PRINCETON, N.J. (12/27/12) - Holiday tournaments are upon us, as the Princeton men's hockey team heads to Vermont to take part in the Catamount Cup for the first time. The Tigers will face Merrimack on Saturay, Dec. 29 at 4 p.m., and host school Vermont on Sunday, Dec. 30 at 7 p.m.
EYE ON THE TIGERS
Princeton returns to the ice after a 21-day hiatus. The Tigers are 3-6-3 overall after dropping a pair of games to travel partner No. 13 Quinnipiac the last time out. Princeton’s last three opponents have been in the top-15. The Tigers are looking to snap a five-game winless streak.Sophomore Tyler Maugeri leads the team in scoring with 14 points on a team-best six goals and eight assists. Junior Andrew Calof has 13 points on a team-high nine assists and four goals. Senior defender Eric Meland also has nine assists while junior Andrew Ammon has nine points with five goals and four helpers. Senior Michael Sdao contributes seven points from the blue line, while classmate Rob Kleebaum chips in five points. Senior Mike Condon has started in goal in all but one game and has a 3-6-3 record. He owns a .912 save percentage and a 2.71 goals against average.
THE PRINCETON/MERRIMACK SERIES
Princeton and Merrimack are tied 4-4-2 in the all-time series that began in 1977. The teams last met in Dec. 2004 when Merrimack swept a two-game set in North Andover. The Warriors have won the last four meetings. The teams met once on neutral ice, at the National Capital Tournament in Ottawa in 1995, a game that resulted in a 1-1 tie.
SCOUTING THE WARRIORS
Merrimack is 6-7-3 overall and 4-4-1 in Hockey East to sit in sixth place. The Warriors defeated Army 4-2 in their last game on Dec. 11. Merrimack is 1-0-2 against ECAC Hockey teams, defeating Union 4-1 on Oct. 6 and skating to ties with Colgate and Harvard within the last month. A trio of juniors lead the way in the scoring column. Mike Collins has a big lead on the rest of his teammates with 19 points on nine goals and 10 assists. Jordan Heywood and Rhett Bly both have nine points on four goals and five assists apiece. Sophomores Josh Myers, Connor Toomey and Dan Kolomatis have eights points each. Twenty-two players have at least one point, with just two skaters on the team without one. Merrimack utilizes a two-goalie system. Junior Sam Marotta has started in eight games and has a 3-4-1 record with a .913 save percentage and a 2.60 GAA. Sophomore Rasmus Tirronen has a .914 save percentage and a 2.35 GAA.
THE PRINCETON/VERMONT SERIES
Former ECAC Hockey member Vermont, leads the all-time series with Princeton 37-14-2. When playing at home, Vermont owns a 22-7 edge. The Catamounts have won the last three meetings, including a 4-1 game in the last meeting on Feb. 19, 2005. Coach Sneddon is 7-7 against Princeton, 3-1 at Vermont and 4-6 at Union.
SCOUTING THE CATAMOUNTS
Vermont enters the weekend with a 4-8-4 record. The Cats are 3-5-4 in Hockey East, fifth in the standings. Vermont most recently skated to a 4-4 tie with Providence on Dec. 20. Vermont is 1-1 against the ECAC with a 4-2 loss to Dartmouth and a 5-2 win over St. Lawrence in December. Senior Chris McCarthy is the leading scorer with 13 points on six goals and seven assists. Sophomore Jacob Fallon has four goals and six assists for 10 points. Junior Matt White adds seven points and sophomore Kyle Reynolds six. Like Merrimack, 22 players have at least one point, with just two skaters on the team without one. Vermont has two freshmen goaltenders, but Brody Hoffman has played nearly every minute. He has a .911 save percentage and a 2.81 GAA.
AGAINST THE EAST
Princeton is 15-30-4 against teams in Hockey East. Princeton played UMass Lowell this year and lost 3-1. The Tigers are 5-2-2 against Hockey East teams in the last nine games.
