Men's Hockey: Upstate New York foes await Princeton

“Going into the weekend, we feel our strongest asset is our work ethic. We are a well-conditioned team with a lot of speed,” senior forward Mike Kramer said. “That is something we try to utilize in the way we play.”

Princeton lost to Colgate in both league games last season, which ended its six-game win streak against the Raiders. The Tigers have a firm game plan and feel confident that this weekend should be successful if they follow it and stay true to the way they play hockey. The team also hopes that its young talent will continue to build team cohesion and will fit in well during this tough weekend away.

“To have success this weekend, we are going to have to be fully committed to our own game plan,” senior goalie Alan Reynolds said. “We are all very aware of the keys to our game and consistently excelling in those areas will give us a chance to win games and build a team identity that we need to firmly establish.”

The team has the mentality that each game this season will build on itself. And the Tigers know that focusing game to game as a cohesive unit will lead to success.

“Colgate is a very good team and we look forward to playing them,” Kramer said. “As far as our game plan is concerned, we are just going to play ‘Princeton’ hockey. We really just have to focus on being mentally ready to play as soon as the puck drops.”

While the Tigers recognize that both teams have talented players, they will try not to place too much focus on either team. The team is more concerned with playing “Princeton hockey” and focusing on the specific technical elements of its own game.

“This weekend, to be successful, we really need to focus on the little things like blocking shots, finishing checks and making strong plays all over the ice,” Kramer said. “If we focus on those objectives and play our style of hockey, we put ourselves in a great position to win.”

In order to assure a win, the Tigers know that they need to come out thrashing in the first period and control the game from the start.

“To be successful, we really need to focus on having a great first period against Colgate,” Kramer said. “In ECAC hockey, momentum plays a huge role in the outcome of the game, and we really need to come out flying and maintain that pressure all game.”

If records indicate anything, the Tigers may need to worry about the Big Red more than the Raiders this weekend. Cornell has already won a league game, whereas Colgate is still winless in the ECAC Hockey. Cornell currently stands one spot ahead of Princeton, but if Princeton wins this weekend, it will gain standing above the Big Red.

“On any given weekend, the last-place team can upset the first-place team in the league,” Kramer said.

As long as the Tigers focus on the fundamentals and on playing from the first minutes to the last, they will be in good position to succeed this weekend.