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Princeton University Athletics
2000-01 Outlook
January 05, 2001 | Men's Ice Hockey
Jan. 5, 2001
Princeton, N.J. - The 2000-01 Princeton men's hockey team will begin a new chapter in its hallowed tradition. After nine successful years at Princeton, Don Cahoon accepted the head men's hockey coaching position at the University of Massachusetts. Len Quesnelle, a longtime assistant under Cahoon, begins his head coaching career this weekend.
Princeton will miss Darren Yopyk's leadership and Benoit Morin's scoring and toughness. There are many returning veterans, however, who have logged considerable ice time, and there are some impact freshmen ready to make their mark.
While coaching and learning under Cahoon, Quesnelle has helped establish a formula for being successful at Princeton. He stresses the importance of working day-to-day and improving each practice and game in order to get his team to play its best hockey at the end of the season. "This can be best accomplished by taking care of the things that our players and staff alike have control over, such as our work ethic, our attitude and the way we all prepare," Quesnelle says.
Quesnelle wants his players to have fun and believes that winning will bring fun, and fun will bring winning.
Forwards Returning - 10 * Lost - 3 Newcomers - 6 Benoit Morin compiled nine goals, 18 assists and 107 penalty minutes last season, which will be missed. Also, Brad Meredith's graduation leaves a hole to be filled by this year's group. While Princeton will miss their production and presence, it has tremendous depth at the forward position.
Kirk Lamb, this year's captain, played Major Junior A hockey, which forced him to sit out his entire freshman season and nine games of his sophomore year. Last season Lamb led the Tigers in scoring and averaged nearly one point per game. He will be counted on to provided the same kind of offensive punch that he did last year (8 goals, 20 assists), and Princeton's talented senior class will help him bear the responsibility of leadership.
The senior class is loaded with big guns, including Chris Corrinet, who was drafted by the Washington Capitals in 1998. The 6' 3", 223-pound rightwinger brings a valuable presence to the ice, especially with the departure of Morin. Corrinet also proved to have a scorer's touch, lighting the lamp 10 times and tallying 14 assists last season. He will serve as an assistant captain this year.
Shane Campbell, Princeton's other assistant captain this season, stands as tall as his classmate and utilizes his speed and fluid motion. His playmaking abilities led to 10 assists and nine goals, which placed him fifth in team scoring during the last campaign. Last year he scored two game-winning goals and one game-tying goal. Campbell is Princeton's top face-off man, especially late in the game in the defensive zone.
Ethan Doyle brings three years of experience to the wing position and has established a reputation of being an efficient shooter and shorthanded goal scorer.
Brad Parsons led the Tigers in goal scoring with 11, and he recorded a team-leading seven power-play goals. He also led Princeton with three game-winning goals last season.
Three other sophomore forwards got time on the ice last season, and all three bring different strengths to Old Nassau. David Del Monte is a smooth skater and has the ability to create opportunities for either himself or his teammates. Del Monte scored four goals and five assists last season. Josh Roberts brings a physical presence that will be important near the goal. Like Del Monte, he played 28 games last season, which will give Quesnelle an excellent level of experience up front.
In the eighth round of the 1999 NHL Entry Draft, the Los Angeles Kings selected Princeton's George Parros. Last season he played in 25 games, scoring four goals and winning the team's Hobey Baker Trophy, which is awarded annually to the best freshman player. With his good hands, vision and tight-area skills, Parros is a threat around the net.
Scott Prime saw action in 12 games as a freshman, and he should build on his three-point freshman season. He is a skilled player with great character, some hing that the Tigers have proven is crucial over the past few years.
DEFENSE Returning - 6 * Lost - 2 Newcomers - 2
Darren Yopyk, last season's captain, displayed a physical presence and could mix it up with the toughest of forwards. He anchored the top defensive unit and will be missed along with Chris Barber. The play and depth of the defense is the major question mark for this year's team. Senior Peter Zavodny assumes more leadership responsibility with the blue-line crew this year, and his experience and solid play will benefit his defensive counterparts. Zavodny's strength remains keeping players away from the net and closing down shooting lanes.
A pair of juniors are expected to make big contributions to the lineup. David Schneider has the best offensive skills of any returning defenseman and will be a key point-man on the top power-play unit. His ability to see the ice and create opportunities were impressive last year. Schneider led all Tiger defensemen in scoring last year with five goals and 11 assists. Dave Bennett, whose father, Harvey, and uncle, Curt, combined to play 15 seasons in the NHL, has an aggressive style. He has a big body and can handle the puck well. Senior Jason Dillow has seen little action over the past three years, but is looking to break into the rotation.
Sophomores Neil McCann and Trevor Beaney both received a considerable amount of ice time as freshmen and will be counted on to provide quality depth in the defensive unit. McCann has good all-around skills and great poise with the puck. His mobility is also a strength, which compliments Beaney's size, good hands and solid vision.
Two freshmen to watch are Matthew Maglione and Steve Slaton. Maglione is strong skater with a hard slap shot and good all-around skills. Slaton, who played forward up until becoming a defenseman in Junior A hockey, brings good hand skills and quickness, which will allow him to get to loose pucks. Both freshmen have the ability to be a part of the defensive core this year.
GOAL Returning - 2 * Lost - 1 Newcomers - 0
Flamboyant two-year starter Dave Stathos returns in goal. He is an aggressive netminder, who plays with a lot of flair. Stathos is technically sound and will try to be more consistent in his junior season. His .912 save percentage and 2.82 goals-against average were solid last year, and his presence should help the young defensive unit's progression during the season. Sophomore Nate Nomeland has raw talent, a big body, a tremendous work ethic. He performed well when given an opportunity to relieve Stathos last year as evidenced by his .913 save percentage and 2.86 GAA.