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Princeton University Athletics
Players Mentioned
Q&A With Men's Hockey's Cam Ritchie
November 28, 2007 | Men's Ice Hockey
Princeton freshman Cam Ritchie is one of seven freshmen that are contributing game-in and game-out for the Princeton men's hockey team. Ritchie scored the first two goals of his collegiate career in last Saturday's win at Quinnipiac, while being part of a Tiger defense that limited Quinnipiac to just eight shots over the final two periods. Ritchie answers questions about last weekend's games
against Quinnipiac, his first few months at Princeton, and what the team is looking to accomplish in the coming weeks. This Q&A
is the fourth of a weekly series that will appear throughout the
hockey season and will feature a different player each week. The team snapped out of a tough stretch with a 4-2 win on Saturday afternoon at Quinnipiac. What do you think was the difference in that game versus the previous two games against Quinnipiac?
At the beginning of the season we outlined team objectives that we would strive to achieve each game. In the first few games of the year we did a good job of achieving those goals and saw success because of it. I feel that as a team we started stray from those objectives and our results reflected that. This resulted in a four-game losing streak. After the first game against Quinnipiac, we talked about refocusing on those objectives. In the game on Wednesday, we showed signs of getting back on the right track, but we needed to produce a 60-minute effort. On Saturday we saw the results of what can be accomplished when we focus on those objectives for a complete 60 minutes.
You got into the offensive side of things on Saturday, scoring two goals. Can you talk about the first one, which gave Princeton its first lead in the win?
As a defensive group we talk about making sure we get as many pucks to the net as possible. By doing this we give our forwards the confidence that if they drive to the net, the pucks will come to them. The goal was just a result of the forwards working hard to get the puck to the point and then working just as hard to get to the net. I just tried to get the puck on the net, the forwards had set up a couple of good screens, and the puck found its way to the back of the net.
You missed two games this season with an injury. What were you able to pick up, if anything, by spending a game watching in the stands?
Anytime you are able to watch a game from the stands, it is an opportunity to pick up on a lot of the things you cannot see from the ice. This different perspective allows you to watch plays unfold and gives you a better understanding of the mental aspects of the game. You are also able to pick up on the strengths of both your teammates and opponents. Applying this extra knowledge will only improves your own game in the long run.
The team is currently 4-1 on the road, but is 0-3 at home. Can that be explained or is it just one of those things that will balance out as more games are played?
I feel that this has more to do with the fact that we started our season out strong. It just so happened that we were on the road during this time period. It seemed like when we got home we started to stray from our team objectives. The results showed on the ice. As a team we have talked about the importance of making Baker Rink a tough place to play. I think that it is important that we get back to playing "Princeton Hockey" all the time, especially at home.
You're one of three freshman defensemen on the team, and all three of you have played significant minutes in the early part of the season. How has the transition to college hockey from junior hockey been for you?
College hockey is definitely a big transition from junior. The players are stronger, faster, and smarter at this level. This is evident in the depth that all lineups in college have. Whereas in junior there might have been an opportunity for a shift off, you cannot get away with that at this level. One thing that has really helped with this adjustment is the intensity exhibited in each and every practice. As a freshmen group this intensity really helped right from the get go with captain's practices helping us adjust to the college game. The group of guys we have on the ice really push each other every practice. This allows us to put the best product out on the ice come game time.
What about the transition from high school to college and the move from Alberta to New Jersey?
The transition from high school to college is definitely a big one, the habits that get you through high school do not always work at the college level. All of the incoming freshmen took a year off to play junior hockey. During this time some of us were able to partake in entry-level courses at our local universities. Getting this early exposure to the postsecondary learning atmosphere greatly assisted in the transition. As far as the move from Alberta to New Jersey the biggest difference has to be the temperature and humidity, the heat is great. I didn't think I would every say this but I actually miss the snow from back home.
The team has four games lest before a 20-day break for the holidays. What is the team hoping for in the next two weekends before the break?
With the college hockey season being as short as it is, every single game holds a lot of importance. These last four games before the holidays provide us with the opportunity to gain back some of the momentum that we lost with the recent four-game skid. It all starts this weekend with two big games against league foes. The parity in ECAC Hockey means that you have to bring your A game each time, and these games give us an opportunity to gain a good position in the standings going into the holidays. The following weekend gives us a great chance to prove ourselves against a strong non-conference opponent in Notre Dame. But for now all focus is on these upcoming league games.