Pallis is part of PU’s fast start
By Justin Feil, Assistant Sports Editor
The Princeton University men’s ice hockey team relied on a number of freshmen defensemen in a breakout season that saw them reach the NCAA Tournament last year.
This year, they are using just one, but Derrick Pallis has fit right into a team of which much is expected on the heels of last year’s success.
”Right away, I was taken in by everyone,” said Pallis, a Medfield, Mass. resident who came to Princeton after playing for the Noble and Greenough School. “I couldn’t have guessed the seniors from the freshmen in terms of how I was accepted. Right away, I felt like a part of the family.”
That same family atmosphere is what solid Pallis on Princeton. He was blown away by the campus, but meeting the team made it an easy choice.
”Everyone introduced themselves right away,” Pallis recalled. “It was definitely a first-class group of guys. It was the campus and once I met the guys, it was a done deal.”
It was a great deal for the Tigers, who landed one of the top 10 defensemen according to InsideCollegeHockey.com. Pallis has helped Princeton start strong. After dropping their season opener to No. 17 Cornell, the 11th-ranked Tigers have reeled off four straight wins.
”I think we have come out of the gates pretty well,” said Pallis of the Tigers, who play at St. Lawrence tonight and at Clarkson on Saturday. “We weren’t putting it in the back of the net, but this weekend we started to find it. I think it’ll be a snowball effect. Defensively, we’ve been playing well. The first few games have been a good sign.”
Princeton is encouraged by the early returns from Pallis as well. His vision is making him just as valuable at the offensive end as he is on defense.
”Derek Pallis is a guy who has stepped right in and made a difference,” said PU head coach Guy Gadowsky. “He’s become a guy forwards want to play with. He has unique ability to buy time and give the puck when he wants to. He can see forwards that others don’t see. He often gives it to forwards in an advantageous position. He does it well. He fits our offensive style very well.”
Pallis has been paired with Cam Ritchie. Both of the defensemen are well suited for the style that enables defensemen to create scoring chances.
Said Pallis of the pairing: “It’s been great. He sees the ice very well. We seem to complement each other on the ice very well. I have no complaints.
”I feel like I see the ice well,” he added. “I feel like I make positive plays well with my ability to make passes.”
Pallis isn’t entirely surprised with his early success. It’s no accident that he’s been able to fit in so quickly, even on a highly talented team where cracking the lineup as a freshman isn’t easy.
”I knew it was going to be a challenge,” he said. “All summer, I visualized myself playing. I never put the negative thoughts in. It’s working out well.”
Pallis got a jump on picturing himself in the Orange and Black. He had already decided to come when the Tigers reached the NCAAs.
”I know I was checking scores,” he said. “The NCAA game was online. I watched that. I knew it was going to be my future team. I was very interested in their well being.”
The Tigers understand how last year’s success is affecting the way other teams approach them. Gadowsky doubts that anyone overlooked the Tigers last year, but there’s nothing but the best being thrown at them this year from every opponent.
”That is going to help us develop so we’ll be ready for playoff hockey at the end of the year,” Gadowsky said. “I think we’ll pretty much face it every game.”
Princeton isn’t going about its business any differently from past seasons. The Tigers know they can’t get caught up in what the outside expectations are.
”We’re hoping it hasn’t changed anything,” Gadowsky said. “It wasn’t that long ago that the expectations were that we would finish last. We didn’t want to play to anyone’s expectations then. We don’t want to play to anyone’s expectations now except ours.”
Added Pallis: “I try not to think about it much. You don’t want to get in the position of feeling like you don’t have to work for what you get. That would be complacency. I try not to think about that. We know we’re not going to be handed anything. We know we have to come out hard.”
This weekend in particular. St. Lawrence and Clarkson are tough places to win in, as the returning Tigers know well. Last year, they were swept on this early road trip.
”I think we always plan to win,” Pallis said. “We know we’re going to have to bring our best game. St. Lawrence plays really well in their home rink. We know it’s going to be a tough road trip. We know we have to go full tilt the whole time.”
Gadowsky was pleased to see his team is getting closer to playing a full 60-minute game last weekend. It’s early, however, and there is still plenty to work on offensively and defensively.
”All we’ve done so far is win four games,” Gadowsky said. “We haven’t won anything yet.”
Not yet, but Derrick Pallis and the Tigers are envisioning quite a few wins ahead of them this season.
”It’s been awesome,” Pallis said. “The team is great. The transition has been going very well.”