Panther boys off to promising start
By Justin Feil, Assistant Sports Editor
Out from the shadow of several Princeton Day School boys ice hockey veterans, Connor Fletcher has stepped forward for a young Panthers squad.
The junior forward returns as the top player for a PDS team that has lost 18 players in the last two years that helped to build up the program.
”Obviously, the last couple years, I’ve been a younger guy and looked up to the older guys,” Fletcher said. “I want to make sure I’m being a good leader and make sure they have the same experience I did in that situation.”
So far, there can’t be any complaints about the leadership and grit that the PDS squad has gotten in the face of a daunting schedule. The Panthers are 1-2-3 after tying what is considered by some the top program in the state this year, Don Bosco Prep, 2-2, Tuesday.
”Playing teams like Bishop Eustace and Shady Side has helped the young guys on the team realize they’re not that much better than everyone thinks,” Fletcher said. “They can play with them. They can let loose and play the game they’re capable of. We have a lot of young guys on team. Once they get rid of their jitters they’ll be effective players on the team.”
Fletcher is a veteran that the younger Panthers can lean on as they get up to speed at the varsity level. Fletcher made a big jump last year, going from scoring three goals with three assists as a freshman to nine goals and 15 assists last year.
”When I was younger we had a lot of the older guys and a lot of skilled guys,” Fletcher said. “There wasn’t as much responsibility on my shoulders. Now going to games, there’s a little more pressure, having to be role model and making sure they’re giving the effort they need to. We don’t have as deep a team as we’ve had in past years. With the numbers we have, though, we should be able to be the successful team we’ve been in the last couple years.”
Fletcher’s second goal of the season tied Don Bosco in the first period 20 seconds after the Panthers had fallen behind. PDS took a 2-1 lead on freshman Ryan Lisk’s first varsity goal and maintained it until 12.5 seconds remained in the game when Don Bosco netted a power-play goal with their goalie pulled as well for the tying goal. It was only the second shot that got by returning goalie Logan Kramsky, who made 43 saves in the tie.
”As a coach, you would hope to maximize the potential of this group,” said Panthers head coach Scott Bertoli. “It’s a work in progress. It’s a pretty talented group. As they get more familiar with what we’re asking them do, I’m hoping we’ll be better each time out and be a better group in January and February.
”We need to be. The teams on our schedule are going to get better. For the most part, they’re older, more experienced groups. I think they’ll be ready. They showed us a lot on Saturday against a very good Shady Side team.”
PDS finished second in its Harry Rulon-Miller Invitational. They outskated Rye, 5-2, last Friday in the invitational opener with a huge third period. Will Wright scored off an assist from Gianluca Travia, and Travia made it 2-1 going into the third period with assists from Fletcher and Kyle Weller. In the third period, Rye scored once, but the Panthers got goals from Keith Asplundh, Nic Petruolo and Chris Helmlinger with assists from Will Garrymore, Weller, Russell Friedman and Wright for the win.
Princeton Day had a goal in each period against Shady Side Academy in the final Saturday. Fletcher scored a power play goal in the first period with helpers from Weller and Asplundh. Fletcher assisted Asplundh’s second-period goal and Harrison Latham scored in the third period with assists from Jack Mascali and Wright. The tournament followed ties with St. Augustine Prep and Bishop Eustace Prep.
”I feel a lot of the guys, like Nic Petruolo and Keith Asplundh, they’re stepping in and scoring goals,” said Fletcher, who lives in Newtown, Pa. “We knew it would be a rocky start, with the first time they’re playing together. We thought tying Bishop Eustace, we played our game and let everything go. It’s promising this season.
”I feel like these first couple games have been a measure of how well we can play,” he said. “They can be a confidence booster. We have been given a bit of a confidence boost with how well we’ve produced in these top games.”
PDS has looked to its veterans early. Fletcher, Weller and Garrymore have been in the program for years and are introducing the newcomers to the staples of the program.
”Connor, he’s one of the older kids and he’s got as much experience as anyone on this team,” Bertoli said. “He’s been here through arguably our two most successful years. He knows the expectations. He takes tremendous pride and values the traditions we have. The kid is relentless. He gets more out of himself than anyone. He’s an athlete with an extremely high compete level. That’s what you want out of a captain. That’s the way you have to play the game and the way you want to carry yourself. He does everything you ask.”
Fletcher is paired on the first line with Weller, and Bertoli has mixed in Tyler Coffey or Asplundh. Fletcher is comfortable with his teammates.
”Me and Weller have played since we were nine or 10 years old,” said Fletcher, who had played club hockey until stepping away from it to focus on lacrosse last year. “We’ve been able to play together for a while. Scott is trying to find what works best. Tyler Coffey and Asplundh, they’ve both been able to produce. I’m more than happy to play with both of those guys. It’s how can we strengthen the second and third line. We have the potential to be a three-line strong team.”
The Panthers need to stay as fresh as possible. With so much youth on their team, they are giving up size to almost every opponent they face.
”We’re young,” Bertoli said. “There’s an inherit level of physical characteristics that just aren’t there. Until they grow and mature, that will be an area of concern. I don’t expect that to change in the next month or two. Getting in the weight room will help. I worry for their safety at times with giving up five or six inches and 40, 50, 60 pounds, but they know how to play.
”Kids play at every level of the game and the size difference is substantial. This year, we just have a greater number of younger, undersized kids. They recognize it and want to put themselves out there and do the best they can. I hope we can continue to get some good results so they can feel good about themselves.”
Fletcher has grown into his role, and he expects to see his younger teammates handle the challenges as well.
”They’re going to be a little smaller than older guys,” Fletcher said. “Through playing smart hockey we’ve been able to overcome that barrier of being held back by weight and size. Playing the way we know we can be successful and what Scott tells us is going to help us overcome that.
”Right now, our biggest problem is the younger guys knowing the system and where to go and what to do when it happens, reacting and not thinking,” he added. “I think we’ll be a lot better when that comes in. We have the talent to do it. We just have to focus that in.”
Despite some shortcomings in the midst of building their chemistry, the Panthers have been in every game thus far. They nearly knocked off both Don Bosco and Shady Side. Playing in their own rink in their invitational, the Panthers found a way to generate momentum in the third period and with two minutes left had a power play that could have forced overtime.
”We swung momentum back in our favor,” Bertoli said. “It was nice to see fight in them. They’re a pretty resilient team.”
The Panthers have already seen rapid growth from their team. Their season started with a 7-4 loss to St. Joseph’s Prep. PDS made young mistakes and gave up too many easy goals. But they grew up quickly with a strong showing the next day against Bishop Eustace.
”I felt like there was a lot of progress in just one day,” Fletcher said. “That was a huge step in achieving our goals.”
Bertoli foresees more growth as his younger players grow accustomed to the level of play and their linemates and roles.
”At times the puck looks like hot potato and they can’t get rid of it fast enough,” Bertoli said. “Then 10 minutes later, it goes away and they perform and do things we’ve worked on since mid-November. As they gain experience and gain confidence, they’re going to do more of that. They’ll only do that by putting themselves in game situations where they’re getting the exposure and getting to play against bigger and older players. You leave behind those timid tendencies early on. I think we’ll be better for it.”
Bertoli continues to preach that process and not results. With continued development, the Panthers hope to have themselves in position to compete for the state championship by season’s end.
”There’s no let-up in our schedule,” Bertoli said. “It’s on us to get better and accept challenges and be ready for them.”
The Panthers wouldn’t have it any other way. It might be easier on their egos to take on easier teams, but there just aren’t any on the schedule this year.
”I feel like getting able to play these tough teams now, it helps us get closer to our goal at the end of the season,” Fletcher said. “Even if we win or lose, it helps us found our way. I feel like these games help us in achieving our goals and getting to know how to play with each other. These games help us more than playing a blowout game against whomever.”