of them,” Bergan said. “So this will be a huge challenge to get them up to speed.”
Fortunately, there is plenty of experience in front of them.
”We’re top-heavy,” Bergan said. “We have eight senior forwards. We have a nice team of forwards and D-men out in front of them. The only thing we’re missing is experienced goaltenders.”
The offense begins with Hildebrand, a five-tool player who scored 31 goals a year ago. Anker is a senior who missed the state tournament last year due to injury and brings great hands and a big body to the ice. Cox, another captain, is being counted on for his marksmanship to finish opportunities. Rich Francis and Sousa are seniors who set a hardworking example to younger players. They are some of the best forecheckers on the team, and both are capable of scoring. Matt Reed is an improving senior and Dom Rubino is expected to contribute more offensively this year.
John Francis, a sophomore, enjoyed a great debut season last year and will center the second line. Junior Anthony Pluchino’s versatility makes him a vital part of the team. He can play forward and fill in capably on defense if needed as well. Matt Kalcynski is developing his game up front.
Shawn Camisa and Mike Carlin are freshmen who come in with experience and add quality depth and allow the Ravens to use a strong third line. Aidan Fredericks could help provide offense as well.
Defensively, the Ravens have three of the top blue liners in the CVC. Bergan calls Keith Allen “a great puckmover and decision-maker and could be one of the best in the CVC.” Kurzeja is a senior who has played forward, and will use his size and speed at his more natural defensive position this season. Jimmy Kenna is a junior who has improved greatly and should contribute considerably. John Martin saw time as a freshman and gives Robbinsville another strong defender. Ben Solomon is building on last year’s experience that he gained and junior Kevin Cifelli is picking up the skills quickly in his first year with the Ravens. The defense should be a strength for the Ravens, who will be tested mightily in their non-conference schedule on top of the usual CVC challenges.
”We’ve got a good group of D and forwards,” Bergan said. “We’ve scheduled incredibly difficult teams like Bridgewater, Chatham, Livingston, teams that were in the (state) semifinals or won championships. The hope is to be battle tested and by the end of the year the goalies are at another level and ready to compete.”
Bergan is excited about his eighth season behind the bench. The pieces are in place for another big year with a team that is pulling together already.
”Overall,” Bergan said, “if we stay healthy, this season could be nearly as strong as the past campaign. We will need to play a highly defensive game that protects our young goalies as they develop. By year’s end, we expect them to be up to speed, although we could be a little inconsistent early on as they get game experience under their belts.”

