Young Ice Hockey Team Rebuilds for New Season

After welcoming back all but two graduated players, Cranford's ice hockey team hopes to rebuild to beat last season's Union County League 6-14-1 run.

“We would like to compete for the county title and we’re going to take our lumps in the early going because we are so young,” said Cranford's ice hockey head coach Richard Hurley.  “I’d hate to say that we are rebuilding, but that’s where we are at.”

This young team consists of 16 freshmen and sophomores, and five seniors on its junior varsity and varsity rosters.

One of the biggest holes to fill is net minder Colin Mayberry, who graduated after going 5-8-1 last season. Mayberry will be hard to live up to with a 3.15 goals against average and a .895 save percentage while making 392 saves.

Senior Mike Williams has the most experience after being in goal for five games last season and a 4.77 GAA with a save percentage of .855. There is also junior Trevor Hertz and sophomore Theo Ballas. Hurley said that two of three will be used for the bulk of the ice time.

“They’re all pretty solid and all play club hockey,” said Hurley. “I am not worried about goalie. It’s nice to have three goalies.”

The top returning player is junior forward Eric Pawlick, who led the team in many categories last season including goals with 19, assists with 17 and points with 36.

“He’s one of the fastest kids around and not very big,” said Hurley. “He’s relatively small, but he’s fast as they come. He’s certainly one of the key guys.”

The team’s weakness was offense last season, but Hurley believes that the goals are on their way. “We’re going to be a more of an offensive team this year,” said Hurley. “We’ve always been a good defensive team.”

As part of the young group of up-and-coming players is a pair of freshmen forwards, Sean Feeney and Tom Fitzgerald. “I knew that they were coming and both are solid players,” said Hurley.

The other group of forwards includes a pair of experienced seniors, Gary Merwede and Pat Hartnett, along with junior Billy Davitt and sophomore Jake Zimmerman. Merwede had four goals for the junior varsity team last season.

After Pawlick, Hartnett was the next prolific scorer with 15 goals and 16 assists for 31 points. Davitt contributed six goals and eight assists as a sophomore. As a freshman Zimmerman collected four goals and three assists.

Hurley believes that there will be more than just Pawlick and Hartnett scoring this season.

“I have a feeling that we will have more of a balanced attack instead of just one or two good goal scorers,” said Hurley. “I think they are all capable of putting the puck in the net.”

While Cranford will miss the steadiness of Mayberry in goal, the Cougars will be bolstered from an experienced defensive corps led by seniors Eddie Conte and Vince Fitzgerald, Tom’s brother, as well as junior Wes Ditzel and sophomore Luke Diano.

Hurley sees Westfield, Summit and Governor Livingston as the teams to beat in the Union County League.

Cranford starts its season on Wednesday at its home ice, Warninanco Park, against Chatham. The Cougars do not start their county league schedule until Dec. 18 against Governor Livingston at the Union Sports Arena.

Cranford ice hockey schedule:

Dec. 2                     Chatham, Warinanco Park, 3:30 p.m.

Dec. 4                     at Hillsborough, Pro Tec Ponds, 6:30 p.m.

Dec. 7                     at Cron Tournament, Warinanco Park, 8:30 p.m.

Dec. 18                  at Governor Livingston, Union Sports Arena, 9:10 p.m.

Dec. 21                  Westfield, Warinanco Park, 6 p.m.

Dec. 22                  at Scotch Plains, Warinanco Park, 8:30 p.m.

Jan. 2                     at Bernards, Rock Ice Pavillion, 1 p.m.

Jan. 4                     Verona, Warinanco Park, 6 p.m.

Jan. 6                     at Westfield, Warinanco Park, 8:30 p.m.

Jan. 11                   Johnson, Warinanco Park, 6 p.m.

Jan. 18                   Dayton, Warinanco Park, 6 p.m.

Jan. 19                   at Summit, Warinanco Park,  6 p.m.

Jan. 22                   at Princeton, Baker Arena, 7 p.m.

Jan. 25                   Scotch Plains, Warinanco Park, 6 p.m.

Jan. 27                   at Johnson, Warinanco Park, 6 p.m.

Feb. 1                     Summit, Warinanco Park, 6 p.m.

Feb. 3                     Middletown North, Warinaco Park, 3:30 p.m.

Feb. 5                     at Dayton, Union Sports Arena, 9:10 p.m.

Feb. 8                     Governor Livingston, Warinanco Park, 6 p.m.

Feb. 10                   at Bridgewater-Raritan, Rock Ice Pavilion, 5:15 p.m.

Feb. 13                   at Watchung Hills, Union Sports Arena, 6:20 p.m.