Men's Hockey Hosts Union & RPI This Weekend

Friday, December 9

Princeton, N.J.

7:00 PM

Princeton University

Union

Buy Tickets

Photo by: Shelley M. Szwast

December 08, 2022 | Men's Ice Hockey

Princeton (4-7-0, 3-6-0 ECAC) vs. Union (6-8-1, 3-3-0 ECAC)
December 9 | 7 p.m. | Hobey Baker Rink
ESPN+ | International Stream | Live Stats | Tickets | Game Notes (PDF) | Game Program

Princeton (4-7-0, 3-6-0 ECAC) vs. RPI (7-7-1, 2-4-0 ECAC)
December 10 | 7 p.m. | Hobey Baker Rink | Teddy bear Toss
ESPN+ | International Stream | Live Stats | Tickets | Game Notes (PDF) | Game Program

PRINCETON CELEBRATES 100TH YEAR OF HOBEY BAKER RINK
The nation's oldest on-campus hockey venue is in its 100th season of operation during the 2022-23 season. The first game at Hobey Baker Rink was played on January 8, 1923 and since then the Tigers have played at one of the most venerable barns in all of college hockey. Princeton will celebrate #Hobey100 all year long, including a special "Hobey 100 Weekend" January 6-7.

OFFENSE CLICKING ENTERING THE WEEKEND
The Tigers have scored 15 goals over their last three games, and according to the math majors on the team that is an average of 5.0 goals-per-game with a 2-1-0 record. Princeton's last stretch averaging 5.0 goals-per-game over a three game-span saw the Tigers score five in the final game of the 2019 playoffs (6-5 3OT loss at Brown) and also record five goals in two games at St. Cloud State to open the 2019-20 season.

AMONG THE NATION'S TOP TENDERS
Ethan Pearson entered the weekend ranked No. 12 in the country in GAA (2.02), No. 20 in save percentage (.922), and No. 2 in shutouts (3).

GATHERING GORMANS
In addition to captain Liam Gorman, the Tigers also will line up his younger brother, Brendan, this season. The brothers join their father, Sean, as Princeton Hockey players. Sean is a 1991 Princeton grad who was drafted by the Boston Bruins out of college. Both Liam and Brendan played high school hockey at St. Sebastian's before joining the Tigers as true freshmen. Last year with St. Sebs, Brendan tallied 49 points (11g, 38a) in 25 games while earning ISL MVP honors.

LITTLE BRO, BIG GOALS
Brendan Gorman is third on the team with three goals through nine games to open his Princeton career, scoring the Tigers' first goal of the season at Harvard and connecting in back-to-back games against Colgate and Yale. His seven points overall are tied for second on the team with two other players -- including big bro, Liam.

GORMAN FAMILY SCORING RACE
1. Sean Gorman -- 23 pts (5g, 18a) in 99 games
2. Liam Gorman -- 18 pts. (9g, 9a) in 70 games
3. Brendan Gorman -- 8 pts. (3g, 5a) in 10 games

FRESH FACES
The Tigers are expected to have eight freshmen in the lineup tonight, and that group has acclimated itself well to college hockey. Overall, Princeton's nine newcomers have registered 21 points (6g, 15a) this season -- accounting for 28% of the team's total points and 20% of its goals.

POWERING UP
Princeton is 10-for-54 on the power play this season. Jack Cronin has four power-play goals, while Liam Gorman and Pito Walton each have two. The others have come from Brendan Gorman and Noa de la Durantaye. The Tigers have PPGs in 9-of-11 games this season, including a 2-for-4 night last Saturday against St. Lawrence.

JACK ATTACK
Jack Cronin has struck for four PPGs -- which leads the ECAC and is No. 14 in the country -- and a team-high seven goals overall this season. He has already blew by his two goals from the 2021-22 season, and his 9 points through 11 games this year already surpass his point total (6) from 23 games last season. He has goals in four consecutive games and points in 7-of-11 games this season.

LEANIN' ON LIAM
Liam Gorman has found his scoring touch in his senior season. Originally a Pittsburgh Penguins draft pick, Chicago traded for his rights this past summer. He posted his first career two-point night (1g, 1a) against Colgate on 11/5 and his five goals this season are a new career high. He has six points (5g, 1a) this season, tying his career high in that category. He had a goal in three consecutive games before being held scoreless last Saturday.

THE MURPH
Ian Murphy is the top returning scorer from the 2021-21 season, where he posted 19 points on nine goals and 10 assists as a sophomore during his first collegiate season before skating with the Vancouver Canucks during the summer as part of NHL Development Camp. His nine goals are the most among Tigers back in the lineup for 2022-23, and his 10 helpers are tied for most among players returning. After missing the first game, he has seven points (1g, 6a) in 10 games played this season.

ABOUT ADAM
Adam Robbins had a breakout 2021-22 season, posting 13 points (5g, 8a) over 31 games played – including a blistering start where he had points in four consecutive games (1g, 4a) to open the season. His totals blew by his 2019-20 total of 2 points (0g, 2a) over 18 games. During the 2020-21 year, Robbins won a Clark Cup with the Chicago Steel. So far this season, Robbins has six assists -- including five power-play helpers --

PITO POCKETS POINTS
Defenseman Pito Walton turned a 6-point 2019-20 season into an 11-point campaign last year. He had career highs in goals (4) and assists (7), highlighted by a three-assist night at Yale on 11/6/21. He enters the weekend with eight points (3g, 5a).

SPENCER ON FIRE
Spencer Kersten set career highs last season in goals (6), assists (10) and points (16) while playing in all 31 games. He was 52% on faceoffs last season, winning 211-of-406. This year, he is 117-for-187 (63%) on draws and notched his first assist of the season last Saturday.

SETTING SEITZ
Nick Seitz also had a breakout 2021-22 season, setting career highs in goals (3), assists (6) and points (9). This year, he has followed up with 5 points (4g, 1a) through 10 games. He spent this summer teaching English in Ecuador.

DE LA SOUL
Noah de la Durantaye had 10 points (3g, 7a) last season during his debut campaign. He had a pair of two-assist games (vs. St. Lawrence and RIT) and had points in both playoff games to end last season. This season, he has 2g, 5a -- including five points (2g, 3a) over his last four games. He spent the summer with the Vegas Golden Knights participating in NHL Development Camp.