The Robbinsville High ice hockey team enters its 11th season of existence at a bit of a crossroads.
Gone are four key players—including all-conference defenseman John Martin—from last year’s 12-9-3 squad that lost in the first round of the state tournament. But with nine straight state tournament appearances, four division titles and a state quarterfinals appearance in the last 10 years, the Ravens have the expectation that the 2016-17 season will be yet another success.
Head coach Dan Bergan—now in his 11th year—has set the bar particularly high, saying he wants his team “to be the top performing public school [team] in Mercer County.”
The Ravens will need to bring their offense along if they hope to reach those heights. Senior forwards Shawn Camisa and Josh Rosenbaum will lead the charge, with Aidan Fredericks and juniors Joe Pontrelli and Brian Eider providing support. Forward Noah Dugan returns to hockey after two years away from the game, and Bergan will count on Dugan to take up some of the slack created by the graduation of two important forwards from the 2015-16 team. Matt LaPreta and Andrew Laurits continue to make strides, and Bergan anticipates both having larger roles this season. He also expects sophomore Liam Hartmann, who logged a lot of ice time last year as a freshman, to break out this season.
But to have success, Bergan believes Robbinsville will need to be a team driven by defense and goaltending.
Juniors Ryan Van Duren and Daniel Simone anchor the defense, along with sophomore Ryan DAuria. Freshmen Jack Pallitto, Sierra Moore and Jeremy Van Duren all are up for time defensively, and have Bergan excited about the potential to have an excellent defensive corps for years to come.
Senior Nick Koch will man the goal, with sophomore Justin Cooper backing him up.
The Ravens were scheduled to open the season Nov. 26 against Freehold at Jersey Shore Arena in Wall. Their non-conference schedule includes teams that are projected to be among the top in the state, including Chatham, Kinnelon, Howell, Ocean, Monroe, Red Bank, South Brunswick and Manasquan.
