Princeton University
RPI
Players Mentioned
Streaking Tigers Headed to RPI and No. 7 Union
February 17, 2017 | Men's Ice Hockey
| Games 26 & 27: Princeton at RPI & No. 7 Union | |
| Game Times | at Rensselaer, Friday, Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. l Houston Field House l Tickets |
| at Union, Saturday, Feb. 18 at 7 p.m. l Messa Rink l Tickets | |
| Game Coverage | Friday: Live Video l Live Stats Saturday: Live Video l Live Stats |
| Series Info | Princeton trails RPI 67-34-11 (streak: 1 win) |
| Princeton trails Union 29-23-7 (streak: 12 losses, 3 ties) | |
| Princeton | Roster l Schedule l Stats l |
| RPI | Roster l Schedule l Stats l @RPI_Hockey l 6-24-1, 4-14 ECAC/11th |
| Union | Roster l Schedule l Stats l @UnionMHockey l 20-8-2, 13-4-1 ECAC/1st |
EYE ON THE TIGERS
Princeton is unbeaten in its last six games, 4-0-2, which includes two wins over ranked opponents. Overall the Tigers are 11-11-3 and currently sit in eighth place with a 6-9-3 record for 15 points, two ahead of both Colgate and Dartmouth. This is Princeton's best late-season record since the 2010-11 season. Sophomore Max Véronneau has a one-point lead over his linemate Ryan Kuffner on the scoring list. Véronneau has eight goals and 20 assists for 28 points, while Kuffner has net a team-high 14 goals while adding 13 assists. Freshman and ECAC Rookie of the Week Jackson Cressey is on their heels with 26 points, while junior David Hallisey has 24. Junior Eric Robinson is second on the team in goals with 10 while adding four assists, while sophomores Alex Riche and Josh Teves are also in double digits. Senior Colton Phinney, who has been named the ECAC Goalie of the Week, the last two weeks sports a .905 save percentage and a 3.26 GAA.
SCOUTING THE ENGINEERS
Rensselaer is 6-24-1 on the season and with a 4-14 league record, the squad sits 11th in the ECAC Hockey standings. The team averages 2.16 goals per game, while allowing 3.65 gpg. The power play ranks 12th nationally, having converted on 29 of 139 chances (20.9%), while the penalty kill has allowed 33 for 79.8%. Senior Riley Bourbonnais has scored the most goals on the team, 13, and adds 11 assists for 24 points. Only sophomore Evan Tironese has more points, with 25, on six goals and a team-best 19 assists. Jacob Hayhurst leads the rookies in scoring with 17 points, while Jared Wilson has 13 points to guide the defensemen. Sophomore Chase Perry (DET) has taken over as the starting netminder. He is 4-16-1 with a .912 save percentage and a 3.20 GAA. Sophomore Cam Hackett is 2-8 with an .892 save percentage and a 3.89 GAA.
THE PRINCETON/RENSSELAER SERIES
The Engineers are 67-34-11 in the all-time series and have won the last three meetings at Houston Field House. The Tigers took a 6-5 overtime game at Hobey Baker Rink in Dec. 3 with Jackson Cressey netting the game-winner while assisting on three other goals. Max Véronneau also had four points with two goals and four assists. Cam Hackett made 49 saves in the loss for the Engineers as the Tigers outshot the Engineers 55-21.
SCOUTING THE DUTCHMEN
Union enters the weekend in first place in the ECAC with a 13-4-1 record and a one-point edge on Harvard. Only two points separate the top four teams in the league. Overall the squad is ranked No. 7 in both national polls at 20-8-2 - but has gone 2-3 in its last five games. The tandem of Mike Vecchione and Spencer Foo has been unstoppable this season, as they both rank in the top five nationally in points per game with 51 and 50 points. They've combined for 13 power-play goals, six short-handed goals and eight game-winning goals. Sophomore Sebastian Vidmar follows with 33 points, while classmate Brett Supinski has 27 and senior defender Jeff Taylor (PIT) has 25. Union has the fifth best scoring offense in the nation, averaging 3.87 gpg while allowing 2.87 gpg. Senior Alex Sakellaropoulos is 17-4-1 with a .921 save percentage and a 2.44 GAA. The power play ranks 25th (31/165), while the penalty kill is 38th (105/129).
THE PRINCETON/UNION SERIES
The Tigers look to snap a 15-game winless skid in the series with the Dutchmen, as Union is 12-0-3 since the 2010-11 season. Princeton's last win was a 3-1 win in Game 3 of the ECAC Quarterfinals, that advanced Princeton to the ECAC semifinals. On Dec. 2, Union overcame a 2-1 deficit after the first period to score five in the second period en route to a 7-2 win. Max Véronneau had a three-point game for the Tigers, while Mike Vecchione and Spencer Foo did for the Dutchmen. Alex Sakellaropoulos made 26 saves, while Colton Phinney made 19 and Ben Halford made 12 in the tandem effort.