All Daily Record: Delbarton's Petrillo was a dominant force

Following Delbarton's overtime loss to Christian Brothers Academy in the Non-Public state championship game at the Prudential Center in which the Green Wave forfeited a three-goal, second period lead, it was easy for some players to hide or disguise their disappointment. But not Andrew Petrillo, who made it perfectly obvious that he wanted nothing more than to get back on the ice and start the grind all over again.

"That's just the way I am, when something like that happens I have to do something about it," the junior defenseman said. "It's just feels right to get back out there and start preparing for the new season. I know it's important to step away but it's also important for those of us who are returning to stay together. We are a family."

That family had Petrillo paired with senior Sean Petrie as arguably the best blue line combination in the state this winter. Petrillo, who was named the Gordon Conference Most Valuable Player, was dominant at both ends of the rink. He finished with six goals and 18 assists for 24 points in 27 games for the Green Wave, including a pair of goals in the state final against CBA and two game-winners during the season. He was also one of the top shut-down defenseman in the state, as he and Petrie were regularly paired against the opposition's top line.

"Andrew gets better every year," Delbarton head coach Bruce Shatel said. "He is a terrific athlete and has a great compete level. His feet are elite and his speed makes him a terrific player on both sides of the puck."

Petrillo, a resident of Pompton Plains, is the 2015 All Daily Record Ice Hockey Player of the Year.

"We had a lot of young guys on the blue line this year so Sean and I played a lot of minutes and were out against top players, especially late in games," Petrillo said. "It was a challenge for us and one that we really enjoyed."

After a regular season that saw Delbarton dominate New Jersey competition and also win its share of games against New England prep school powers such as Catholic Memorial and Bishop Hendricken, the Green Wave captured the Gordon Cup for the first time in three years with a 7-1 rout of Bergen Catholic and appeared primed to regain the Non-Public state crown after Morristown-Beard had snapped their six-year reign last season in the semifinals. But it just wasn't meant to be for Petrillo and the Green Wave, which saw a three-goal lead incredibly wiped out by the Colts.

"You never think you're going to lose with a three-goal lead," Petrillo said. "It was a shocker. We let them back in it and then couldn't step up and make the big play when we needed it. This one hurt even more than the Morristown-Beard game last year and it's one we won't forget."

The good news is that Petrillo, who won a state championship as a freshman with Delbarton, returns next season for one more chance to make amends in his senior campaign.

"I think my role will grow again next year just as it has every year since I was a freshman," Petrillo said. "I tried to step up my game this season and do something special. I see myself as one of the leaders next year and more vocal in the locker room, regardless of whether I'm a captain or not. We had some great leadership from our seniors this season and those are the roles I'll be trying to fill."

Petrillo, who has already gotten looks from several Ivy League schools such as Princeton, Yale, and Harvard, as well as from Union College, is aware of the challenge that lies ahead for a Delbarton program which has now gone two straight seasons without a state title, its longest drought in nearly a decade.

"We have a winning tradition at Delbarton and with that comes some pressure, but at the same time brings an energy and pride with it that you bring with you to the rink every day," Petrillo said. "You want to live up to everyone's expectations and to the tradition, which is a wonderful tradition.

"We're already excited for next year, we're expecting to be better and to take the next step. It's really important to me to close out my high school career the same way I started it, with a state championship that I can share with my teammates."