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Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
Michigan State
Players Mentioned
2016-17 Season Begins at Michigan State on Friday
October 26, 2016 | Men's Ice Hockey
| Game 1: Princeton at Michigan State and USA Hockey | |
| Game Times | Oct. 28 at 7 p.m. at Munn Arena l Oct. 29 at 7 p.m. at USA Hockey Arena |
| Game Coverage | Friday: Live Video l Live Stats Saturday: Live Video l Live Stats |
| Series Info | Princeton trails 1-6Â (streak: 1 loss) |
| Records | Princeton (0-0); MSU (0-4) |
| Princeton | Roster l Schedule l Stats l |
| Michigan State | Roster l Schedule l Stats l @MSU_Hockey |
PRINCETON, N.J. (10/26/16) - The Princeton men's hockey team opens the 2016-17 season on Friday when it travels to East Lansing to take on Michigan State at 7 p.m. The following evening the Tigers will face off in an exhibition game against the USA Under-18 team at USA Hockey Arena.
EYE ON THE TIGERS
Princeton returns 87 percent of its scoring from the 2015-16 season and its top five scorers. ECAC All-Rookie selection Ryan Kuffner is back after a 20-point season as is teammate Max Veronneau who scored 11 goals and six assists. Juniors Eric Robinson and David Hallisey are both coming off of 11-point seasons. Senior captain Ryan Siiro had 10 points last year and is the veteran on the team, having played in 117 games. The Tigers will rely on senior Colton Phinney between the pipes. He enters the season with the second-most career saves in the country with 2,450. A second-team All-Ivy League pick last year, Phinney posted a .924 save percentage and is on the Mike Richter Award watch list.
SCOUTING THE SPARTANS
Michigan State is 0-4 on the season after opening with a pair of losses at Lake Superior State and two at home to Denver last weekend. The Spartans lost three NHL draft picks from a year ago when it went 10-23-4 and its top two leading scorers. Thus far its sophomore Mason Appleton (WPG) leading the offense with one goal and two assists for three points. Senior Villiam Haag, sophomore Zach Osburn and freshmen Patrick Khodorenko and Logan Lambdin have a goal and an assist each. For the first time in four years, Michigan State has a new netminder after losing four-year starter Jake Hildebrand. Junior Ed Minney has played in three games and has an .857 save percentage and a 4.19 GAA. Freshman John Lethemon has an .842 save percentage and a 4.58 GAA in 78 minutes of action. The Spartans are 2 for 28 on the power play and 15 for 21 on the penalty kill.
THE PRINCETON/MICHIGAN STATE SERIES
Michigan State leads the all-time series with Princeton, 6-1 since the teams first met in 1959 at a tournament at Rensselaer. The Tigers last visited East Lansing during Thanksgiving weekend in 2013 dropping a pair of games. The Spartans returned the trip in 2014 with their first ever trip to Hobey Baker Rink. The Tigers won the first game 3-1 before a 4-2 loss in the second game.