Tigers Head to Denver to Face Two-Time Defending National Champs

Dec. 28, 2005

PRINCETON, N.J. - The Princeton men's hockey team returns to action following a 20-day layoff at the Denver Cup on Dec. 30 and 31. Princeton will meet 12th-ranked Denver, the two-time defending national champion, in the opening round, while No. 4 Boston College and Ferris State will meet in the other first-round game.

The weekend's games will start a three-week stretch for the Tigers during Princeton's intercession. After the two games in Denver, the Tigers will return to Baker Rink for four-straight league games before taking the exam break in the second part of January.

Both games this weekend can be heard live on GoPrincetonTigers.com. Links to the broadcasts can be found on men's hockey schedule page. There will also be Gametracker live stats for both games.

The Princeton/Denver first-round game and both of the second-round games will be aired live on FSN Rocky Mountain in the Colorado, Utah and Wyoming markets. For people living in other areas, FRN-RM can be found on Directv channel 645 and DISH Network channel 414. For people with digital cable, all three broadcasts will be shown live on the Fox College Sports Channels. Friday's game will be on FCS Central, while both of Saturday's games will be on FCS Atlantic.

Game Notes in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader

This Week's Storylines

Rocky Mountain High
Princeton returns from a 20-day layoff to compete at the Denver Cup. Princeton faces the tournament host in the first round and will meet Boston College or Ferris State in the second game. Last Time Out
Princeton split a two-game series on Dec. 9 and 10 against Alabama-Huntsville. On Friday the Tigers fell 4-2 despite outshooting the Chargers 50-26. On Saturday Princeton rebounded with a 4-0 shutout win.

Road Warriors
Princeton has played nine of 14 games on the road so far this season. After this weekend Princeton plays six of seven on its home ice. This weekend's trip is longest for the Tigers this season.

The Mid-Season Stretch
This weekend marks the beginning of Princeton's three-week intercession stretch. The Tigers play games on the next three weekends before a 16-day hiatus for exams. Princeton returns from that break with a Jan. 31 game at Robert Morris.

Princeton at Holiday Tournaments
The Denver Cup marks Princeton's 24th appearance at an inseason holiday tournament since 1960. Princeton is 13-36-3 in those games and has won three tournaments. The last win was the 1998 Mariucci Classic as Princeton defeated Minnesota and Boston University. Princeton is 1-5 in tournament games since, losing twice at the 2000 Badger Showdown, splitting games at the 2002 RPI Tournament and being swept at the 2003 Dodge Holiday Classic.

Princeton at the Denver Cup
Princeton has appeared ince before at the Denver Cup, finish third in the 1993 tournament. Princeton lost to Denver 5-2 in the opening game, then defeated Air Force 3-2 in the consolation game. Denver defeated Boston College in the championship game.

The Series With Denver
Princeton and Denver have met three times over the past 55 years. All three meetings have come in Denver with the Pioneers holding a 2-1 edge in the series. Denver has wins in December of 1950 and 1993, while the Tigers won 4-1 in December of 1982.

Scouting the Pioneers
Denver is the two-time defending National Champion. The Pioneers are 11-7-2 overall this season and 8-4-2 in the WCHA. Denver is currently ranked Xth in both polls and has won six of its last seven games.

Princeton vs. the Defending National Champs
Friday's game with Denver will mark the 20th time that Princeton has faced a defending national champion since the NCAA began crowing champions in 1948. Princeton is 2-17-0 in those games with wins over Rensselaer in 1955 and Boston University in 1972. The last time Princeton faced a defending champion was on Dec. 20, 2004, a loss to Minnesota at the Dodge Holiday Classic in Minneapolis.

The Series With Boston College
Princeton and Boston College have played 49 times dating back to the 1928-29 season. BC is the only team in Hockey East that Princeton has not faced since the league was formed. Therefore the teams' last meeting came as a league game in the 1983-84 season. BC leads the all-tme series 33-14-2 and the series is tied 1-1 at neutral sites. The teams traded the last four games played, each winning twice.

Scouting the Eagles
Boston College enters this weekend's tournament ranked fifth in both national polls.The Eagles are 9-4-1 overall and 8-2-1 in Hockey East to tie for first in the league standings. BC has won five of its last six games.

The Series With Ferris State
Ferris State is one of the nine remaining Division I hockey schools that Princeton has not yet faced.

Scouting the Bulldogs
Ferris State is 8-6-4 overall and 4-4-4 in the CCHA. After a 5-1-2 stretch, FSU has stumbled over the past two weekends in which it played, winning one of its last four games.

Number 135
Ferris State will become the 136th different opponent for the Princeton men's hockey team should they meet on New Year's Eve. The Bulldogs are the third of of four potential first-time opponents for the Tigers this season. Princeton has already faced Waterloo in exhibition play and Quinnipiac. Princeton will play at Robert Morris on Jan. 31.

Who is Left?
Princeton has faced 49 of the 58 possible Division I men's hockey opponents. Princeton has not faced Canisius, Connecticut, Ferris State, Mercyhurst, Minnesota State, Northern Michigan, RIT, Robert Morris and Sacred Heart.

Princeton Out of Conference
Princeton is 2-2 this season in non-league games. Princeton has split two two-game series, first at Notre Dame, and then at home against Alabama-Huntsville.

Princeton vs. Other Leagues
Princeton is 4-24 all-time against the WCHA. The record is 7-37-1 when included games played against current WCHA schools before they joined the league. Using the same guidelines, Princeton is 8-22-1 (14-32-2) against the CCHA and 10-27-2 (84-182-13) against Hockey East.

League vs. League
The ECAC Hockey League is 41-29-7 this season in non-league games. ECAC teams are 2-6-1 against teams from the WCHA, 12-8-1 against teams from Hockey East and 4-9-3 against CCHA teams.

Against Ranked Teams
Princeton is 0-4 this season against teams ranked in the nation's top 15. Three of the four losses have come by a single goal, most recently, Princeton's 3-2 loss at Colgate on Dec. 3.

Honor Roll
Junior Grant Goeckner-Zoeller made his second ECACHL Honor Roll appearance of the season after registering four points in the weekend series against Alabama-Huntsville. Goeckner-Zoeller had one goal and three assists in the games, including three points in Saturday's 4-0 win. He leads the team in scoring with 10 points.

Rookie of the Week
Freshman Brett Wilson scored two goals and set up an important goal in Princeton's weekend and was named the ECAC Hockey League's Rookie of the Week. He is the second Princeton freshman to receive the league's Rookie of the Week award. Freshman Brandan Kushniruk received it after four points in two games against Quinnipiac.

Six Games-Six Points
Freshman Brett Wilson opened his college career with a point in each of his first six games. After being held pointless at Cornell and Colgate, he returned to his scorign ways, notching three points over the UAH weekend.

Joing the Rush
Senior defensemen Seamus Young and Brian Carthas each scored goals in Saturday's win as they joined in on the offense. Young scored by one-timing a pass as he sneaked in from the point and Carthas' goal capped a Tiger rush into the zone. Young also had an assist in both games.

Mr. Versatility
Senior Brian Carthas was the subject of a recent article in the New England Hockey Journal. The article talks about his transition from forward to defense over the past season. He currently has three goals and three assists for six points this season. His next point will set a new career-high for him.

Balanced Effort
Princeton's 34 goals this season have come from 14 scorers, led by junior Grant Goeckner-Zoeller's six. Brett Wilson has five.

Defense First
Princeton has held its opponents to three goals or less, not counting empty-net goals, in 12 of 14 games.

Reverse Psychology
Princeton had a season-high 50 shots on goal in the 4-2 loss to Alabama-Huntsville. Conversely Princeton had a season-low 13 shots in a 5-3 win at Notre Dame.

A Good Way to Start
Princeton won its opener this season, 5-3 against Notre Dame, for the first time since the 2000-01 season, when the Tigers defeated Niagara 3-1.

81 Goals
Princeton scored 81 goals in 31 games last season. That number was 19 more than the total of 62 that Princeton scored in 31 games last season. Princeton has 34 goals through 14 games this season.

On the Tube
At least three of the Tigers' remaining games in the 2005-06 season will be broadcast on television. The next TV game will be against defending National Champion Denver on Dec. 30 from the Denver Cup. The game will air on FSN Rocky Mountain which can be seen on Directv Channel 645. Princeton's second-round game between Boston College or Ferris State will also air on FSN-RM. Lastly, Princeton's game at Dartmouth on Feb. 11 will be live on ESPNU.

Polling Station
Princeton was picked to finish 10th by both the coaches and the media in the ECACHL preseason polls.

On the Horizon
Princeton will host ECAC Hockey League series on each of the next two weekends. Yale and Brown visit Baker Rink on Jan. 6 and 7, while Colgate and Cornell come to town on Jan. 13 and 14.

Calendar

Upcoming Events

Recent Results