Men's Hockey: Career day from Kalemba ends skid

The men’s hockey team has spent the last several weeks waiting for someone to step up with a spectacular performance and break its slump. Saturday afternoon, senior goalie Zane Kalemba finally delivered that performance, making a career-best 45 saves in a 3-2 Princeton victory over No. 9 University of Massachusetts-Lowell (10-6-1 overall).

Princeton (4-8-1, 2-6-1 ECAC Hockey) led nearly the entire game courtesy of a pair of early goals from freshman forward Eric Meland. Meland scored his first goal in collegiate competition on a power play four minutes, 13 seconds into the first period by putting back a rebound on a shot by senior defenseman Jody Pederson.

Meland wasted no time getting his second goal, giving the Tigers a 2-0 lead just 10 seconds after his first tally. After the opening faceoff, UMass Lowell goalie Nevin Hamilton went behind his own net to corral the Princeton clear, but senior forward Tyler Beachell sprinted to the loose puck and directed it to the trailing Meland. Hamilton scampered back to the net, but he couldn’t stop Meland’s wrist shot from the base of the circle.

With several marquee veterans sidelined, Kalemba noted the magnitude of the contributions from Meland and the rest of the freshman class.

“I think it’s huge for the younger guys to learn what it takes to play at this level,” Kalemba said. “We can’t really say that they’re freshmen anymore. They’re going to be expected to have a big role on this team and perform like they have these past couple games.”

Just as important to the Tiger victory as Meland’s offense was the best goaltending performance by a Princeton netminder in several weeks. With Saturday’s showing, Kalemba reminded his teammates and the college hockey world why he is the reigning ECAC Hockey Player of the Year.

UMass Lowell threw 26 shots at Kalemba in the first two periods, but couldn’t break through — the game remained 2-0 through the second intermission. Though the Tigers were outshot in the second period, they had the frame’s best scoring. Junior forward Kevin Lohry appeared to have the Tigers’ third goal of the game, but video replay indicated the net had come off its moorings moments before the goal.

In the third period, the River Hawks upped the intensity, pouring on 21 shots and finally finding success against Kalemba. With 17:01 left in the game, forward Riley Wetmore netted a power play goal to cut the Princeton lead in half.

Lohry also broke through in the third period, scoring a goal that required no official review. After knocking down a UMass Lowell clear attempt, Lohry skated down into the slot and fired a wrist shot past Hamilton’s glove side.

UMass Lowell came within one goal again, but Kalemba and the Tigers were able to hold off the attack for their first win since Nov. 13 against Dartmouth.

“I think it is definitely huge for the team to get back to our winning habits and remember what it takes to get a win,” Kalemba said. “We had a depleted lineup and still got it done against one of the top teams. It shows that we still have it.”

Saturday’s win also serves as payback for the teams’ Friday night matchup, in which the Tigers were not nearly as successful. Despite outshooting UMass-Lowell 30-27, Princeton fell, 4-1, in the first half of the weekend series.

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Friday’s game marked the first collegiate start for freshman goalie Mike Condon, who saved 23 of 26 shots in the loss. As with Saturday’s game, Princeton took an early first-period lead, this time by way of senior forward Dan Bartlett’s sixth goal of the season. But the River Hawks evened the score in the second and then scored three times in the third to take down the Tigers.

Looking ahead, the Tigers will have to wait until their Dec. 29 game against Maine to attempt to build a winning streak. The Tigers’ lineup at that game may look very different from the one that defeated UMass Lowell. Goalies Condon and junior Alan Reynolds will likely continue to see playing time, but Kalemba is unconcerned about the goalie rotation, focusing instead on what he can do for the team.

“I try not to think about getting in a rhythm,” Kalemba said. “When I’m called, I need to be ready mentally and just do my job when I have to. I let the team know that they can rely on me. That makes it easier for them to do their jobs.”

With contributions from veterans and freshmen alike, the Tigers expect to continue to be successful as they work to climb the ECAC Hockey ladder in the next calendar year.