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Princeton University Athletics
Players Mentioned
Puck Drops Friday on 2009-10 Princeton Men's Hockey Season
October 28, 2009 | Men's Ice Hockey
GAMETIME: Friday, Oct. 30, at 4 p.m.
RECORDS: Princeton (0-0-0, 0-0-0 ECAC); Brown (0-0-0, 0-0-0 ECAC)
SERIES RECORD: Brown leads 78-60-7, leads 34-28-4 at Princeton.
LAST MEETING: Princeton won 4-1 at home on Feb. 20, 2009.
STREAK: Princeton won the last seven meetings.
Game 2 - No. 7 Yale at No. 9/11 Princeton
GAMETIME: Saturday, Oct. 31, at 7 p.m.
RECORDS: Princeton (0-0-0, 0-0-0 ECAC); Yale (0-0-0, 0-0-0 ECAC)
SERIES RECORD: Yale leads 121-102-9, Princeton leads 47-39-4 at home.
LAST MEETING: Princeton won 2-0 at home on Feb. 21, 2009.
STREAK: Princeton won the last meeting.
Tracking the Team
GAME NOTES (PDF)
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LIVE VIDEO (GoPrincetonTigers.tv Subscription)
LIVE AUDIO
This Week's Storylines
Drop The Puck
The puck drops on the 2009-10 Princeton men's hockey season with games this weekend against Brown and Yale. Princeton will host both teams at Hobey Baker Rink this weekend in game's that will not count towards the ECAC Hockey or Ivy League standings.
The Third Showdown, Sort Of
Princeton, Brown and Yale have opened each of the last two seasons playing non-league games against one another. In each season, the Ontario Institute of Technology was also involved, playing the two teams that were not hosting the event. Because of a schedule women's league weekend, the games that Brown and Yale play this weekend against Ontario I.T. will be played in their home buildings.
CVII
This weekend's games kick off the 107th season of varsity hockey at Princeton. The first game was played on Nov. 30, 1900 against the Drisler School. Princeton did not compete for two years during World War II.
It's About Time
Ivy League rules mandate that men's hockey teams can begin practicing on Oct. 16 and can play regular season games the Oct. 30-31 weekend. Friday's game will take place three weeks after the first regular season games of the season were played on Oct. 9
Trending Up
Princeton has increased upon its win total in each of the past six seasons. After a three-year win in 2002-03, the Tigers won five games in 2003-04, eight games in 2004-05, 10 games in 2005-06, 15 games in 2006-07, 21 games in 2007-08 and 22 games a season ago.
22 Wins
Princeton's 22 wins last season ranked as the most successful season in program history in terms of wins. It was Princeton's third 20-win season. The others came in 1998-99 and 2007-08.
Polling Place
Princeton currently ranks ninth in the latest USA Today Poll and 11th in the most recent USCHO.com Poll. The Tigers have ranked from eighth to 11th in both polls throughout the first four weeks of the poll.
NCAA Experience
Princeton has advanced to the NCAA tournament in each of the past two seasons, earning the program's first-ever at-large berth to the tournament last season. The Tigers return 17 players that were a part of both teams.
A Lot of Shots
Princeton led the nation in shots on goal last season, averaging better than 37 shot attempts per game. Saturday's opponent, Yale, ranked second in the nation with more than 35 shots on goal per game.
Preseason Polling
Princeton was picked to finish third in both the ECAC Hockey Preseason Coaches and Media Polls. The Tigers finished third in the standings a season ago.
Non-Conference Games
Princeton was 6-1 last season in its regular season non-league games. The Tigers were 4-2 in the season against non-ECAC teams and went 8-4-1 in their 13 non-ECAC games.
Last Year in the League
Princeton was 14-8-0 in the ECAC Hockey season, collecting its second straight season with the same league record. Princeton finished third in the ECAC, marking its fourth ECAC top-four finish.
Last Week
A Win and A Loss
Princeton played a pair of exhibition games last weekend, defeating Division III Morrisville State 7-0 on Friday night and falling 5-3 to Windsor on Sunday afternoon.
A Lot of Contributions
Princeton played with identical lineups in both games with 14 of the Tigers' 18 skaters registering points in the two games. Senior Tyler Beachell and sophomore Marc Hagel led the way with four points each and were two of the five players to collect points in each games. The other three were freshman Eric Meland, sophomore Derrick Pallis and senior Mark Magnowski.
Goal Scorers
Princeton's 10 goals over the weekend came from eight different scorers. Tyler Beachell and Eric Meland each scored two goals and six others added single goals, including senior Dan Bartlett, Princeton's leading returning scorer from last season.
The Goalies
All three Princeton goaltenders-senior Zane Kalemba, junior Alan Reynolds and freshman Mike Condon-played a period in each of Princeton's exhibition games.
New Faces
Four members of Princeton's freshman class saw action in the exhibitions. Eric Meland scored two goals and added an assist, while Michael Sdao added two assists. Rob Kleebaum was held scoreless and Mike Condon played a period in goal each game, earning the win on Friday night.
Special Teams
Princeton was 2-9 on the power play last weekend as Marc Hagel and Derrick Pallis netted power-play goals in the Morrisville State win. Princeton was also 9-11 on the penalty kill as Windsor netted two power-play goals, one coming on a 5 on 3.
Upcoming Opponents
Princeton vs. Brown
Princeton and Brown meet for the 146th time on Friday night with Brown holding a 78-60-7 series edge. Brown also leads the series 34-25-4 in games played in Princeton. Princeton has held the upper hand in recent seasons however, winning seven straight games from the Bears, including three last season by scores of 4-1, 5-1 and 4-1.
Scouting the Bears
Like Princeton, Brown also opens its season on Friday afternoon. The Bears, in their first season under head coach Brendan Whittet, finished 12th in the ECAC standings a season ago but advanced to the ECAC Quarterfinals after sweeping Harvard in the first round of the ECAC playoffs with wins of 1-0 and 2-0 behind a combined 86 saves from goaltender Mike Clemente. The Bears have not played an exhibition game this season.
Princeton vs. Yale
Princeton and Yale meet for the 233rd time on Saturday night with Yale holding a 121-102-9 series edge. Princeton has played Yale more than any other opponent. Princeton leads the series 47-9-4 in games played at home. The teams split last season with each winning by a two-goal margin with an empty netter at home. Princeton has won six of its last eight games played against Yale.
Scouting the Bulldogs
Yale opens its season this weekend as the defending ECAC and Ivy League champions. The Bulldogs were picked by the league's coaches and media to repeat as champions again this season. Yale was 24-8-2 a season ago on its way to both the regular season and tournament championships. The Bulldogs first competitive action of this season came in a scrimmage at Dartmouth last Sunday. Yale will play Ontario IT on Friday night before its game at Princeton on Saturday.
Team Notes
Season Openers
Princeton is 59-42-5 all-time in season-opening games. That includes a 36-21-2 record at home, a 12-12 record on the road and an 11-9-3 record at neutral sites. Princeton is 2-0-1 in its last three openers, topping Yale and Brown in the two previous seasons.
Balanced Attack
Princeton had contributions from all lines last season as 19 skaters contributed at least a point, with 18 scoring goals, and 13 Tigers reaching double digits. Princeton had three 20-point scorers last season.
Strong Team Defense
Princeton's 2008-09 team defense was ranked in the top five in the nation in scoring defense. The Tigers allowed a goal or less in 18 games and were fifth in goals against at 2.03 goals per game.
Most Disciplined
The Tigers were the least penalized team in the nation last season, averaging just over five minors per game at 10.6 minutes.
Offense From the Back
Three of Princeton's top 12 scorers last season were defensemen in Jody Pederson, Matt Godlewski and Taylor Fedun. The Tigers had 74 points from defensemen last season, which ranked 15th among all teams in the nation.
Fit to Be Untied
Princeton saw its stretch of 81 games without a tie end in the consolation game of the ECAC tournament. Princeton had last tied a game since Feb. 2, 2007 at Brown.
Princeton has had 12 skaters appear in every game last season. Princeton did not have one who did it the previous season.
On the Horizon
Princeton opens up its ECAC Hockey schedule next weekend at Hobey Baker Rink when St. Lawrence and Clarkson visit Hobey Baker Rink on Friday and Saturday. Each team is currently 3-2 this season. Following Saturday afternoon's game against Clarkson, Princeton will host its first of three Skate with the Tigers events.