Monroe Township High School shot off to a 7-1-1 start to the ice hockey season.
The offense was the catalyst behind that hot start for Monroe, scoring more than seven goals per game.
A host of players were contributing, too. Gleb Veremyev and Samuel Fishteyn combined for more than 70 points. Four other players, Jacob Bailey, Vincent Foresta, Matthew Skobelev and Anthony Zito, all registered double digit points as well.
The Falcons looked ready to make another run at the Greater Middlesex Conference Cup and in the NJSIAA Public A tournament. Monroe won the GMC Cup, 3-1, over Colonia High School last year. It also reached the state quarterfinals, falling to Hunterdon Central Regional High School, 5-2.
But lately this winter, the Falcons have cooled off, losing three straight games. On Jan. 4 at the Jersey Shore Arena in Wall, Monroe lost to South Brunswick High School, 4-2, allowing a hat trick to Justin Guelph.
The Falcons have allowed 19 goals in their last three games. They are still playing good on offense. But the players think they need to focus more on defense in practice.
“Our performance was pretty good but we definitely can play better,” Foresta said.
“We need to work on a few things defensively,” said Monroe sophomore Zachary Orefice. “They scored three goals today on chip plays off the boards. We have to back check harder and pick up our guys.”
Foresta and Orefice both scored in Monroe’s loss to South Brunswick. Veremyev and Max Tucker assisted on the goals. It was another solid, balanced offensive performance.
But Foresta and Orefice think the Falcons can improve on that end of the ice, too. South Brunswick controlled the tempo on Jan. 4 because it kept the puck away from Monroe.
When the Falcons did get the puck, they tried long, ambitious passes. The passes worked a lot, but they also left the Falcons vulnerable to turnovers.
“We need to work on moving side to side,” Foresta said. “We need to learn to cycle a bit more.”
“If we make more short passes, I feel like we could score even more goals, and get even more offense going,” Orefice said.
The players still believe their ceiling is high for this winter.
“I definitely think we could go far in states. We should be a big factor. I also feel like we’ll do very well in GMCs,” Foresta said. “There are only a handful of teams that have as much skill as us. We could really be good this year.”
The positive attitude is shared.
“I think we could definitely go far,” Orefice said. “Definitely in GMCs, definitely in states. As long as everyone stays together and healthy. It’s been a pretty good season so far.”