Tiger hockey rallies twice
By: Justin Feil
On Saturday, the Princeton University men’s ice hockey team blew away Harvard, 4-2.
The two-goal difference may not seem so large, and forget the fact that the Tigers didn’t score that insurance goal until the final five seconds of the game, it was a landslide win considering the way things have been going.
Fifteen of Princeton’s previous 18 games had been decided by one goal or been tied, as the 15th was in a 3-3 draw at Dartmouth on Friday. And hard-fought as those games had been, few had gone the Tigers’ way. The Tigers had won just one of their first nine games before Saturday’s win at Harvard, a trend that could wear down even the biggest glass-is-half-full players.
"It does get hard," said Darroll Powe, who scored Saturday’s game-winning goal. "Even though we’ve been playing well, it is discouraging losing those close games. Your body feels more tired, it’s harder to come to the rink and be excited for a week of practice. Coming up with three points, there’s more incentive to work hard at practice and be excited to be at the rink. Hopefully we’ll be excited for the games coming up this weekend."
The Tigers improved to 2-6-2 overall, 2-5-1 in the Eastern College Athletic Conference Hockey League standings with a much-needed three-point weekend on the road.
"Getting three points on the road is huge," Powe said. "Home ice is a big advantage in our league. Coming out with three points, especially the way we did it, was big."
Princeton didn’t make it easy on itself. The Tigers fell behind, 2-0, at Dartmouth, then duplicated the identical deficit the following night. In both cases, they rallied. Friday, it was Powe who cut into the initial lead to get the Tigers started, then after a Big Green score opened another two-goal deficit, Max Cousins assisted on a goal and scored the tying goal with 9:16 to play in the third period.
Saturday, after goals by Dan Bartlett and Cam MacIntyre evened the game, Powe scored just under three minutes into the second period to extend his scoring streak to six games. Zane Kalemba and the Tiger defense took over from there. The freshman goaltender made 29 of his 31 saves in the final two periods.
"It just shows the character of our team," Powe said. "We haven’t given up all year. Falling down early didn’t discourage us, it just motivated us. It’s a good sign of things to come for our team.
"I don’t know what was different between the last couple games," he added. "I feel we’ve been close all year and just haven’t been able to pull it out. Everything came together and we were able to get it done this weekend."
The three-point road trip was more what Powe had in mind for his senior season. A captain, he has never played with such talent and potential since his arrival from Kanata, Ontario.
"I feel we have a chance to do some good things this year," Powe said. "I’m not saying there wasn’t potential in the past, but this year there’s definitely something else that hasn’t been there. We can do some damage this year in the league."
The Tigers gave then-No. 12 Cornell a one-goal game. They also tied No. 15 Dartmouth on Friday. Those efforts show that Princeton is right there with some of the best teams in the country. Princeton has gotten widespread contributions, including plenty of help from a strong freshman class. Both Bartlett and MacIntyre are freshmen, as is Kalemba in goal.
"We knew we had a talented class coming in," Powe said. "We’re excited to see what they had to offer. They’ve all been playing great. Seeing what they can do is exciting to see every time we go out there.
"Bringing in the freshman class, there’s so much talent there," he added. "There’s a battle to be in the lineup every night. We have more talent than we’ve had in the past."
Powe has seen that talent level grow as he’s matured at Princeton. Powe is the Tigers’ leading scorer and is off to a solid start after having his junior season cut short by a shoulder injury. He has bounced back with five goals and four assists, only one goal off his career high. Even with his rapid opening, he isn’t feeling extra pressure to deliver the goals.
"We have four lines that can all score goals," he said. "It just happens we’re scoring goals with all four lines. Any night, any line can score. It’s a nice change from what we’ve had in the past.
"I don’t feel like my role has changed a lot. I’m doing the same things I have last year and trying to lead by example and playing hard every night. I don’t feel my role has changed at all."
But his ultimate outlook is a little different. Being a senior changes his vantage point on the year, his last as a collegiate player.
"You look around and every place you go, you realize it’s the last time you’re probably playing there," Powe said. "It’s more incentive to go a little harder. It’s our last chance to get it done. It’s something you think about and it motivates you a little more."
There is plenty of motivation for a Princeton team that reached the ECAC playoffs last year before bowing out in the first round. The Tigers want to do better than just make the playoffs this year. And they have the talent to contend with anyone, if they can put it all together. If the opponents can’t keep the Tigers on their toes, they can do it themselves.
"I feel we’re pretty confident," Powe said. "We have a big team and a lot of guys fighting to get in the lineup. You have to play well or guys will jump in who haven’t been playing. Everyone has to be going hard or someone else will get your spot.
"The internal competition is definitely motivation to get going and keep your spots. We’ve had a few lineup changes already that show you’re going to have to work hard if you want to play."
Princeton has been focusing on getting that consistent effort from the first drop of the puck until the final horn. Any letting up can cost a team, especially in a one-goal outcome. Princeton has had enough of them. Saturday’s two-goal victory was a nice change of pace, and perhaps a stepping stone to greater wins.
"We’ve been getting close," Powe said. "Coach always says, it takes something else, a little something extra. We knew we could play with teams and play close but we hadn’t figured out what it took to win those games. We’re starting to figure it out now."

