Over the first three years of his high school career, Todd Petrone had zero saves in goal for North’s ice hockey team.
For the senior, this season isn’t a culmination of all the skills he built up over the last three years. Actually, until December 2, Petrone never even set foot in the goal, or on the ice at all, in an official capacity for any organized team. But on December 2 he had an outstanding 17 saves in his debut.
And he is looking to make an impact for the Knights, who, despite starting with a 3-2 record, are looking to defend their CVC Valley Division championship.
Petrone has always been a versatile athlete. He played football and lacrosse and even tried wrestling in the winter during his freshman year. Despite forgoing winter sports for the past two years, Petrone decided to see what he could contribute in his final year at North. “Everybody told me that they needed somebody to play, so I told them that I would. “That’s just how it happened,” he said.
On the first day of practice, Petrone said he got to the rink, where another player was in the goal. “I didn’t think I’d play, but the day before our first game, the coach told us I was going to be starting.”
He did not disappoint: only one shot of 18 got by him. “I was pretty surprised of how I did because I wasn’t really expecting to play. We got the win and started the season off good.”
The only experience Petrone has had with his newfound sport is in playing a little street hockey before joining the team.
Petrone has lived his entire life in West Windsor. His mother is a secretary at the Wicoff School, and his father is a mail carrier in Cranbury. While he is undecided about where he will attend college next year, he says he plans to play lacrosse. His goal is to become a physical education teacher. But right now his immediate goal is “just to save every shot that I can. It’s to have an overall good season and make it to the playoffs.”
And the team’s chances are looking good. As Petrone points out, “we have a solid first line of seniors,” as well as a well-rounded line-up of juniors and freshmen who have been making an impact.
Petrone took over the starting position from James Komianos, who graduated last year.
But the Knights have more than just Petrone as a weapon in the goal. On December 14, they found they can also count on another goalie — freshman David Zohn, who had his first career win with 12 saves for the Knights in their win over Hamilton West, 9-3.
Under Coach Bob Weiss, the Knights went 19-6-1 last year and claimed the CVC Valley Division championship. In addition to Komianos, the Knights also lost Scott Martin and Scott Litwack to graduation. However, they still return an experienced group of players in Marc Raziano, Stephen Kolber, and Andrew Washuta — the teams three captains — as well as Jordan Hemingway, juniors Dylan Strober, Harrison Washuda, Larry Li, and Jake Slonaker.
Rounding out the roster for the Knights are sophomores Ben Bugge, Marc Kolber, Casey Litwack, David Sandberg, Ryan Pippin, and freshmen Scott Abrams, Liam Corbett, Malik Harris, Jason Kessler, and Matthew Strober.
South Ice Hockey. Graduation has had more of an impact for the Pirates, who lost five starters. Under coach Brian McGurney, the team went 13-8-3 last year.
Leading the team this year are senior Darren Stafford in goal and juniors Adam Rothman and Chris So — the team’s captains. The team has a panoply of talent in seniors Jed Plester, Sunny Rathor; juniors Joe Cangelosi, Nick Wong, Jessie Carnegie, Alex Senopolous, and Will McAuliffe; sophomores Carlos Alvarez, Corey Hess, Kyle Inverso, Alex Mangone, Jon Plester; and freshmen Chris Clancey, Chris Colacello, Mike Morabito, and Karl Stafford. South has jumped off to a 3-1-1 start.
