BY MARC RAIMONDI
“We were almost in the cellar [last year],” Terriers assistant coach Steve Cameron said.But the Terriers weren't so much stoked about those statistics. There was a more important figure in hockey's version of the Battle of the Boulevard: it was the first time Prep had ever beaten Cross on the ice.”It's the biggest high school rivalry in the city,” Cameron said. … “The atmosphere was just joy.”Especially after St. Francis was dropped 4-3 by Holy Cross in the first game of the year.But at that point, sophomore goalie Justin Perkins was just getting adjusted in his first year on the varsity.”The first couple of games, he was a little nervous,” Cameron said. … “Now he's stopping everything.”Perkins has adjusted and the Terriers have been playing their best in years. And not because they have an abundance of stars or scoring options. DefensemanJohn McGee had two goals against the Knights and the lone one in a 1-0 win against Christ the King last Thursday. His scoring aside, Prep's success has been more of a team effort.”It's more about team, goaltending and defense,” Cameron said.He's not lying. Perkins goaltending and defense has been a key: the Terriers have only allowed 20 goals all season, tied for the least in their division with first-place St. Joseph's by the Sea.St. Francis hasn't played St. Joe's yet, but it will have to play the division leaders in the last two games of the season.”Kind of an awkward end to the year,” Cameron said.The Terriers have already gotten the Knights off their backs – nothing else this year has quite as much history.
