By Bob Nuse, Sports Editor
One day made a big difference for the Montgomery High ice hockey team.
After falling to Watchung Hills, 5-0, in their opener on Monday night, the Cougars bounced back with a 5-1 win over Princeton on Tuesday night at Mercer County Park.
”I thought we played a good defensive game,” said first-year Montgomery coach Andy Gojdycz. “And offensively we broke through a couple doors today which was nice, especially from (Monday). We run four lines. I like to have four lines and with the playoff situation that is something we are going to need.”
The Cougars received goals from five different players in the win, as Robert Ducay, Brandon Szigeti, Minbae Lee, Cam Garinger and Ryan Irving all scored to back the goaltending of freshman Boris Garelenkov, who finished with 12 saves.
”We’re going to see what we can do this season,” said Garelenkov. “I am a freshman so I don’t know what the team was like last season. But I am guessing we’re going to be pretty good this season. They have been telling me about how I need to play well my first game. I was kind of nervous at the beginning. But then I was excited to be playing in my first game as a freshman.”
The Cougars took a large number of penalties but were able to play well on the penalty kill in order to keep the Little Tigers off the scoreboard until later in the third period.
”We’ve only played two games and two scrimmages,” Gojdycz said after the Princeton game. “So staying out of the box is one of our goals this early in the season. It has been a hindrance for us. But we do have some skill on our penalty kill so that has helped. Bur we can’t take too many penalties.”
Garelenkov, who plays for the Bridgewater Aeros AA team, is part of a three-goalie rotation and hopes to play a bigger roles for the Cougars this year.
”I am hoping to get to play some more,” he said. “I was just focused on my club team. Now I am excited about playing with the varsity team.”
Added Gojdycz: “I have three goalies and right now I am just getting to know them. We’ll see what happens on Thursday. Boris backed up last night. He picked up his first career win and played well.
”We’re used to the teams in our conference. I knew that Princeton was a talented club. But I have not been in the CVC in a while so I wasn’t sure what to expect.”
For Princeton, the non-league contest was a good chance to see where the team is heading into Colonial Valley Conference play.
”They jumped on us early and it took about half a period for us to get our wits about us,” Princeton coach Terence Miller said. “We slowly were trying to ease our way back into the game. We hit two or three posts and their goalie came up with a couple nice saves. We didn’t get on the board until late. We got on the board and they took a major (penalty) and we thought we had a chance to get back in the game. But I give their penalty kill a lot of credit. They got at least one shorthanded goal and I thought they just outworked us.”
John Reid scored the only goal of the game for the Little Tigers, who were scheduled to face Nottingham on Thursday.
”They are a good Skyland Conference team,” Miller said. “I didn’t think 5-1 was really indicative. Their goalie seemed to make some nice saves. He kept us out until late. I give Montgomery the credit. We just got outskated tonight.”
