Princeton University Athletics
Friday, October 31
Princeton, N.J.
7:00 PM
Princeton University
1-0-0
5
vs
2
Alaska-Fairbanks
2-7-0
1
2
3
F
Alas. Fairbanks
0
1
1
2
Princeton
1
1
3
5
Photo by: Shelley M. Szwast
Men's Hockey Opens 25-26 With 5-2 Win Over Alaska-Fairbanks
October 31, 2025 | Men's Ice Hockey
The 2025-26 season opener saw Princeton receive five goals from four different goal scorers en route to a 5-2 win over Alaska-Anchorage at Hobey Baker Rink.
Jaxson Ezman scored twice, breaking open a 2-1 game through two periods. Tyler Rubin also had a multi-point night with a goal and an assist. Princeton's other goals came from Kai Daniells and Miles Gunty.
Arthur Smith made 20 saves in the win.
The victory in the season opener is the first for the Tigers since a 5-3 win at St. Cloud State on November 1, 2019.
Kai Daniells opened the scoring with 6:24 to play in the first period, stuffing home a shot from tight to the near post to give Princeton a 1-0 lead. All three forwards were involved in the sequence as David Jacobs knocked down an Alaska clearing attempt and caught the Nanooks leaning a bit with Jake Manfre and Daniells heading the other way on a 2-on-1.
A quick one-handed dish from Manfre found Daniells with enough space to quickly knock the puck past Lehti.
The Nanooks finally got on the board with 4:34 to play in the second via a shot through traffic off the stick of Jhett Larson. A Princeton clear was denied by Liam Fleet at the blue line, and he fed a pass across the point to Larson who went back across the grain a bit and through a teammates body to evade Smith's save attempt and cut Princeton's lead in half.
Ezman broke through for two goals to open the third period to give the Tigers a 4-1 lead.
Just over four minutes later, Ezman battled in front and redirected a Kai Greaves shot to extend the lead to three.
Princeton closed the door with a long-distance Tyler Rubin empty-netter with 5:41 to play.
Jaxson Ezman scored twice, breaking open a 2-1 game through two periods. Tyler Rubin also had a multi-point night with a goal and an assist. Princeton's other goals came from Kai Daniells and Miles Gunty.
Arthur Smith made 20 saves in the win.
The victory in the season opener is the first for the Tigers since a 5-3 win at St. Cloud State on November 1, 2019.
Kai Daniells opened the scoring with 6:24 to play in the first period, stuffing home a shot from tight to the near post to give Princeton a 1-0 lead. All three forwards were involved in the sequence as David Jacobs knocked down an Alaska clearing attempt and caught the Nanooks leaning a bit with Jake Manfre and Daniells heading the other way on a 2-on-1.
A quick one-handed dish from Manfre found Daniells with enough space to quickly knock the puck past Lehti.
The lead doubled for the Tigers early in the second when Miles Gunty slipped free in the slot to redirect a pass with purpose from Tyler Rubin 2:07 into the middle frame.Our 25-26 Account Is Officially Open!
— Princeton Men's Ice Hockey (@princetonhockey) October 31, 2025
Kai Daniells stuffs home our first of the year!@ecachockey | @NCAAIceHockey pic.twitter.com/tzdbcPkNl6
The Tigers had a chance to add to their lead midway through the second on the power play, but failed to convert on any of their five shots.Miles Makes Us Smile!
— Princeton Men's Ice Hockey (@princetonhockey) November 1, 2025
A sweet redirection from Miles Gunty doubles our lead!@ecachockey | @NCAAIceHockey pic.twitter.com/8RlqR1hFyg
The Nanooks finally got on the board with 4:34 to play in the second via a shot through traffic off the stick of Jhett Larson. A Princeton clear was denied by Liam Fleet at the blue line, and he fed a pass across the point to Larson who went back across the grain a bit and through a teammates body to evade Smith's save attempt and cut Princeton's lead in half.
Ezman broke through for two goals to open the third period to give the Tigers a 4-1 lead.
His first came less than a minute into the final frame as he took a loose puck after a Brendan Gorman shot was blocked and quickly roofed it into a wide open net before the Nanooks could recover.E-Z Money!
— Princeton Men's Ice Hockey (@princetonhockey) November 1, 2025
Jaxson Ezman scoops up a loose puck and roofs home his first of the year for a 3-1 lead!@ecachockey | @NCAAIceHockey | @Buccigross pic.twitter.com/clF6x07Hyy
Just over four minutes later, Ezman battled in front and redirected a Kai Greaves shot to extend the lead to three.
The Nanooks got one back just past the midway mark of the third period when Haden Kruse slipped open in front to one-time a Dean Spak pass from behind the end line.Tip Drill!
— Princeton Men's Ice Hockey (@princetonhockey) November 1, 2025
Jaxson Ezman with his second goal of the night!@ecachockey | @NCAAIceHockey | @Buccigross | @TeamECH pic.twitter.com/O8Kg0gPxOb
Princeton closed the door with a long-distance Tyler Rubin empty-netter with 5:41 to play.
The Tigers and Nanooks complete the weekend series on November 1 with a 7 p.m. puck drop at Hobey Baker Rink.Rubin From The Parking Lot! pic.twitter.com/LoFQlAOSOS
— Princeton Men's Ice Hockey (@princetonhockey) November 1, 2025
Team Stats
ALA
PRI
Shots
22
34
PPG
0
0
SHG
0
0
Penalties
2
3
Penalty Mins
4
6
Faceoffs Won
26
37
Game Leaders
+/-
2
Goals
2
Sh
4
A
0
+/-
2
Goals
1
Sh
2
A
1
+/-
1
Goals
1
Sh
8
A
0
+/-
1
Goals
1
Sh
3
A
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Ice HockeyF
/ Men's Ice Hockey
F
/ Men's Ice Hockey
D
/ Men's Ice HockeyF
/ Men's Ice Hockey
F
/ Men's Ice Hockey
F
/ Men's Ice HockeyD
/ Men's Ice Hockey
G
/ Men's Ice HockeyPlatform & Opportunity: Meet the Men’s Ice Hockey Tiger Pals Mentors
Wednesday, February 26
Princeton Hockey: Tiger Pals
Wednesday, February 19
Princeton Athletics 2023-24 Highlights
Tuesday, June 04
Feature: Broomball at Baker Rink
Thursday, January 18