ECAC Hockey Champions Honor Seniors at Year End Banquet

The Princeton men's hockey team held its annual team banquet on Friday night at Prospect House to honor its seniors, celebrate its championship season and present year end awards.

The ECAC Hockey Champions posted a 19-13-4 overall record and won the league as the No. 7 seed, dispatching the No. 1, 2 and 3 seeds en route to the Whitelaw Cup. Princeton had the second-best scoring offense in the nation, averaging 3.64 goals per game. The 131 goals scored during the season is a program record and an incredible step after recording the fewest goals in a season just three yeas ago. Princeton finished the season with the nation's best power-play unit, converting 27.7 percent (36/130).

The first award to be presented was the Richard E. Vaughan Cup. It is awarded annually to the varsity player who best exemplifies perseverance and dedication to Princeton Hockey. This year it was given to junior Ryan Kuffner. A second-team All-America selection, Kuffner was second-team All-ECAC and honorable mention All-Ivy League. The ECAC Hockey Player of the Month in February, he had a 13-game point scoring streak of 31 points in 13 games, which included a seven-game goal scoring streak with 10 goals in seven games. Kuffner was second in the nation in goals per game and fifth in the nation in points per game, with 29 goals and 23 assists and finished with a + 24 on-ice rating.

For the second straight year junior Max Véronneau was presented with the Blackwell Trophy, given to the member of the team who in play, sportsmanship and influence has contributed most to the sport. A second-team All-America, Véronneau was named first-team all-ECAC and all-Ivy League. He led the nation in assists per game and was third in the country in points per game, finishing with a +23 on-ice rating. He had a 10-game point scoring streak during the year with 20 points in those 10 games. In addition, he set the Princeton record for points in a season with 55.

The Hobey Baker Trophy, awarded annually to the team's freshman hockey player who, among his classmates, in play, sportsmanship and influence has contributed most to the sport, was awarded to Ryan Ferland. The starting netminder this season, Ferland posted an 18-11-4 record and a .912 save percentage. With 990 saves, he tied for the second most saves in a single season in Princeton history. The ECAC Hockey Tournament Most Outstanding Player, made 30+ saves in 18 games with a season-best 43 in a 2-2 draw with No. 1 St. Cloud. He was named the ECAC Hockey Rookie of the Month in December, earned three ECAC weekly honors and had two NCAA Top Plays of the Week during his rookie campaign.

Senior defenseman Matt Nelson was the recipient of the Tucker Ironman Award. Presented to the member of the team who best exemplifies the Ironman spirit through his off-season preparation, commitment to conditioning and overall physical endurance. Nelson tallied 11 points this season, with five coming in the post season, including a goal and an assist in the NCAAs.

Senior co-captain Eric Robinson took home the 1941 Championship Trophy. It is presented annually to that varsity player who best reflected the winning spirit of the 1941 championship team and in so doing was an inspiration to his teammates. An ECAC All-Tournament team selection, Robinson scored twice in Princeton's 4-1 win over No. 1 seed Cornell in the ECAC semifinal. In 36 games he tallied 17 goals and 14 assists, with eight of his 31 points coming during the post season.

Princeton then honored each member of the Class of 2018: Max Becker, Ryan Berlin, Joe Grabowski, Ben Halford, David Hallisey, Matt Nelson, Stuart Pomeroy and Eric Robinson.

At the conclusion of the banquet captains for the 2018-19 season were announced with Kuffner and Véronneau serving as alternates to junior Josh Teves.

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