Princeton Tigers men's ice hockey

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Princeton Tigers men's ice hockey
Hockey current event.svg Current season
Princeton Tigers logo.svg
University Princeton University
Conference ECAC Hockey
First season 1899–1900
Head coach Ben Syer
2nd season, 12–15–3 (.450)
Assistant coaches
Arena Hobey Baker Memorial Rink
Princeton, New Jersey
ColorsBlack and orange [1]
   
NCAA tournament appearances
1998, 2008, 2009, 2018
Conference tournament champions
ECAC: 1998, 2008, 2018
Conference regular season champions
IHA: 1907, 1910, 1912, 1913
IHL: 1914, 1917
Pentagonal League: 1941, 1953

The Princeton Tigers men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I college ice hockey program that represents Princeton University. The Tigers are a member of ECAC Hockey. They play at the Hobey Baker Memorial Rink in Princeton, New Jersey. [2] In 1999, future NHL player Jeff Halpern scored 22 goals to tie for the most goals in the ECAC and was co-winner of Princeton's Roper Trophy for athletic and academic achievement. [3] In 2010–11, Andrew Calof was ECAC Rookie of the Year.

Contents

History

Princeton University ice hockey team in 1906-07 season. Players from top row to bottom row, left to right: Charles Coxe, Josh Brush, Chester Levis, Philip Chew, Jay Zahniser, John Chislett, Ralph Osborne and Harral Tenney. Princeton 1906 1907.jpg
Princeton University ice hockey team in 1906–07 season. Players from top row to bottom row, left to right: Charles Coxe, Josh Brush, Chester Levis, Philip Chew, Jay Zahniser, John Chislett, Ralph Osborne and Harral Tenney.

Princeton University had an ice hockey team organized already during the 1894–95 season, when the school still went by the name of College of New Jersey. On March 3, 1895 the university ice hockey team faced a Baltimore aggregation at the North Avenue Ice Palace in Baltimore, Maryland and won by a score of 5–0. The players on the 1895 team were Chester Derr, John Brooks, Howard Colby, James Blair, Frederick Allen, Ralph Hoagland and Art Wheeler. [4]

For the 1899–1900 season the Princeton University ice hockey team became a member of the Intercollegiate Hockey League (ICHL) where they played organized league games against other Ivy League school teams such as Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, University of Pennsylvania and Yale.

Princeton's most famous ice hockey player Hobey Baker (1892–1918) played for the school team between 1911 and 1914, before he graduated and went on to play for the New York City based St. Nicholas Hockey Club.

As many college programs did, Princeton's ice hockey squad suspended operations for the 1917–18 season due to the United States entering World War I but the icers returned after the armistice was signed. A few years later the Tigers hired their first head coach, Russell O. Ellis, but they would go through several more before they could find someone to lead the program for more than a few years. Despite the tumult behind the bench Princeton was still producing some of the best teams in college hockey, setting a program record of 15 wins that would stand for 76 years.

In the midst of the Great Depression Richard Vaughan came to Princeton and would helm the team for the next quarter-century. Vaughan would keep the Tigers competitive through much of his tenure and his 159 wins remains a program high 60 years after his retirement. Princeton found it difficult to replace Vaughan, going through 5 coaches in 18 years while producing only two winning records in that time. The team's nadir came under Bill Quackenbush who, despite ending up in the Hall of Fame as a player, was the program's worst coach as far as records go. Quackenbush's tenure began well with Princeton making the ECAC tournament for the first time, but the following season the team slid to 16th in the conference and would not win more than 5 games a year for the next 5 seasons. Quackenbush remained with the program even after a 1–22 season but resigned in 1973 with the Tigers an afterthought in ECAC Hockey. Princeton would not play another postseason game until 1985, the year after 7 teams left to form Hockey East, and they would not win a playoff game until 1992 under first-year head coach Don Cahoon.

Coach Ben Syer and players in 2024 Coach Ben Syer speaks with Princeton Tigers players.jpg
Coach Ben Syer and players in 2024

During Cahoon's time at Princeton the program recovered from decades as a bottom-feeder and in 1995 produced their first winning season in 27 years. Three seasons later the Tigers won their first conference tournament and made the NCAA tournament for the first time. After Cahoon left to head Massachusetts in 2000, he was replaced by long-time assistant Len Quesnelle but after four years the team was back at the bottom of the conference and he was swiftly replaced by Guy Gadowsky.

It took Gadowsky a few years to get the Tigers back on their feet but he led the team to its second conference championship in 2008, setting a program high with 21 wins that he bested by 1 the following year. Two years later Gadowsky left and was replaced by Bob Prier but just as had happened with Cahoon, the successor did not last long and after a dismal third season Ron Fogarty was hired as the 17th head coach in program history. As of 2019 Fogarty's best season came in 2018 when he led an underdog Tigers squad to their 3rd conference title.

2023-2024 Princeton Tigers team line up.jpg
2023-2024 Princeton Tigers at Brown's Meehan Auditorium

Season-by-season results

Records vs. current ECAC Hockey teams

As of the completion of 2018–19 season

SchoolTeamAway ArenaOverall recordWin %HomeAwayLast Result
Brown University Bears Meehan Auditorium 72–90–11.44835–39–633–46–65-6 L (3OT)
Clarkson University Golden Knights Cheel Arena 34–84–7.30024–35–56–45–11-1 T
Colgate University Raiders Class of 1965 Arena 48–59–8.45228–26–615–32–23-4 L
Cornell University Big Red Lynah Rink 53–91–8.37525–39–616–50–22-3 L
Dartmouth College Big Green Thompson Arena 89–104–16.46445–44–834–46–80-5 L
Harvard University Crimson Bright-Landry Hockey Center 58–158–12.28127–60–518–75–64-2 W
Quinnipiac University Bobcats People's United Center 12–17–1.4174–10–18–7–03-6 L
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Engineers Houston Field House 37–69–11.36319–26–518–40–62-6 L
St. Lawrence University Saints Appleton Arena 25–70–11.28816–33–59–36–45-3 W
Union College Dutchmen Achilles Rink 25–36–7.41916–15–38–21–42-3 L
Yale University Bulldogs Ingalls Rink 109–141–11.43951–47–432–69–33-2 W

All-time coaching records

Coaches
Princeton Ice hockey head coach Ben Syer.jpg
Head coach Ben Syer
Princeton Tigers assistant coach Connor Jones.jpg
Assistant Connor Jones

As of completion of 2024–25 season [5]

TenureCoachYearsRecordPct.
1899–1917, 1918–1920No Coach20103–87–6.541
1920–1921 Russell O. Ellis 14–4–0.500
1921–1922 Moylan McDonnell 13–6–1.350
1922–1924 Chippy Gaw 224–11–1.681
1924–1927 Beattie Ramsay 320–25–1.446
1927–1933 Lloyd Neidlinger 671–31–3.690
1933–1935 Frank Fredrickson 215–18–0.455
1935–1943, 1945–1959 Richard Vaughan 22159–211–14.432
1959–1965 R. Norman Wood 649–88–1.359
1965–1967 Johnny Wilson 214–27–1.345
1967–1973 Bill Quackenbush 634–104–2.250
1973–1977 Jack Semler 425–66–5.286
1977–1991 Jim Higgins 14130–219–21.380
1991–2000 Don Cahoon 9122–129–32.488
2000–2004 Len Quesnelle 429–84–11.278
2004–2011 Guy Gadowsky 7105–109–15.491
2011–2014 Bob Prier 325–58–12.326
2014–2024 Ron Fogarty 990–169–27.362
2024–present Ben Syer 112–15–3.450
Totals17 coaches122 Seasons1,034–1,461–156.419

Statistical leaders

The team's statistical leaders are as follows. [6]

Career points leaders

PlayerYearsGPGAPtsPIM
John Messuri 1985–198911060118178
Ryan Kuffner 2015–20191327577152
Andre Faust 1988–19921066288150
Max Véronneau 2015–20191305292144
Jeff Halpern 1995–19991326082142
John Cook 1960–19636765132
Andrew Calof 2010–20141174479123
Greg Polaski 1986–1990966457121
Scott Bertoli 1995–19991304177118
John McBride 1957–19606057117

Career goaltending leaders

GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average

Minimum 30 games

PlayerYearsGPMinWLTGASOSV%GAA
Robert O'Connor 1947–1949342.38
Zane Kalemba 2006–20101086267574452579.9122.46
Mike Condon 2009–2013532969182282883.9172.67
Sean Bonar 2010–2014633457173361822.8982.84
Erasmo Saltarelli 1994–19987639752924111965.8962.94

Statistics current through the start of the 2019–20 season.

Roster

As of August 8, 2025. [7]

No. Nat.PlayerClassPosHeightWeightDoBHometownPrevious teamNHL rights
1 Flag of the United States.svg Arthur SmithJunior G 6' 4" (1.93 m)205 lb (93 kg)2004-04-30 Farmington, Connecticut Lone Star Brahmas  ( NAHL )—
3 Flag of the United States.svg Pat ReillySophomore D 6' 1" (1.85 m)181 lb (82 kg)2004-09-27 Avon, New Jersey Coquitlam Express  ( BCHL )—
4 Flag of the United States.svg David MaSenior (RS) D 5' 11" (1.8 m)180 lb (82 kg)2002-06-22 Yonkers, New York Chicago Steel  ( USHL )—
6 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Ian DevlinJunior D 6' 2" (1.88 m)210 lb (95 kg)2002-01-07 Toronto, Ontario Coquitlam Express  ( BCHL )—
7 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Kai DaniellsJunior F 6' 0" (1.83 m)185 lb (84 kg)2003-03-07 Whistler, British Columbia Nanaimo Clippers  ( BCHL )—
8 Flag of the United States.svg Tyler RubinSenior D 5' 10" (1.78 m)175 lb (79 kg)2003-01-10 Natick, Massachusetts West Kelowna Warriors  ( BCHL )—
9 Flag of Norway.svg Hans UlvbeneFreshman F 6' 0" (1.83 m)194 lb (88 kg)2004-08-25 Oslo, Norway Cedar Rapids RoughRiders  ( USHL )—
11 Flag of the United States.svg Jayden SisonSenior F 5' 9" (1.75 m)185 lb (84 kg)2003-01-27 Paoli, Pennsylvania Coquitlam Express  ( BCHL )—
12 Flag of the United States.svg Jake ManfreSophomore F 6' 0" (1.83 m)201 lb (91 kg)2004-04-22 Smithtown, New York Coquitlam Express  ( BCHL )—
13 Flag of the United States.svg Drew GarzoneSophomore F 6' 1" (1.85 m)190 lb (86 kg)2004-05-30 Dover, Massachusetts Coquitlam Express  ( BCHL )—
14 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Carson BuydensJunior F 6' 3" (1.91 m)185 lb (84 kg)2004-03-10 Gladstone, Manitoba North Iowa Bulls  ( BCHL )—
15 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Julian FacchinelliSophomore F 6' 0" (1.83 m)181 lb (82 kg)2004-07-04 Woodbridge, Ontario Vernon Vipers  ( BCHL )—
16 Flag of the United States.svg Brendan GormanSenior F 6' 0" (1.83 m)175 lb (79 kg)2003-02-17 Arlington, Massachusetts Saint Sebastian's School  ( USHS–MA )—
17 Flag of the United States.svg Miles GuntySophomore F 5' 10" (1.78 m)190 lb (86 kg)2004-02-21 Bethesda, Maryland Youngstown Phantoms  ( USHL )—
18 Flag of the United States.svg Joshua KarnishJunior F 5' 11" (1.8 m)175 lb (79 kg)2003-08-07 Marlton, New Jersey Cedar Rapids RoughRiders  ( USHL )—
19 Flag of the United States.svg Seamus LattaFreshman F 6' 0" (1.83 m)201 lb (91 kg)2005-04-08 Bozeman, Montana Victoria Grizzlies  ( BCHL )—
20 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Kevin AndersonSenior F 5' 11" (1.8 m)175 lb (79 kg)2003-09-15 Regina, Saskatchewan Notre Dame Hounds  ( SJHL )—
21 Flag of the United States.svg Michael YoungJunior F 5' 11" (1.8 m)185 lb (84 kg)2002-08-28 Kings Park, New York New Jersey Titans  ( NAHL )—
22 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Matt SouliereFreshman F 6' 3" (1.91 m)190 lb (86 kg)206-08-01 London, Ontario Ottawa 67's  ( OHL )—
23 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Kai GreavesSophomore D 6' 2" (1.88 m)205 lb (93 kg)2003-03-04 Cambridge, Ontario Prince George Spruce Kings  ( BCHL )—
24 Flag of the United States.svg David JacobsSenior F 5' 10" (1.78 m)180 lb (82 kg)2001-09-26 Needham, Massachusetts Cowichan Valley Capitals  ( BCHL )—
25 Flag of the United States.svg Nick MarcianoSenior D 6' 1" (1.85 m)205 lb (93 kg)2002-05-19 Greenwich, Connecticut Prince George Spruce Kings  ( BCHL )—
26 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Luc PelletierSophomore F 6' 4" (1.93 m)205 lb (93 kg)2003-09-07 Courtenay, British Columbia Victoria Grizzlies  ( BCHL )—
27 Flag of the United States.svg Jaxson EzmanSenior F 6' 1" (1.85 m)185 lb (84 kg)2002-12-22 Middleton, Wisconsin Dubuque Fighting Saints  ( USHL )—
28 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Brendan WangSenior D 5' 11" (1.8 m)180 lb (82 kg)2002-02-08 Burnaby, British Columbia Fort McMurray Oil Barons  ( AJHL )—
30 Flag of the United States.svg Conor CallaghanJunior G 6' 0" (1.83 m)185 lb (84 kg)2003-03-02 Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey Muskegon Lumberjacks  ( USHL )—
33 Flag of the United States.svg Chris ReinigerFreshman D 5' 8" (1.73 m)170 lb (77 kg)2006-03-27 Annapolis, Maryland Chicago Steel  ( USHL )—
35 Flag of the United States.svg Dan MoorFreshman G 6' 2" (1.88 m)190 lb (86 kg)2006-01-17 Omaha, Nebraska Omaha Lancers  ( USHL )—

Awards and honors

NCAA

All-Americans

AHCA First Team All-Americans

AHCA Second Team All-Americans

ECAC Hockey

Individual awards

All-Conference

First Team All-ECAC Hockey

Second Team All-ECAC Hockey

Third Team All-ECAC Hockey

ECAC Hockey All-Rookie Team

Olympians

This is a list of Princeton alumni who have played on an Olympic team. [10]

NamePositionPrinceton TenureTeamYearFinish
Gerard Hallock Defenseman1923–1926 Flag of the United States.svg USA 1932 Silver medal icon.svg Silver
Robert Livingston Defenseman1928–1931 Flag of the United States.svg USA 1932 Silver medal icon.svg Silver
Fred Kammer Right Wing1931–1934 Flag of the United States.svg USA 1936 Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze
Malcolm McAlpin Center1930–1932 Flag of the United States.svg USA 1936 Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze
Christopher Rodgers Goaltender1941–1942 Flag of the United States.svg USA† 1948 DQ
Jim Sloane Right Wing1940–1943 Flag of the United States.svg USA† 1948 DQ

† denotes the AAU team that marched in the opening ceremony but did not participate.

Tigers in the NHL

As of July 1, 2025. [11]

= NHL All-Star team = NHL All-Star [12] = NHL All-Star [12] and NHL All-Star team = Hall of Famers

† Jeff Halpern won a Stanley Cup as an assistant coach with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Logo & Brand Assets | Princeton University Office of Communications" . Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  2. ↑ "USCHO.com :: U.S. College Hockey Online :: Princeton Tigers Men's Hockey". Archived from the original on October 24, 2007.
  3. ↑ Jeff Halpern
  4. ↑ The Baltimore Sun, March 4, 1895, pg. 7
  5. ↑ "Men's Hockey Coaching History". Princeton Tigers. Retrieved August 1, 2019.
  6. ↑ "Men's Hockey Individual Records". Princeton Tigers. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
  7. ↑ "2025–26 Men's Ice Hockey Roster". Princeton Tigers. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  8. ↑ "Legends of Hockey". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
  9. ↑ "United States Hockey Hall of Fame". Hockey Central.co.uk. Retrieved April 21, 2010.
  10. ↑ "Men's Hockey National Team Members". Princeton Tigers. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
  11. ↑ "Alumni report for Princeton University". Hockey DB. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
  12. 1 2 Players are identified as an All-Star if they were selected for the All-Star game at any time in their career.
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