For the second consecutive year, the men's club ice hockey team found itself playing on the final day of the league championships. Unlike last season, however, number two-seeded Princeton did not emerge as Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Hockey Association (MACHA) champion. The Tigers fell, 5-2, to the Wagner Seahawks on Sunday afternoon.
Despite the loss, the team completed another successful season which saw the Tigers go 11-4-2 in the league. Aside from their second place finish in the league, a number of Princeton players were recognized for their individual achievements.
Junior forward Joe Ulerich registered the most goals at 23 and tied for the most total points in the league by notching 41 on the season. For these accomplishments, he was named the regular season MVP. Additionally, freshman forward Austin Chow finished first in the league in assists by tallying 22.
The club team, which recently celebrated its 10-year anniversary, was started in 1994 after the junior varsity team was dissolved. At the outset, Princeton played in the Delaware Valley College Hockey Conference (DVCHC) and won league championships in 1996 and 1997.
The team left the DVCHC in 2000 and joined the MACHA, a Division II league of the American College Hockey Association (ACHA). Other teams in the league include several Varsity programs, at Penn, Lafayette, Monmouth, Seton Hall, William Patterson, and UMBC.
Tigers fall in title match
In the 2004-05 campaign, the team lost in the MACHA championship game, 5-3, to rival Wagner College. Wagner, the team that Princeton usually measures itself against, eventually made it to the Division II Final Four. With this result, it is clear that the MACHA is beginning to gain notice as a force in DII hockey.
Though it lost several key players from last year's team, the Tigers were again poised for another championship run.
In the first half of the season, which runs from the end of September to Winter Break, the team went 10-3-2 with dominant wins over Rider, Temple, Lafayette, and William Patterson. The three losses came at the hands of perennial league powerhouse Wagner, 4-2, Rider, 6-3, and non-league opponent Penn State, 4-3.
The second half of the season, in particular the last stretch of games, did not treat the Tigers as well.
"The team has actually hit a bit of a rough spot lately, as we have lost three in a row," junior goaltender Evan Graboyes said. "Our team has an astonishingly good power play and when we play well, we do a great job forechecking, getting traffic in front of the net on offense and covering people in the defensive zone. When we struggle, it is because those aspects of our game are suffering."
Graboyes is one of three goaltenders on the team. Sophomore Jeff Mansfield, a former varsity goaltender who moved to the club team earlier this year, usually splits time with Graboyes.
It isn't all fun and games for the club hockey team, however. Though it seems like a relaxed squad when compared to the other Varsity teams in the league, the Tigers do hold mandatory practices twice a week from 9-11 p.m.
"We work mostly on basic skating and passing drills along with some simple breakouts, regroups, and set plays," Ulerich said.
Varsity caliber players
Most players on the team are used to practices such as these, having played competitive hockey throughout high school on both Varsity and club teams. As players on the team are quick to point out, however, this extensive experience is not required and there are those with less background in the game who still see the ice on a regular basis.
With all of this experience, the talent pool is quite large. Due to this, a few club hockey players got a chance to transition to the varsity team in the past few seasons. Luc Paquin, last year's star on the varsity, took a year off junior year and played with the club hockey team. Come senior year, he rejoined the varsity team for a breakout season. He is currently playing for a Dutch team.
"The Varsity coaches watch some of our games and will typically ask our coach about players," Ulerich said. "With a new rule that walk-ons must play a year of club first, I believe that the interaction between the club and varsity team will continue."
In the end, for this group of guys who love to play, wins and losses and the chance to play varsity hockey mean less than the thrill of the fight and the camaraderie that results.
"The team is very tight knit and everyone plays for the right reasons," Ulerich said. "It's just a bunch of guys who love the game and are enjoying themselves, something that's hard to find on competitive teams at any level ... I have more respect for the group of guys in that club locker room than any other hockey team I have played with."
For those interested in playing club hockey, email senior captain Matt Valvano. The team will let anyone practice with them and with so many graduating seniors, they are in need of an influx of new talent.
When asked about the team's offensive system, Ulerich's summed up the club hockey team's atmosphere and talent with a laugh: "We run a free flowing offense centered upon individual creativity and talent."
Both the creativity and the talent are crucial to the team's success as the Tigers have becom a force in DII hockey.
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