PU men’s hockey goes for ECAC repeat
By Justin Feil, Assistant Sports Editor
Jody Pederson had to wait to celebrate his birthday.
The Princeton University defenseman turned 24 on Saturday, but the day didn’t end as he wished when Union defeated the Tiger men’s ice hockey team to force a deciding Game 3 in the ECAC quarterfinals. Princeton won the series Sunday to advance to tonight’s final four in Albany, N.Y.
”I’ll take the birthday present a day late,” said Pederson, who wouldn’t mind another present this weekend.
Pederson could play a big role for Princeton as it takes on Cornell 7:30 p.m. tonight. The other semifinal pits top-seeded Yale and Quinnipiac. Princeton and Cornell split their two regular-season games, both winning by 2-1 scores. The Tigers are trying to defend their 2008 ECAC championship. The championship and third-placed games will be held Saturday in Albany.
”You sort of know it could be your last game, every one you play,” said Pederson, a junior from Smithers, British Columbia. “Everything is a little more focused. There’s a certain level of desperation you have that you don’t see in a regular-season game. Sunday’s game prepared us for this weekend’s game. Union gave us all we could handle too. They’re a good team.”
Pederson helped to keep the Dutchmen at bay on the defensive end as they managed just one goal. He will have to do so again against Cornell, and he is hoping to add something on offense. With five goals and 14 assists, he is the top offensive defenseman for the Tigers, and getting offense will be a key for Princeton to advance.
”Playing Cornell, they’re obviously really good defensively,” Pederson said. “You definitely know you’ll have to be a little sharper in all aspects of the game. One mistake could be the end of the season. It works both ways. They haven’t scored many goals against us. We haven’t scored many against them. As a defenseman, you’re looking to jump up and score a little more.”
The semifinal matches the league’s top two goaltenders. Princeton’s Zane Kalemba, the ECAC Player and Goaltender of the Year, led the conference in goals against average at 1.48. Cornell’s Ben Scrivens was just behind at 1.74. Kalemba has a five-thousandths of a percentage save advantage.
”You have to prepared to bury the chances that you get,” said Pederson, who was honored as an ECAC third-team selection on Monday. “Neither team is getting a lot of chances to score. Both goalies have had great years. When you do get a chance, you have to be ready to score.
”We have to be prepared to play our style of play. We like to push the pace and keep it up tempo and skate a lot. When we’re committed to do that, we seem to be most successful.”
Princeton is fortunate to have experienced defensemen like Pederson. He has been playing regularly for the Tigers since his freshman year. Every season since then, he has shown improvement, in his numbers and his play overall.
”He’s put on a lot of muscle,” said PU head coach Guy Gadowsky, whose team broke the program record for wins by improving to 22-10 Sunday. “That’s going to make a difference. He’s been forced as a freshman and sophomore to log a lot of minutes, which helps now. He’s played as many minutes as any defensemen in the league.
”He’s a very good hockey player. Has a lot of natural ability. He’s extremely smooth skating. He shoots 98 miles per hour. He has a lot of skills.”
Pederson has the sort of skills that will have him playing at the next level beyond Princeton eventually. For now, though, his focus is on helping Princeton repeat, and in particular being a leader for the defense after the graduating of Mike Moore.
”Overall, our defense as a whole has played really well this year even though we’re relatively young compared to some other teams,” Pederson said. “I think all the guys have played well this year. It helps to have a guy like Zane in net behind you.”
Union tested the Tigers in the quarterfinals. It’s something that Princeton sees as a help to them as they prepare to face Cornell in a grudge match.
”The fact that it was extremely tough hockey, that’s the way it’ll be (tonight),” Gadowsky said. “I think it has been a good dress rehearsal.”
Princeton didn’t feel it had that same urgency Saturday when it lost to Union. Sunday, there was a different feel, and it showed as the Tigers skated out to a 3-0 lead in the first period. The Tigers know they’ll have to be at their best to get by Cornell.
”Your forwards have to be great,” Gadowsky said. “D has to be great. Your goalie has to be great. When its come to one game and it’s against an excellent opponent, I don’t think you can let your guard down on any level. Every aspect has to have as good a hockey game as possible in order to be successful.”
Added Pederson: “After Saturday’s game, we felt Union had outworked us. We came to the rink prepared to outwork Union on Sunday. That was one of our differences from Saturday to Sunday. We had more dedication to outwork the other team.”
It made for a happier Sunday, a day late, but better late than never for Jody Pederson and the Princeton men’s ice hockey team.