AP Alum defenseman Robert Distefano of Edison/J.P. Stevens has big 38-goal season

The Edison/J.P. Stevens ice hockey team has gone through some tough times the last two seasons, a time in which the program has only won a total of seven games.

But a big reason for optimism going forward is the play of defenseman Robert Distefano. Distefano, a sophomore, finished this season tied for second in the state in goals with 38 goals.

When Distefano first stepped on the ice for his freshman year for Edison/J.P. Stevens, Distefano registered just 10 goals and eight assists in his first season. The sophomore nearly quadrupled his goal total from his freshman year, this season. Distefano believes that it was a matter of getting comfortable.

"I think I got more comfortable playing," said Distefano. "Since I play for another team, I was on the ice a lot more than I was last year. I think I improved a lot since last year. I was actually surprised about how I was able to improve that much goal-wise and points-wise."

"I think the main reason he nearly quadrupled his goal output this year was his confidence level," said Edison/J.P. Stevens coach Russ Berner. "As a freshman last year, Robbie was kind of finding his game at the varsity level, and we had a bit of an older team. Robbie respected those older players, and would often defer to them. We lost eight seniors from last year, so that opened up a lot of ice time for Robbie, and also forced him to pick up a lot of the scoring slack."

Berner added that Distefano's biggest strength is his skating ability and vision, and that he has an explosive burst to go along with "a vision of the ice that I have never seen before."

"I would say that 2/3 or better of his goals came on end-to-end rushes," said Berner. "He basically was our breakout most games. More times than not, if he had space or was one-on-one with the goalie, he was going to score."

Although Distefano excelled at putting the puck in the net this season, he feels that there is more he can bring to the table.

"Next year I can add on by getting more assists," said Distefano. "I didn't have nearly as many assists as I had goals. It will be a few more goals on the board each game, more team chemistry and passing, it will help that."

"Just having a weapon like Robbie out there opens up space for everyone, and I hope we can continue to build on that with our returning players (Edison/J.P. Stevens is only graduating one player this season)," said Berner. "If Robbie has someone to move the puck to, and can move the puck around a bit more, it will make him an even more fearsome challenge for teams to attempt to shut down."

In the final game of the season for Edison/J.P. Stevens against Hamilton West/Nottingham, Distefano had 35 goals and with a big game, had a chance to potentially reach the 40 goal mark that night.

Distefano finished the game with three goals and an assist in a 7-3 win, falling just two goals short of 40.

"I was extremely happy that we finished our last game with a win," Distefano said. "If we ended on a bad note, it could kind of discourage the newer kids from coming back next year."

Berner was amazed by Distefano's unselfishness in this game, knowing how possible it was that he could hit 40 goals that night.

"Instead of just being greedy and taking the puck and running with it all night, he tried to set up our seniors and some of the other guys who don't get as much ink as him all night," Berner said. "He fell just short of 40, but was more excited about setting up a couple of those goals for the other guys than I have ever seen a kid."

Berner added: "That's just the kind of player Robbie is. He will do anything for his teammates and his team."

-courtesy of By Mike Gurnis | For NJ Advance Media