Princeton faces upstart HVM for MCT title
The Mercer County Tournament final has two teams that might possibly be playing their best hockey.
Both teams, No. 2 seeded Princeton (13-6-1) and No. 4 Hopewell Valley/Montgomery (13-9-1), have won four straight games as they head into Wednesday’s championship game.
Face-off is set for 5 p.m. at the Mercer County Skating Center.
Princeton, which was in the final last year, has won the event four times with the most recent being a come-from-behind win in 2020 over Hun. HVM last won the MCT in 2008 and will be looking for its third title.
The Tigers advanced to the final with a 7-4 win over Paul VI/Camden Catholic in the semifinals, and HVM had the upset of the tournament, stunning No. 1 seeded Robbinsville/Allentown, 3-1.
“We’re excited,” said Princeton coach Rik Johnson. “We were there last year and to get back is nice.”
The overall series has belonged to the Tigers, though, as they have won nine of the last 10 meetings. The only HVM win was on January 25, 2022.
The HVM players are anxious to change those numbers.
“The team is very excited to be in the finals,” said Hopewell Valley/Montgomery coach Jeff Radice. “We caught some lightning in the bottle and we are playing well. The effort level is always there and we have been working on the discipline and execution level
and we have been getting it done.”
Princeton has been finding the net at a rapid rate during this four-game winning streak, having scored 25 goals in the four games.
“We have to try to slow down that high-powered offense and at the same time get some quality chances of our own,” said Radice. “We can’t waste good opportunities and we have to capitalize when we get the chances.”
There have been a few goals scored by Hopewell Valley/Montgomery, too, as it has also tallied 25 goals over four games.
HVM has been led by Liam Yeoman with 15 goals and 12 assists, Gavin Nau has 10 goals and 22 assists and Matthew Greenspoon has 11 and 19, including five assists in the last two games. Blake Echternacnt has been in the goal throughout the four-game winning streak and he has a 94% save rate
“Hopewell is coming off a big win knocking off Robbinsville/Allentown,” said
Johnson. “They are going to play their game and we are going to play our game. We have to minimize mistakes and execute.”
Cooper Zullo has been the ace for Princeton with a county best 30 goals, including six in the last three games. Ethan Garlock has been steady with 14 goals and a team high 25 assists and Brendan Beatty has nine goals and 19 assists, including seven in the last three games.
“We are never satisfied,” said Johnson. “We got close in the Paul VI game, but I still believe we haven’t played our best hockey yet.”
HVM has been a team that no matter what the situation is — winning streak or a losing streak — they never let it alter the effort and the determination.
“The theme of this team all year is they just keep plugging along,” said Radice. “We don’t dwell on the past or look to the future too much, it’s been a one shift and one period at a time mentality.”