Chatham hockey team embracing new coach's system

Winning only one of his first six games as the new Chatham head hockey coach wasn’t exactly what Brendon Herr signed up for when he took over behind the bench this winter.

But thanks to belief in a new system, the Cougars appear to have turned things around. Over its past 11 games, Chatham has posted a 7-3-1 record to hit .500, including its first Mennen Division victory of the season over Kinnelon.

“It certainly has been and up-and-down season, but I truly believe we are a better team now than we were in November,” Herr said. “After we started 1-5, we bounced back to .500 and went 5-1. Give credit to the players for buying into the systems we are teaching and continuing to stay positive through the rough start.”

After graduating 13 seniors, Herr and his staff inherited a young squad that was still looking to uphold the Chatham hockey tradition of success that had resulted in appearances in two straight Mennen Cup finals and a NJSIAA Public B title in 2013.

“As coaches we fully understood the great success Chatham hockey has had in the past and knew it would be a tough task ahead, especially after graduating 13 seniors and having a very young team coming into this year,” Herr said. “That being said, our goal was not only to implement our systems and strategies but to build a culture where every player was committed and accountable for buying into those systems if we wanted to be successful this year.”

Sophomore Brendan Darby, whom Herr calls “an offensively gifted player who sees the ice very well and has the ability to finish when the puck is on his stick around the net,” has helped lead the Cougars, along with Austin Pierce and Ryan Barnett. Goaltender James Boles has provided solid play between the pipes and given Chatham a chance to win every night. The blueline is anchored by Ben Seitz-Sitek, Mark McNally, Tanner Acone, and freshman Kieran Kraus.

“Even though we are considered underdogs in the Mennen Cup, the possibility of making some noise and pulling an upset or two is a real possibility,” Herr said. “If we do get the opportunity to play in the state tournament, I also believe that once we get in, anything can happen, and I know that not only we as coaches believe that but so do our players.”

Puck drop: While the weather wreaked havoc on last weekend’s schedule, this week’s slate kicks off with a Mennen Division showdown on Monday between Morristown and Randolph (8:30 p.m.) the second meeting of the season between two of the top Public A teams in the state. The Colonials, 14-1 in their past 15 games, won the first meeting back in early December. A second victory over the Rams would push them closer to capturing the Mennen Division regular-season title.