Assessing the local landscape as regular season winds down
As the regular season enters its final stages, it appears the Colonial Valley Conference has Robbinsville/ Allentown in a good spot to claim the Colonial Division, while Paul VI/Camden Catholic and the Hamilton Tri-op are on a course to share the Valley Division title.
Over in the Gordon Conference, Princeton Day has some tough ones down the stretch to qualify for the Cup.
Hun is sitting in fourth place in the Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference and has some big league games coming up, too.
It has been an up and down year for Pennington and it will be looking to make some noise in the Independent Hockey League playoffs.
Hun Looking to Finish Strong
The Raiders went through a rough stretch losing five-of-six and then bounced back with two nice wins. They head into this week with La Salle and St. Joe’s Prep, looking to snap a two-game skid.
“If anything, it’s just a very competitive schedule right now across the board,” said Ian McNally, the Hun coach. “Every game is up for grabs which is all you can ask for.”
Playing in the APAC for the first year with some familiar foes from the MidAtlantic Hockey League McNall,y has been pleased with the effort.
“We’ve had a good response from the kids and they are learning to win which will help down the road,” said McNally. “Key down the stretch is just that, we have shown we have potential to win every game now have to get up for each.”
Hamilton Tri-op Recalling Old Times
The Steinert, Hamilton and Nottingham group has made some amazing strides this season and it reminds one of the days when Hamilton was strong and Steinert was the best in the county.
This year the Tri-op is 7-5-2 overall and 2-1-1 in the division.
The Tri-op recently went on a four-game winning streak that began with the first win over Notre Dame in at least 10 years.
“The guys are playing with a lot of confidence right now but we know we have to show up and grind every night,” said coach John Patterson. “I’m proud of them and where we are as a team right now.”
They are reminiscent of some past Hamilton Township teams.
Bill James, the Steinert Athletic Director, was one who guided those Steinert teams that won 136 games from 2000-2010, four CVC titles and the 2006 county tournament.
This group is making its own mark now, though.
Congratulations to Troy Callahan with 1,089 saves in the goal. Callahan, along with sophomore Mason Caruso, give them two top players between the pipes.
If there is no tiebreaker for the division title it would appear Hamilton and Paul VI/Camden Catholic will share the Valley Division crown.
Ashton Truelove has been strong lately with
three goals and five assist in the last three games, Colin St. John has four and four and Zach Meseroll leads in points with 21 on 10 goals and 11 assists.
Good Job Hopewell Valley/Montgomery
Every year the team, the parents and both schools come together and have a “Salute to Service” game and this year the Co-op played Roxbury.
The game honored the Hopewell Valley Veterans Association and the Montgomery Veteran Memorial Committee.
The result wasn’t what HVM would have liked, but the cause and the awareness it brings to veterans and first responders means a lot more.
So, congratulations to those working to make this a success every year.
PDS Has Delbarton and Don Bosco
Coming off a tie with Christian Brothers the Panthers (6-5-3) were shutout 7-0 by Delbarton (12-1) and they face them again on Thursday, but first they have Don Bosco (11-3-1) on Monday.
“We are due to kind of break through it has been a few year since we beaten one of those elite teams,” said the Hall of Famer and PDS coach Scott Bertoli. “If we want to be one of those elite teams we need the confidence to know we can win at playoff time, because we are going to have to beat team.”
Delbarton was handed its first defeat by Lawrenceville last week.
Princeton Day is looking to make up games with local rivals Lawrenceville and Hun.
Lenox Having a Great Season
One of the reason Paul VI/Camden Catholic is among the leaders in the CVC has been the play of Jake Lenox in goal
Lenox recently went over the 1,000 save milestone and heads into this week with 1,016 saves.
Much like their rival in the Valley Division PVI/CC has a solid No.2 in freshman Luciano Lisanti.
Noteworthy
• Congratulations to Robbinsville/Allentown’s JP Sferra for eclipsing 100 career points
• Princeton’s Cooper Zullo leads in goals with 22, Robbinsville/Allentown’s Charlie Luizza has 16.
• Ethan Garlock (Princeton) Sferra and Zach Duggan (Robbinsville/Allentown) all have 15 assists.
• Robbinsville/Allentown was on the short end recently when a school canceled due to injuries and not enough players and then played another school. That’s what happens when you are feared.
• Speaking of R/A, Zander Wiley has been an ironman on the goal.
Rankings CVC
1. Robbinsville/Allentown (15-7) 2. Princeton (16-5-3) 3. Hopewell Valley/Mont. (8-7-1) 4. Paul VI/Cam. Catholic (4-6-3) 5. Hamilton (7-5-2)
Prep
1. Lawrenceville (9-7-1) 2. Princeton Day (9-7-1) 3. Hun (8-10) 4. Pennington (3-6)