“We are excited to get out there,” senior forward Brett Wilson said. “These are two tough teams, but we’ve been working hard in preparation for the start of the season.”
The Tigers (1-0-0, 0-0-0) were picked to win the conference in both the preseason coaches and media polls, but the Big Red and Raiders will put those expectations and Princeton’s No. 9 national ranking to the test.
“Opening against two tough teams is definitely a good thing,” said Wilson, who was second on the team in goals and points last season. “It will make sure we are ready to go and let us know exactly where we stand … Good teams tend to bring out the best in us.”
Princeton opens the weekend this afternoon against Cornell, a 4 p.m. showdown that will be broadcast on ESPNU. Last season, the Tigers swept the Big Red in the two-game season series for the first time in more than a decade, but an experienced Cornell squad will undoubtedly be out for revenge.
The Big Red, an ECAC semifinalist last season, returns all six defensemen, its starting goalie and three of its five top point scorers. Its potent power play is still intact, and fans in Ithaca are already whispering ECAC title expectations.
Cornell goaltender Ben Scrivens led the ECAC in goals-against average (2.02) and save percentage (.930) last season and is aided by a defense that includes shutdown blueliners Jared Seminoff and Taylor Davenport. Up front, the Big Red is led by forwards Colin Greening, Michael Kennedy and last season’s Ivy and ECAC rookie of the year Riley Nash, a trio that is dangerous when given room to maneuver.
“We feel as though we have a growing rivalry with Cornell,” Wilson said. “The last couple years we have played some tight games, and we won up in Ithaca last season for the first time in over 10 years. Whenever two elite teams play such competitive games, inevitably rivalries form.”
On Saturday, the Tigers will take on Colgate, whom Princeton beat in the ECAC Tournament semifinals last March. Unlike Cornell, the Raiders graduated a number of critical players from last season’s squad, but Wilson and the Tigers know better than to expect an easy game.
“They lost some scorers from last season, but their younger players will step up,” Wilson said. “Colgate always plays us tough, and Saturday should not be any different.”
Colgate goaltender Charles Long is a first-year starter, and the Raiders will turn to experienced forwards David McIntyre, Tom Riley and Brian Day for offensive consistency.
For the Tigers, this weekend will be all about gaining momentum early in the season. Playing two tough games will give the team a chance to see its strengths and, more importantly, what needs to be worked out.
“The most important thing for us [this weekend] will be to play our game,” Wilson said. “Regardless of what Cornell or Colgate does, we need to stay focused and stick to our strengths.”
So far this season those strengths appear to be numerous. Through two exhibition games and a non-conference victory over Brown, the Tigers have outscored opponents 18-5 and moved up two spots in the national polls.
Princeton is returning nine of the top 10 scorers from last year’s team, which won its second-ever ECAC Tournament and third outright Ivy League title, and like Cornell, will return its starting goalie and a full three lines of defensemen.
Junior forward Mark Magnowski was named last week’s ECAC Player of the Week for his three-point performance against Brown, and Wilson currently leads the team with three goals.
Defensively, the Tigers have been equally solid, not just shutting down opponents but also contributing in the offensive zone. Sophomore defenseman Cam Ritchie has six points through three games, and junior blueliner Jody Pederson was second among Princeton defensemen with 16 points last season.
In goal, junior Zane Kalemba has also started strong. Last season’s ECAC Tournament MVP has allowed just one goal on 21 shots in four periods of play this year.
“We have been receiving consistent contributions from all four lines,” Wilson said of the Tigers’ early success. “When we score, it makes things easier on the defense and goalies, and with freshmen stepping up already, we have a lot of confidence heading into this weekend.”
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