January 28, 2010
Princeton Regroups For Stretch Run
by Eben Novy-Williams/CHN Reporter
PRINCETON, N.J. — Last Monday night in Baker Rink, with most of its student body on a one-week break, Princeton beat Connecticut 8-1. The Tigers (7-10-2 overall, 3-8-1 ECAC) scored four times in the first period and never looked back.
Before the season started, such a result would not have been a surprise – the Tigers opened the year ranked No. 10 in the nation, while the Huskies were picked to finish ninth in the AHA in a coach’s preseason poll.
The Tigers’ other 18 games, however, have been far less predictable. In a season plagued by injuries, wins like the seven-goal victory over UConn have been hard to come by for the Tigers. Princeton dropped its national ranking during a seven-game winless streak that started in November and currently sits in 10th in the ECAC.
Princeton emerged as a legitimate threat nationally in the last few years under Guy Gadowsky, and last season came agonizingly-close to the program's first-ever NCAA tournament win. Despite that heartbreak, there were equally high hopes entering this season — and for good reason. A Hobey Baker Award goaltender and his entire defense corps returned.
But the inconsistent play of senior goaltender Zane Kalemba, who was arguably the nation’s best netminder last season, has been quizzical. Through all the injuries and struggles, however, the team has maintained a positive outlook.
“This is probably the most talented team I have been a part of since I have been here,” said Kalemba, who has backstopped two straight NCAA tournament teams. “We have been successful without some key guys and once we get those guys back, if we maintain that same work ethic, we are going to be fine.”
The injuries started early for the Tigers, and have continued throughout the year. Junior defensemen Matt Godlewski and Cam Ritchie have both missed significant time due to injuries, as have the team’s three senior captains, forwards Cam MacIntyre and Kevin Kaiser, and defenseman Jody Pederson.
First-year forwards James Kerr, Rob Kleebaum, and Will MacDonald have all missed time as well. The Tigers have played games with just five defensemen, played games rotating just three lines, and have been forced to ask players to switch positions to fill the empty holes.
“All things considered we’ve done a good job coping with all the injuries,” head coach Guy Gadowsky said. “Something like this could really bury a team, but we’ve managed to keep our heads above water. ... I think it will turn out to be a positive. We’ve had a lot of guys put into positions that they normally wouldn’t and a lot of young guys stepping into roles quicker than they might have normally.”
Gadowsky’s goal for the team’s midseason break was for the players to rest and get healthy, but in late December games the team lost both Kaiser and Pederson to concussions.
“We didn’t really achieve that goal,” Gadowsky jokes of the time off for Christmas. “It looked like we were getting healthy, then we lost two captains.”
“This has definitely been a different type of year [than year’s past], but the great thing about hockey is that you never know what to expect,” Kalemba said. “Playing without a lot of our skill guys is obviously going to be difficult, but it’s going to lead to us not having to rely on them once they get back, and hopefully we can have three or four lines that can score consistently.”
Offensive consistency is just one of the Tigers’ principle troubles. This 2009-10 season has been littered with statistics uncharacteristic of a Princeton team. Gadowsky preaches discipline – the team was the least penalized in the nation this year – but the current Tigers have amassed a total of 206 penalties. For most teams, giving up 10.8 penalty minutes per game is an improvement, but for Princeton the number is unimpressive.
“We’ve taken more penalties than we ever have,” said Gadowsky, now in his is sixth season behind the Princeton bench. “When you play tired, you tend not to move your feet, and when you don’t move your feet, you’re going to take too many penalties. When you are playing two men short, it is inevitable that you get tired. ... I’m still optimistic about the commitment and discipline of our team and when we get guys back, that stat should begin to resemble more of how we’ve played in the past.”
The team is also uncharacteristically human on defense. Last year Princeton was seventh in the nation in scoring defense, giving up a microscopic 2.11 goals per game. This year, the number has ballooned to 3.5 goals allowed per game.
“Overall, we are playing well defensively, we are just inconsistent,” Kalemba said. “When we do give up a chance, it’s usually a Grade A scoring chance, and in years past we’ve limited those chances. ... We’re missing some key guys, but other guys are stepping up. It just takes some adjustment time.”
Kalemba’s struggles are a microcosm of the team’s defensive woes. A year after becoming a Hobey Baker Award finalist with a 1.82 goals against average and .932 save percentage, the reigning ECAC Hockey Player of the Year has posted a 3.55 GAA and .891 save percentage this season. As a result Kalemba’s playing time has diminished – the senior has started just 11 of the team’s 19 games. Platooning is difficult for any goalie, but Kalemba insists that splitting time with junior Alan Reynolds has in no way affected his confidence or his preparation.
“[Splitting time] may be a little harder mentally, but that’s not an excuse,” said Kalemba, who was also the 2008 ECAC Tournament MVP. “I just need to keep playing and keep battling. I have confidence that things are going to come together.”
Gadowsky, who insists that Kalemba is still his No. 1 goaltender, echoes those sentiments.
“We all have tremendous faith in Zane Kalemba,” the Princeton coach said. “Look at what he has done over the last two years – he is tremendous and he has proven it. All three goaltenders have had to shoulder the brunt of where our roster is and how many injuries we’ve had. Eventually, if you play with that few guys, there are going to times when you get tired, when you give up open looks.”
And yet there are signs – be it a strong weekend, or an often-overlooked statistic – that shows that perhaps this year’s Tigers are on the verge of finding their stride. After its Christmas break, Princeton rattled off a four-game unbeaten streak against No. 16 Mass.-Lowell, No. 19 Maine, No. 8 Cornell and then-No. 11 Quinnipiac.
“We all know how good this team is, we just haven’t always played at that level,” senior forward Dan Bartlett said. “During that span we got rolling, did what we need to do to be successful. That definitely gives us confidence moving forward.”
In addition, though the Tigers are scoring just 2.7 goals per game, they are still averaging over 35 shots per game, another statistic characteristic of Gadowsky’s ‘crash the net’ mentality.
“We haven’t done quite as well getting traffic in front of the goalie,” Bartlett said. “A lot of our shots come from the outside, and when they come from the outside without traffic, it’s a lot easier for the goalie. We are confident that eventually they are going to start going in, as they did [Monday night against UConn].”
If Monday’s night’s game was any indication, the team could be poised for a strong stretch run. Through all the injuries, the team has gained some valuable experience, and as players begin to return Princeton’s play should continue to improve.
Monday, for example, marked the return of captain Cam MacIntyre, who gives the Tigers both an offensive boost and a much-needed physical presence.
“The game against UConn shows that we can put the puck in the net,” Gadowsky said. “Obviously Cam was able to come back, and he adds a ton to any hockey team and its offense.”
Princeton has struggled at times this season, but as players begin to return, the Tigers are confident that things will turn around. The extra penalties, the open looks surrendered on defense, and the 12.6 percent power play in league games are all products of a roster ravaged by injury. With things starting to look up, this Princeton squad could quickly become that team whose skill level vastly exceeds its record; that team which no ECAC school wants to host come playoff time.
“I’m expecting us to turn it on, and keep getting better,” said Bartlett, who leads the team with 12 goals and 19 points. “That stretch in December showed that when we do have some healthy bodies and we focus on doing the little things right, we are as good as any team in the country. That’s what we expect of ourselves.”
Despite its current position and the injuries, Princeton is still aspiring to the same goal it set in the beginning of the year: to make it to the NCAA tournament and avenge last year’s heartbreaking first-round loss.
“We definitely have the talent to make a run at the ECAC Championship,” Gadowsky said. “I think we have yet to see what we can do, because we are yet to have everybody on the ice. Once that can be achieved, I think there’s no telling where this team can go.”
