Timmons keeps standards high
By Justin Feil, Assistant Sports Editor
Sean Timmons is anxious to carry on the winning tradition that he has seen in his last two seasons with the Princeton Day School boys ice hockey team.
The senior captain is happy to see the new-look Panthers have picked up where they left off from last year’s 21-3-1 season. PDS topped Rye Country Day, 6-4, Friday night and shut out Moses Brown School, 4-0, Saturday to capture its own Harry Rulon-Miller Invitational Tournament at Lisa McGraw Rink.
”It’s definitely a big deal throughout the school since it’s our tournament,” Timmons said. “It means a lot to our school and Harry. It’s a big deal. Winning it the last two years, we wanted to make sure we won it our senior year as well.”
While both games in the tournament were wins, the Panthers were far happier with the way that they played in the title game. Against Rye on Friday, PDS found itself trapped in a sloppy style of play while Saturday they were clicking on all cylinders at both ends of the ice.
”Friday night, we got kind of caught up,” said PDS head coach Scott Bertoli. “We were giving up odd man rushes and breakaways. It was back and forth and very undisciplined.
”You want to see your kids go out and execute the game plan you’ve been working on. I thought we did that to a T on Saturday without our best all-around forward, Kyle Weller. We eliminated their odd-man rushes. We were pretty disciplined. They only had two or three power plays. Friday we had to kill six or seven power plays.”
Weller opened the scoring Friday against Rye, and after Rye tied it, Timmons fired a wrist shot in for a short-lived 2-1 lead. Rye had it tied, 2-2, going into the second period when PDS scored four times. Connor Bitterman and Weller scored goals and Andrew Clayton had a pair of much needed insurance goals. Colin Burgess made 23 saves.
”We definitely didn’t play to our full potential on Friday,” said Timmons, who had a pair of assists along with his goal. “I think we played to our full potential Saturday. We played a full team game and everyone chipped in.
”It just has taken a couple games to feel everyone out and see what this team can be. When everyone is working on the same page and thinking the same, we can beat anyone.”
The Panthers had seen signs of that ability in the preseason in a dominant 4-1 scrimmage win over highly regarded Morristown-Beard. It surfaced again against Moses Brown.
”We played great,” Bertoli said. “It was shocking that we could turn it around as quick as we did. Winning Friday night was the result of us being more talented than they were. I was obviously concerned going into Saturday. It was less than 24 hours later, and we had to make some adjustments and get back to what we’ve been working on the last three weeks. They did for whatever reason. I’m sure it has to do with these guys taking a lot of pride in what they’ve been doing because if we played the way did Friday, we’d have had a hard time doing well Saturday.”
Lewie Blackburn scored off an assist by John Egner to give PDS a 1-0 lead at the end of the first period. Blackburn added his second of the game after Will Wright scored back-to-back goals to open the second period. Wright was playing center in place of Weller on the top line with Bitterman and Timmons.
”Bert definitely holds us to a high standard and expects us to go out and score,” Timmons said. “Connor is probably the fastest kid on the ice against any team. Kyle is a very skilled and lethal weapon. Both are two-way players. We hold ourselves to high standards. Will Wright moved up and he scored his first two goals. That was a huge game for him. He played great and he filled that position perfectly.”
On the back end, the defense led by Clayton and C.J. Young kept Moses Brown away from dangerous chances. PDS goalie Logan Kramsky faced just 18 shots and stopped them all. The freshman has allowed just one goal in two starts, and helped to alleviate a big concern after the graduation of three-year starter Connor Walker. Kramsky, Burgess and Mark Ananrumo, a back-up last year who is coming back from injury, are in the hunt to replace him.
”All three of them are pretty young and skilled individuals in the net,” Timmons said. “They don’t have as much experience in the varsity games. We definitely have to work with them and be very supportive of who’s playing. Depending on what day it is, they’re all capable of doing it. It depends who’s hot and who’s doing well. We just have to be supportive.”
With four of last year’s top five scorers — including Ross Colton, who transferred to Taft School — gone, the Panthers aren’t expecting to be as explosive offensively, but they still believe they can be a very good team.
”Everyone is saying how good we were last year and if we would be as good this year,” Timmons said. “We don’t have the same team or roster, but we definitely have the same goals and expectations and hold ourselves to the same standard we did last year.”
Timmons is helping to pus that standard. He is captain this year, and is trying to set the example for how PDS will have to play this year.
”It’s definitely a huge honor to be captain of such a storied program,” he said. “Being here the past four years, the captains have been real responsible and the program has grown. I want to keep that going and keep our program moving in the same direction. It’s definitely an honor and privilege to be named a captain of this team.”
Timmons used the offseason to get stronger and faster. He would like to play hockey in college next year.
”He had a great year last year,” Bertoli said. “Sometimes his name got lost in the shuffle with a guy like Ross Colton, and he’s a go-to guy. He’s a captain for a reason. I think he’s gotten quicker, and a little more of an edge to his game. As a captain and leader, I expect that. He can shoot the puck. He has an unbelievable release. He scored a nice goal Friday that shifted the momentum. I expect his line to be a dominant line. They have the ability to do that.”
For the first time in his career, Timmons is playing the left wing. Early in the preseason, he found himself lining up as a right wing for faceoffs, but he has adjusted to his new spot and his new role.
Said Timmons: “There’s definitely a little bit of pressure on me. The C is on my jersey and everyone is looking up to me. Be the hardest working player on the ice, that’s the best thing you can do. Sometimes your hands aren’t working or if the puck isn’t bouncing your way. If you’re the hardest working player on the ice, that’s almost like a contagious thing. I try to work my hardest so everyone else will. I know everyone else is working their hardest, but it’s like a reminder.”
There are new roles and new faces throughout the Panthers. They have shown early that they can play at a high level. Today they take on rival Hun, coached by Ian McNally, Timmons’ club team coach.
”Ian knows what he’s doing,” Bertoli said. “He’s got some good kids in there. He’s got some good freshman, some good kids in the Mid-Atlantic district. They’re going to make an impact on the game. He returns quite a few kids. He’s got a good kid in net.
”I expect it to be a good game. If we don’t show up to play and if we give the wrong guys some odd-man situations and are undisciplined, we’re going to have some problems. It’s a natural rivalry in whatever sport we play. I expect it to be a great game.”
PDS wants to show that it can consistently play at the high level it did Saturday and against Mo-Beard in the preseason. The Panthers know that they will have to as they close the month at the Barber Tournament with some of the top schools in New England. Last year’s third-place finish was indicative of their level.
”That’s definitely the best competition of the year when we go up to the Barber tournament and play those big boarding schools,” Timmons said. “We want to refine some small things as a team so when we go up there we’re playing our best hockey and we’re able to compete and come out on top. Ultimately, that’s what we want to do every time we put on our uniform is to get a win. We look to improve each and every game.”
The Panthers have set a high standard with their success the last two seasons. They are hoping it will continue this year with a new group.
”It could have been a negative effect had we not gotten off to a good start and gotten some results,” Bertoli said. “The results, the wins, are important to the kids. The coaches, we want them to play well and maximize their potential and get better. For them, it was important for them to win games and get off to a good start. The kids returning, they’re used to winning.
”It’s a different group this year. We’ll find our identity. I don’t think we’ll blow teams out, but we can be a good team. I don’t know if it’ll be a really good team. That remains to be seen. The guys from last year, they expect to go out and win every time out. Good for them for managing that so far.”

