RPI and Union visit Baker Rink

Fresh off a season-revitalizing 4-2 victory over Quinnipiac (5-4-2 overall, 2-2-2 Eastern College Athletic Conference Hockey League), the men's hockey team (4-4-0, 3-3-0) will welcome No. 18 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (6-4-3, 1-1-2) and Union (2-5-2, 0-2-2) this weekend for its final two conference games of the calendar year.

"[Last Saturday's victory] was huge for us, not only in the win column but also for us to get back to our game and playing hard-nosed Princeton hockey," sophomore goalie Zane Kalemba said. "The win in Quinnipiac's own building is definitely going to give us more confidence going into this weekend against two solid teams in RPI and Union."

"We were underachieving in the previous games and not sticking to our game plan," sophomore forward Cam MacIntyre said of the Tigers' four straight losses before their victory over the Bobcats. "When we did get back on track we got a win, so if anything I think the win reminds us that when we stick to our game plan we are successful."

The team's playing style emphasizes speed and physicality, which in turn create turnovers and offensive opportunities. Head coach Guy Gadowsky says he likes his team to be "college tough," finishing checks, blocking shots and back-checking with confidence.

"We are not successful when we sit back and play a perimeter game," Kalemba said. "The league is just too tough, and we can't afford not to be physical."

Tonight's opponent, RPI, is currently ranked 18th in the nation. RPI's 1-1-2 conference record, however, is far from impressive. The Engineers do boast two of the best freshmen in the league — forwards Tyler Helfrich and Chase Polacek, who lead all ECACHL newcomers with 11 points apiece. RPI also routinely gets impressive goaltending from Jordan Alford, who currently ranks among the top four in the ECACHL in goals against average, save percentage and winning percentage.

Union finished in the basement of the ECACHL last season and comes into tomorrow's game in last place once again. The Dutchmen also rank at the bottom of the league in both scoring and penalty kills. The Tigers, however, know that Union is a dangerous team and are not taking it lightly. Last season, Princeton and Union played two overtime games, with each squad winning on home ice.

"It really doesn't matter who we're playing, our mentality is the same for every opponent," Kalemba, who is currently 3-3 on the season, said. "We just need to stick to playing Princeton hockey, and if we do that, and everyone buys in, we will be successful."

In the Princeton locker room, there is a general consensus that if the team wants to take its season to the next level, it must maintain a high level of play from game to game. The Tigers won their first three contests of the season in impressive fashion but then dropped their next four.

"We definitely need to work on our consistency as a team," MacIntyre, who currently leads the team in goals and shots, said. "We can be successful when we stick to our team goals, but when we have gotten away from them, things have not gone so well."

One constant on the team thus far has been the play of its freshman class, which has asserted its presence since the first game of the season. Last Saturday against Quinnipiac, the Tigers received two goals from freshman defenseman Cam Ritchie — the reigning Ivy League Rookie of the Week — and 16 saves from first-year goaltender Alan Reynolds.

"I'm very impressed with the play of the whole freshman class, particularly our defensemen — Ritchie, Gods [Matt Godlewski], and Feds [Taylor Fedun]," Kalemba said. "Everyone has been blocking shots very well and playing solid team defense."

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The Tigers currently sit sixth in the ECACHL, but a pair of victories this weekend could move them up as high as third. Princeton plays every ECACHL team twice a season, and while they still have not played some conference teams yet, the Tigers know that these two games are crucial.

"These games are the biggest ones of the season," Kalemba said. "We need to constantly prove ourselves every night because the league is so tight."

"These games are huge," MacIntyre agreed. "Two strong performances would make a statement in the ECACHL, and would also continue to get us back on a winning note as we head into our last four games before the break."