The Pearl River ice hockey Head Coach Brian Del Savio knew he had the the makings of a strong team this season.
The Pirates returned their top four defensemen, their top line and junior goaltender Sam Coughlin, who helped turn the Pirates around when he took over in goal last season.
"We have a well-rounded team from our goalie to our defense, which returns all four from last year, to our forwards," Del Savio said. "We are capable of scoring goals, but we pride ourselves on playing team defense, all five guys and the goalie working together.
"It's definitely nice to have guys who can put the puck in the net, but we also have an entire team playing defensively together. We're getting great goaltending, too, which never hurts."
The Pirates are making that work, averaging 6.4 goals scored and 1.4 goals against during a 5-0 start to the season heading into their toughest test yet, top-ranked Suffern 7 p.m. Friday at Sport-O-Rama in Monsey. Suffern is the defending Section 1, Division I champion, one season removed from a state title and currently No. 1 in Section 1 by MSG Varsity. Pearl River is No. 2 or No. 4, depending on which poll you look at, with an opportunity to make a statement tonight.
"They are always a strong team, always a test," Del Savio said. "We played Scarsdale in our first game. That got us off to a good start. We like playing stronger teams earlier. We really focus. That helps us stay on an even keel."
Suffern (4-1) features one of the top goaltenders in Section 1 in senior Nick Modica, who has a 1.8 goals against average and 92.6 save percentage. Senior forward Kevin Hill, who has five goals and 11 assists this season, finished fourth in Section 1 with 53 points (31 goals) last season. Junior forwars Justin Tiso and Mike Redgate share the team lead with six goals.
Coughlin's numbers are right there with Modica's. He has played every minute for the Pirates this season, compiling a 1.75 goals against average and 91.86 save percentage.
"We knew he was a technically sound goalie," Del Savio said. "He showed great improvement. When we (went to him), we went on a wining streak and we are riding that into this season. He's a hot goalie now. He works hard every day."
He has four experienced defenders in front of him in senior team captain Gary Healy, senior assistant captain Connor McMorrow and sophomores Owen McGee and Brian Caffrey.
Much of the offense is coming from the top line of juniors Kevin Murphy and Max McGee and senior Patrick Burns. Murphy leads the way with six goals and four assists and McGee has six goals and two assists. Burns has three goals and an assist.
The Pirates did lose their entire second line from last season, but Del Savio said they had solid players step up in their place. The program also has continuity at the top. Del Savio is in his first season as head coach, but he has been an assistant the last six seasons. Anthony Capone, who had been the head coach for the Pirates since the first year of the varsity team in 1991-92, remains as the assistant coach.
"This is our seventh year (coaching together)," Del Savio said. "I played for him when I was in high school. It's been seamless."
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