Cahoon's resignation marks end of an era for men's hockey

The men's hockey team came into the season with very few expectations. After losing the best class in Princeton history — a class that included current Washington Capital Jeff Halpern '99 — the Tigers were expected to finish 11th in the 12-team Eastern College Athletic Conference.

But Princeton proved that its program has progressed to the point where it will not lie down for any team.

The builder of that program, however, will not be back next year to make another run at the ECAC title as head coach Don Cahoon stepped down April 5 to take the reins at UMass-Amherst. Cahoon will be replaced by longtime assistant Len Quesnelle '88.

Competitive

In Cahoon's last season behind the Princeton bench, the Tigers were only 10-16-4 overall, but managed a respectable 8-9-4 record within the league — keeping them in the race for home ice advantage in the first round of the ECAC playoffs until the last night of the regular season.

Disappointing sweeps at the hands of Colgate and Cornell March 3-4 in the regular season's final weekend knocked the Tigers into the sixth playoff position and also kept them from claiming back-to-back Ivy League titles. Princeton had to travel to upstate New York to take on its nemesis, the Clarkson Golden Knights — who had knocked the Tigers out of the ECAC Tournament the previous year — in a three-game series to determine who would make the ECAC Final Five in Lake Placid, N.Y.

"It was a tough ending losing the Ivy title and home ice for the playoffs at Cornell," forward Dave Bennett '02 said.

The Tigers traveled to Cheel Arena on March 10 to take on the Golden Knights. Princeton jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first game, threatening to end the 15-0 home playoff win streak the Golden Knights had established on their home ice.

Clarkson would fight back, though, and take that first game, 3-2, before coming back to win the next night, 2-1, to earn the berth in the Final Five.

"It deflated us a little when they came back from our 2-0 lead in the first game," forward Chris Corrinet '01 said. "I don't think it really kept us from giving a good effort on Saturday, but that was tough."

The Class of 2000 does not leave Princeton without its share of impressive achievements, however. The seniors graduated with the most wins of any class in Princeton history — 66. They also made the ECAC Final Five three times in their four years at Princeton, including a Cinderella run to the title in 1998.

"Our class is not going to be recognized like the class of '99," forward Brad Meredith '00 said. "Even though no one is going to be in the NHL next season, we have some very good players."

In addition to losing Meredith, the Tigers will lose much of the heart and soul of the team with the graduations of defenseman Darren Yopyk '00 and forward Benoit Morin '00.

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Yopyk, the team's captain, led a young defensive corps and improved his offensive numbers with 10 points before breaking his leg with two weeks left in the season. Without him, the Tigers would not win another game.

Morin was a feisty competitor whose stickwork and hard shot were overshadowed by another aspect of his game: He set the Princeton record for career penalty minutes with the 297th of his career in a game against Union — a record that he was able to compile in only three seasons.

The Tigers came into the season knowing that it would be a rebuilding year, yet still sent out a competitive team and almost gave themselves another chance at a Cinderella run to the ECAC championship.