Tigers host St. Lawrence, No. 8 Clarkson
By Justin Feil, Assistant Sports Editor
Zane Kalemba isn’t doing cartwheels over the Princeton University men’s ice hockey team’s 3-0 start or its subsequent No. 18 national ranking.
The Saddle Brook native is happy with the start, but he isn’t breaking his even keel personality. That aspect is part of what makes him such a good goalie.
”His demeanor, he’s the calmest person in the building at games,” said PU head coach Guy Gadowsky. “His demeanor always gives us confidence. He’s the perfect goaltender when you have a young defense.”
The Tigers have a young defense in front of Kalemba, himself just a sophomore, with three of their top seven defensemen being freshmen. Taylor Fedun, Matt Godlewski and Cam Ritchie didn’t take long to adjust to Princeton as they helped stifle their first three opponents, all on the road.
”The question we were looking to have answered is how quickly our young defensemen, our freshmen, would make the transition to college hockey,” Gadowsky said. “From the first weekend, we think the transition might be quicker than we thought it would be. All of them were good. And a huge reason we played well defensively was the play of Zane Kalembo was great. When your defensemen are playing well and goalie is playing great, it gives you a good chance.”
Kalemba was named Eastern College Athletic Conference Goaltender of the Week after stopping 26 shots in a 3-2 win over Cornell on Friday that was followed by his first collegiate shutout in a 2-0 win at Colgate. He’s hoping for more of the same as the Tigers host St. Lawrence 7 p.m. tonight and No. 8 Clarkson 4:30 p.m. Saturday at Baker Rink.
”We had a great season last year,” said Zalemba, who played in 21 games as a freshman when PU went 15-16-3 and reached the ECAC quarterfinals. “We just wanted to build on that. Every year, the goals are getting higher and higher. This year, the ultimate goal is to win the ECAC and get to the NCAAs. We’ll see when we get there.”
Princeton is off to its best start since winning its first three games to open the 1979-1980 season. Their league road sweep last weekend was their first since 2000. The victories have drawn attention, and a national ranking.
”It really doesn’t change a thing,” Kalemba said. “Every team we play in our league, whether they’re ranked or not, it’s a one-goal game. It’s nice to get the recognition, but it’s not going to change a thing.”
Added Gadowsky: “I think the guys have done a tremendous job the last three years. It’s just one weekend of the season. We’ve done nothing other than won two league games.”
But winning at Cornell and Colgate isn’t easy. Their win at Cornell was their first since 1994-1995.
”That’s what made it a little special,” Gadowsky said. “We played two excellent programs in two difficult places to play. Obviously I’m happy with the start.
”We’re just trying to improve. We’re just trying to improve and have fun doing it. At the moment, we’re happy.”
Kalemba figures to give the Tigers plenty to be happy about this season. He returns after a strong freshman campaign in which he posted a 2.89 goals-against average and an .891 save percentage. The Hotchkiss School graduate, who won a New Jersey state title as a freshman at Bergen Catholic, has always been a cool customer underneath the mask.
”I think it’s the most important thing,” Kalemba said. “If the goalie is flustered, it’s not going to help your team by seeing it. When I was growing up, I wasn’t aware of (being calm). Coaches and players said it’s one of best parts of the game for me.
”I usually feel pretty calm. Before games, I’m a little nervous or overexcited, but once I’m on, I’m calm. My character off the ice is calm too. It comes naturally.”
It’s important because St. Lawrence and Clarkson could give any goalie reason to be nervous. The Tigers split with St. Lawrence last year, but handed Clarkson defeats in both their meetings last year. Clarkson is out to avenge those losses. Both teams will be taking aim at one of just two unbeaten teams in the country. Top-ranked Miami (Ohio) is the other.
”From seeing the scores and records so far, they’re not going to take us lightly,” Zalemba said. “Our experiences last year, we played Clarkson twice and they’re a nationally ranked team, so you can’t make any mistakes against those sorts of teams. It’s going to be that much harder to keep our record going.
”With St. Lawrence, they always have an up-tempo game, and take a lot of shots at the net. They’ll be a good test. It’s our home opener, so we want to start off on a good note. Clarkson is No. 8 in the nation. They have good goaltending and good offense. It will be tough.”
Princeton has gotten incredible defensive play, particularly on the power play. They are the only team in the nation to not have surrendered a power-play goal. The Tigers have killed off 16 power plays. At the other end, Cam MacIntyre, Lee Juvinville and Brett Wilson are all among the top five nationally in points per game.
”That’s a little like putting,” Gadowsky said. “Sometimes, you do everything right and nothing falls. We’ve been lucky the puck bounced our way a few times. It gives everyone confidence.”
Kalemba also gives Princeton confidence. He has gotten off to a fast start. It’s just what is needed to keep the team around him calm and in control.
”I think it’s great for a team in general to have confidence in their goaltender,” Kalemba said. “If you get off to a good start, you don’t have to have any doubts. It allows them to just play. Everyone is pulling their weight defensively to help the team.
”Certainly,” he added, “this (start) is what we hoped for and what we were working for all summer and preseason. We have to take it game by game now.”