Men's Ice Hockey Celebrates 2022-23 Season
April 17, 2023 | Men's Ice Hockey
The 2022-23 Princeton men's ice hockey team gathered as a group on April 7 to celebrate the recently concluded season at the Nassau Inn with its annual Team Banquet. The Tigers spent one more afternoon together to honor the Class of 2023, present the annual team awards and commemorate a season which included a successful celebration of 100 Years of Hobey Baker Rink and a victory over Union in the first round of the ECAC Playoffs.
The 2022-23 season saw the Tigers win 13 games overall, a five-win improvement from the previous season. Picked to finish 12th in the ECAC in the preseason poll. the Tigers hovered around the top-four all season long before ultimately finishing tied for No. 7 in the league.
The year was one of growth and improvement all around as 11 of Princeton's returning skaters from the 2021-22 season had career years in terms of points, and both returning goaltenders either matched or set new career highs in wins.
Ian Murphy and Pito Walton - The Blackwell Trophy
In memory of William Bayard Blackwell '32. Awarded annually to that member of the Princeton varsity hockey team who in play, sportsmanship and influence has contributed most to the sport.
Ian Murphy set new career highs in goals (15), assists (14), points (29), and power-play goals (3) this season, leading the Tigers in goals, assists, and points. He had two hat tricks during the season, tied for most among ECAC players and tied for No. 6 in the country. His 0.48 goals-per-game ranked No. 6 in the ECAC and No. 29 in the nation, and his 0.94 points-per-game was No. 11 in the ECAC and No. 49 in the country. He had points in 17 of his 31 games played, and had seven multi-point games. His best day was a four-point game at Dartmouth where he had a hat trick and an assist. At Union in the first round of the ECAC Playoffs, he had two goals and an assist., also posting three-point games against LIU (2g, 1) and RPI (3g) during the season.
Tri-captain Pito Walton was third overall on the team and tops among defensemen in points with 21 this season, tying for the team lead in assists with 14. In his senior campaign, Walton set new career-highs in goals (7), assists (14) and points (21). He had points in 16 of 32 games, including a three-assist game against RPI on December 10 and two-point games against Clarkson (1g, 1a), Colorado College (1g, 1a) and Providence (2a). He netted the game-winning goal against Brown at Baker Rink on February 17 for his first career GWG. Walton was at his best in December, tallying seven total points to earn ECAC Defender of the Month honors.
Liam Gorman - 1941 Championship Trophy
Awarded annually to that varsity player who best reflected the winning spirit of the 1941 championship team and in doing so was an inspiration to his teammates. Given by the 1941 team.
A tri-captain this season, Liam Gorman had his most productive season in his senior campaign. He set career highs in goals (12), assists (12), points (24), power-play goals (4) and short-handed goals (2). His 24 points were No. 2 on the team and his 12 goals were also second on the squad. Highlight games included a two-goal game against Harvard during Hobey 100 Weekend, a three-point game (1g, 2a) at Dartmouth, a three-point night (2g, 1a) against LIU and a two-assist effort against Union in the Playoffs. In his 91 career games, Gorman tallied 36 points on 16 goals and 20 assists.
Matt Hayami - The Richard F. Vaughan Cup
Awarded annually to that varsity player who best exemplifies perseverance and dedication to Princeton Hockey.
Matt Hayami's senior season was his most memorable as he played in a career-high 26 games. He scored his first collegiate goal at RIT on November 25, and netted his second career goal in his final collegiate game at Harvard in the ECAC Quarterfinals.
Brendan Gorman and David Jacobs - The Hobey Baker Trophy
In memory of Hobart Amory Baker '14. Awarded annually to that Princeton freshman hockey player who, among his classmates, in play sportsmanship and influence has contributed most to the sport.
Brendan Gorman led all Princeton rookies in points with 19, scoring five goals and adding 14 assists. His 14 assists tied for the overall team lead and his 19 points were fourth among all Princeton skaters this season. he scored his first collegiate goal in his first career game, scoring at Harvard on October 29. He followed up with goals in back-to-back games against Colgate (November 5) and Yale (November 11). He also had two-assist games against Clarkson (December 2) and RPI (February 24). He had at least one point in 17 of his 31 games played this season.
David Jacobs posted a 15-point first season for the Tigers, scoring five goals and dishing out 10 assists while appearing in all 32 games. He had a goal and an assist in a 5-0 win at No. 20 RIT on November 26, and followed up with a matching two-point games against St. Lawrence on December 3 and RPI on December 7.
Mike Kennedy and Spencer Kersten - The Tucker Ironman Award
In memory of Thomas J. Tucker '95. Awarded annually to that member of the Princeton men's hockey team who best exemplifies the ironman spirit through his pre-season commitment to conditioning and overall physical endurance.
Mike Kennedy played in 28 games this season, setting a career-high with five points (1g, 4a) from the blue line. In addition, he blocked a career-best 39 shots -- second-most by a Tiger. He had a two-assist game in a 5-0 win at No. 29 RIT on November 26, and scored at Union in the regular season finale before adding another helper the next weekend in the first round of the ECAC Playoffs.
Tri-captain Spencer Kersten played in 31 games this season, tallying 10 points on four goals and six assists. He set career highs with 297 faceoff wins and a .556 faceoff win percentage. His two short-handed goals this season were tied for the team lead and tied for No. 6 by any player in the nation. he exploded for three assists at RPI on February 24, and then came through huge in the clutch in the ECAC Playoffs with two goals late to break a 4-4 tie and send the Tigers on to the Quarterfinals.
The 2022-23 season saw the Tigers win 13 games overall, a five-win improvement from the previous season. Picked to finish 12th in the ECAC in the preseason poll. the Tigers hovered around the top-four all season long before ultimately finishing tied for No. 7 in the league.
The year was one of growth and improvement all around as 11 of Princeton's returning skaters from the 2021-22 season had career years in terms of points, and both returning goaltenders either matched or set new career highs in wins.
Ian Murphy and Pito Walton - The Blackwell Trophy
In memory of William Bayard Blackwell '32. Awarded annually to that member of the Princeton varsity hockey team who in play, sportsmanship and influence has contributed most to the sport.
Ian Murphy set new career highs in goals (15), assists (14), points (29), and power-play goals (3) this season, leading the Tigers in goals, assists, and points. He had two hat tricks during the season, tied for most among ECAC players and tied for No. 6 in the country. His 0.48 goals-per-game ranked No. 6 in the ECAC and No. 29 in the nation, and his 0.94 points-per-game was No. 11 in the ECAC and No. 49 in the country. He had points in 17 of his 31 games played, and had seven multi-point games. His best day was a four-point game at Dartmouth where he had a hat trick and an assist. At Union in the first round of the ECAC Playoffs, he had two goals and an assist., also posting three-point games against LIU (2g, 1) and RPI (3g) during the season.
Tri-captain Pito Walton was third overall on the team and tops among defensemen in points with 21 this season, tying for the team lead in assists with 14. In his senior campaign, Walton set new career-highs in goals (7), assists (14) and points (21). He had points in 16 of 32 games, including a three-assist game against RPI on December 10 and two-point games against Clarkson (1g, 1a), Colorado College (1g, 1a) and Providence (2a). He netted the game-winning goal against Brown at Baker Rink on February 17 for his first career GWG. Walton was at his best in December, tallying seven total points to earn ECAC Defender of the Month honors.
Liam Gorman - 1941 Championship Trophy
Awarded annually to that varsity player who best reflected the winning spirit of the 1941 championship team and in doing so was an inspiration to his teammates. Given by the 1941 team.
A tri-captain this season, Liam Gorman had his most productive season in his senior campaign. He set career highs in goals (12), assists (12), points (24), power-play goals (4) and short-handed goals (2). His 24 points were No. 2 on the team and his 12 goals were also second on the squad. Highlight games included a two-goal game against Harvard during Hobey 100 Weekend, a three-point game (1g, 2a) at Dartmouth, a three-point night (2g, 1a) against LIU and a two-assist effort against Union in the Playoffs. In his 91 career games, Gorman tallied 36 points on 16 goals and 20 assists.
Matt Hayami - The Richard F. Vaughan Cup
Awarded annually to that varsity player who best exemplifies perseverance and dedication to Princeton Hockey.
Matt Hayami's senior season was his most memorable as he played in a career-high 26 games. He scored his first collegiate goal at RIT on November 25, and netted his second career goal in his final collegiate game at Harvard in the ECAC Quarterfinals.
Brendan Gorman and David Jacobs - The Hobey Baker Trophy
In memory of Hobart Amory Baker '14. Awarded annually to that Princeton freshman hockey player who, among his classmates, in play sportsmanship and influence has contributed most to the sport.
Brendan Gorman led all Princeton rookies in points with 19, scoring five goals and adding 14 assists. His 14 assists tied for the overall team lead and his 19 points were fourth among all Princeton skaters this season. he scored his first collegiate goal in his first career game, scoring at Harvard on October 29. He followed up with goals in back-to-back games against Colgate (November 5) and Yale (November 11). He also had two-assist games against Clarkson (December 2) and RPI (February 24). He had at least one point in 17 of his 31 games played this season.
David Jacobs posted a 15-point first season for the Tigers, scoring five goals and dishing out 10 assists while appearing in all 32 games. He had a goal and an assist in a 5-0 win at No. 20 RIT on November 26, and followed up with a matching two-point games against St. Lawrence on December 3 and RPI on December 7.
Mike Kennedy and Spencer Kersten - The Tucker Ironman Award
In memory of Thomas J. Tucker '95. Awarded annually to that member of the Princeton men's hockey team who best exemplifies the ironman spirit through his pre-season commitment to conditioning and overall physical endurance.
Mike Kennedy played in 28 games this season, setting a career-high with five points (1g, 4a) from the blue line. In addition, he blocked a career-best 39 shots -- second-most by a Tiger. He had a two-assist game in a 5-0 win at No. 29 RIT on November 26, and scored at Union in the regular season finale before adding another helper the next weekend in the first round of the ECAC Playoffs.
Tri-captain Spencer Kersten played in 31 games this season, tallying 10 points on four goals and six assists. He set career highs with 297 faceoff wins and a .556 faceoff win percentage. His two short-handed goals this season were tied for the team lead and tied for No. 6 by any player in the nation. he exploded for three assists at RPI on February 24, and then came through huge in the clutch in the ECAC Playoffs with two goals late to break a 4-4 tie and send the Tigers on to the Quarterfinals.
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