When A.J. Drago was a little boy, perhaps just four years old, the Guttenberg native learned how to ice skate from his father. Soon after, Drago’s love of hockey grew – which is pretty unconventional for a kid from tiny Guttenberg.
"Soon after my dad started me skating, the Rangers won the Stanley Cup (1994) and I just loved Mike Richter," said Drago, a graduate of Anna L. Klein School who will be a junior at Hudson Catholic this fall. "It just all started from there. When I was in grammar school, everyone knew I loved hockey. It’s pretty unbelievable. I was the only kid in the school playing hockey."
This summer, Drago is working toward his goal of becoming the next Mike Richter. He has been busy playing for a youth hockey team, the Mercer Chiefs, traveling three times a week to outside Princeton to man the nets for that team.
"This year is a big year for the Chiefs," Drago said. "We have a chance to be ranked among the Top 20 youth hockey teams in the country. It’s a traveling team that plays games all over, facing the best competition."
Drago is also finding ice time with other teams throughout New Jersey, so his schedule throughout the summer has been quite hectic.
Recently, Drago also found the time to play for the East squad in the Garden State Games, and the talented netminder made the most of the opportunity, earning the Most Valuable Player of the tournament, leading the East to the gold medal.
The East team was coached by former Hudson Catholic head coach and Secaucus Ice Rink director Cory Robinson, who climbed behind the bench for the first time since he resigned from Hudson Catholic a little over a year ago. Robinson guided Hudson Catholic to the NJSIAA state championship in 2000.
The team featured many players from both Hudson Catholic and St. Peter’s Prep, tossing aside its fierce rivalry to combine forces resulting in the gold medal.
Drago was the big standout, collecting 34 saves in a 2-0 semifinal victory over the West, then registering 38 saves in the 9-3 victory over the North to win the gold medal.
"I knew I was playing well," Drago said. "But the team helped me out [in the final] by scoring nine goals. That makes things easier."
"Drago was fabulous in goal," Robinson said. "As a player going into his junior year, I think he’s as good of a goalie that I have seen in my years of coaching in New Jersey."
But there were other local players who performed admirably in the Garden State Games. Brendan Whitford of St. Peter’s Prep was the team’s top scorer, collecting four goals and an assist.
Whitford was impressed with how the two fierce rivals could work together toward one goal.
"We became close pretty quick," said Whitford, who scored two goals in the title game. "We clicked right away. I knew some of the kids from playing in Secaucus. Despite the rivalry, they are good guys. I think I did much better than what I expected. With all the competition from all over the state, I didn’t know how I would do, but I held my own pretty well. It was a lot of fun, playing against the good competition and doing well."
Pat Percella, a former Hudson Catholic player now attending Wyoming Seminary, a prep school in Pennsylvania, also scored four goals during the tournament, along with Ryan Sherry, a current Hudson Catholic junior and fellow Guttenberg resident. Ryan McDonald of St. Peter’s Prep had two goals and two assists in the tourney.
"The local players from Hudson Catholic and St. Peter’s Prep played really well and they were really focused on playing a team game," Robinson said. "Looking at the talent they have, I would think that both schools should have great seasons this year."
Robinson said that he enjoyed the opportunity to coach once again.
"Personally, it was a good feeling to get behind the bench again and work with some of the players I’ve coached at Hudson Catholic and Secaucus," Robinson said. "With this team, everything just jelled together from the first practice and I really felt we had a good chance to win."
Drago and Percella were named to the All-Garden State Games first team, while Whitford, Sherry and defenseman Bryan Stupak were all named to the second team.
Both Drago and Whitford believe that their performances will only help their confidence entering the high school season.
"I’m really looking forward to playing right now," Whitford said. "I picked up my game a lot and I’m looking forward to having a big season. No doubt about it, this helped my confidence."
"It boosts my confidence and I just hope it carries over," Drago said. "This year, I’ll be more experienced and we’ll have more seniors on the team. I just want to keep playing and improving."
For Drago, that means being on the ice as much as possible, even if it means traveling to points all over the globe. Other than his commitment to the Mercer Chiefs, Drago also attended hockey camp in Toronto, so it has been a busy summer.
"If you want to be competitive, this is what you have to do," Drago said. "I’ve been able to play a lot of hockey because of traveling. I think I’ve improved a lot and worked on a lot of my skills, so I’m getting ready for the season. I just want to push my game to the next level."
Which could mean junior hockey or prep school, routes that could eventually lead to A.J. Drago fulfilling his goal, becoming the next Mike Richter. It’s not out of the realm of possibility. – Jim Hague