Princeton 08-09

[PrincetonFan]

Thought I'd get a new thread started for the season, since the new class has been announced and a schedule is up on the ECAC web site (though not officially announced by Princeton).

The schedule has the exact same foes as last season, except swapping Mercyhurst for UMD and exchanging UNH for Vermont. It's a shame that the long Mercyhurst arrangement seems to be over, but I hope UMD comes to Princeton the following season. The mixture of home/away games is front-loaded, with eleven of the fifteen home games before the Christmas break, but at least this year they have more home games than away (usually they have a 13-16 or 14-15 split home/away).

The last four games are on the road, against St. Lawrence/Clarkson and Yale/Brown, which won't help any jockeying for position in the playoff picture. They do open with four home games, against UConn and Dartmouth/Harvard, but I'd rather end with four home games than start with them.

[BLW]

FYI

exhibition game Oct. 17, 7 pm vs Bluewater Jrs

[PrincetonFan]

Princeton's official announcement of schedule:

http://www.goprincetontigers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=10600&ATCLID=1505698

[PrincetonFan]

Sasha Sherry named to U.S. U-22 team:

http://www.goprincetontigers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=10600&ATCLID=1505799

[PrincetonFan]

My first time at the rink this year, as Princeton played an exhibition against the Bluewater Hawks. The Tigers won, 5-4, in overtime. It looked like it would be a walkover in the early going, as Princeton scored three times in the first period and commanded the action. But starting in the second period Bluewater managed to foil the Princeton offensive scheme (as well as switching to a different goalie) and whittled away. The Tigers put in their freshman goalie, Rachel Weber, in the third period, and she let up three goals to get Bluewater even, but to be fair her defense left her hung out to dry twice. Then the Tigers scored early in the overtime.

This year I have absolutely no clue how this team will perform, and that's because its fortunes may rest on the quality of play of a sizeable freshman class. Princeton graduated its heart and soul last year, losing MK Oakley, Lizzie Keady, and Brittany Salmon, who also accounted for most of their scoring. The same old story goes for this year--who will score?

The only returning scoring threat is Annie Greenwood, who did not dress for this game. Heaven help them if she has some kind of injury. The other upperclassmen wings, such as Christine Foster, Melanie Wallace and Monica Brennan, are defensive-minded grinders, and have never shown particular scoring profiency. Therefore I have a feeling Coach Kampersal may be playing his freshmen a lot. Judging from tonight's game, Danielle DiCesare and Heather Landry look like gamers. But predicting how freshmen will do is almost impossible. Because Greenwood was out, I'm sure the lines will change, so I have no idea what Kampersal plans.

The one area where the Tigers should excel is the blueline. They have five returning D of great quality--Katherine Dineen, Stephanie Denino, Laura Martindale, Sasha Sherry, and Maddie Endicott. Sherry is particularly offensive-minded, and may well be one of the Tigers' leading scorers this year. She has a gift for taking the puck end to end, but can still make occasional turnovers deep in the defensive zone. I love to watch Dineen play. She can be a goal scorer if she wants, she may have to this year. Denino is a scrappy player, but can be reckless. She took a lot of penalties last year. She did get the game-winning goal tonight. Endicott is a solid player. They also added Ann-Marie Elvin at D, but she did not dress tonight.

Between the pipes, it figures that Kristen Young will be able to take some time off this year. She played every minute last year, and did yeoman work, although she can have periods where she doesn't have it. Weber was recruited to be her backup, and Megan Murray is back as a third goalie.

I'm not expecting great things from this team this year; per usual, they will probably battle for fourth place in the ECAC, but could fall to sixth (or lower). Since they are a young team they will probably make many errors of enthusiasm, but should be fun to watch.

[Radar3535]

My first time at the rink this year, as Princeton played an exhibition against the Bluewater Hawks. The Tigers won, 5-4, in overtime. It looked like it would be a walkover in the early going, as Princeton scored three times in the first period and commanded the action. But starting in the second period Bluewater managed to foil the Princeton offensive scheme (as well as switching to a different goalie) and whittled away. The Tigers put in their freshman goalie, Rachel Weber, in the third period, and she let up three goals to get Bluewater even, but to be fair her defense left her hung out to dry twice. Then the Tigers scored early in the overtime.

This year I have absolutely no clue how this team will perform, and that's because its fortunes may rest on the quality of play of a sizeable freshman class. Princeton graduated its heart and soul last year, losing MK Oakley, Lizzie Keady, and Brittany Salmon, who also accounted for most of their scoring. The same old story goes for this year--who will score?

The only returning scoring threat is Annie Greenwood, who did not dress for this game. Heaven help them if she has some kind of injury. The other upperclassmen wings, such as Christine Foster, Melanie Wallace and Monica Brennan, are defensive-minded grinders, and have never shown particular scoring profiency. Therefore I have a feeling Coach Kampersal may be playing his freshmen a lot. Judging from tonight's game, Danielle DiCesare and Heather Landry look like gamers. But predicting how freshmen will do is almost impossible. Because Greenwood was out, I'm sure the lines will change, so I have no idea what Kampersal plans.

The one area where the Tigers should excel is the blueline. They have five returning D of great quality--Katherine Dineen, Stephanie Denino, Laura Martindale, Sasha Sherry, and Maddie Endicott. Sherry is particularly offensive-minded, and may well be one of the Tigers' leading scorers this year. She has a gift for taking the puck end to end, but can still make occasional turnovers deep in the defensive zone. I love to watch Dineen play. She can be a goal scorer if she wants, she may have to this year. Denino is a scrappy player, but can be reckless. She took a lot of penalties last year. She did get the game-winning goal tonight. Endicott is a solid player. They also added Ann-Marie Elvin at D, but she did not dress tonight.

Between the pipes, it figures that Kristen Young will be able to take some time off this year. She played every minute last year, and did yeoman work, although she can have periods where she doesn't have it. Weber was recruited to be her backup, and Megan Murray is back as a third goalie.

I'm not expecting great things from this team this year; per usual, they will probably battle for fourth place in the ECAC, but could fall to sixth (or lower). Since they are a young team they will probably make many errors of enthusiasm, but should be fun to watch.WoW! Did you get new glasses this year?:D

[PrincetonFan]

Life after hockey for Heather Jackson includes winning triathlons:

http://www.goprincetontigers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=46915&SPID=4275&DB_OEM_ID=10600&ATCLID=1607783

[PrincetonFan]

I thought last night's game against UConn was as encouraging as a 3-0 loss can be. Kristen Young made several acrobatic saves, and the freshmen showed hustle and determination--there were four frosh total on the first two lines, and they had several scoring opportunities, just coudn't put it in (I think much of this is due to a lack of creativity in shots--the UConn goalie made most of her saves right in the breadbasket, and at times it seemed like Princeton was playing a game of "hit the goalie").

Princeton controlled a lot of the first period, with most of UConn's shots coming off of some very sloppy turnovers by the Princeton D deep in the zone (and the D are supposed to be their strong suit--hope it's just rust and not indicative of something chronic). KY kept it from being a rout. But UConn had the Tigers back on their heels in the remaining two periods, and it looked like Princeton ran out of gas. Annie Greenwood, the best scorer on the team, was dressed but did not play, which makes me think there is some lingering health issue.

Looking at the tough schedule ahead, the pleasures for the spectator this year may not be worrying about wins and losses or playoff seeding, but watching this young team (hopefully) gel. I expect them to be much better by season's end.

[Radar3535]

Annie Greenwood, the best scorer on the team, was dressed but did not play, which makes me think there is some lingering health issue.


You really should not make any assumptions! That is how false rumors start.
On another note, I'm glad to see you found your old glasses again. It would have been a very depressing season had you not.;)

[PrincetonFan]

You really should not make any assumptions! That is how false rumors start.
On another note, I'm glad to see you found your old glasses again. It would have been a very depressing season had you not.;)

I'm not assuming anything, I'm guessing. What reasons can you come up with why the team's best scoring threat would not leave the bench for two games? And I don't understand what you're talking about when you refer to my glasses.

As for tonight's game, much better. We got some lucky bounces and played a more fundamentally sound game. The goals were kind of soft--after the second one Linstad pulled the freshman goalie Garcia, and the third one Wilson stopped but couldn't control. The final goal was an empty-net beauty--Sasha Sherry caromed it off the boards. Young had another great game in goal.

It's clear that this team's fortunes rest on how well the freshmen do offensively, as figured in the scoring of each of the four goals.

[Radar3535]

I'm not assuming anything, I'm guessing. What reasons can you come up with why the team's best scoring threat would not leave the bench for two games? And I don't understand what you're talking about when you refer to my glasses.

It is not fair to Ms Greenwood for you to start guessing at the situation.I don't need to guess. I won't be as subtle this time. Drop the subject. This public forum discussion will only lead to false rumors. Be a friend to the program.
As far as the glasses, in past years you have only seen the team through rose colored glasses. You have picked your favorites and they could do no wrong.The glass has always been half full,never half empty. Then you posted your preseason assessment for this year and low and behold you had some negativity in your post. Hence the new glasses comment. After the first game,you went back to your old style of posts. Thus the finding the old glasses comment.

[ARM]

As far as the glasses, in past years you have only seen the team through rose colored glasses. You have picked your favorites and they could do no wrong.The glass has always been half full,never half empty. Then you posted your preseason assessment for this year and low and behold you had some negativity in your post. Hence the new glasses comment. After the first game,you went back to your old style of posts. Thus the finding the old glasses comment.Over the years, PrincetonFan has consistently shared eyewitness accounts of Princeton games with readers of this forum. I have found these invaluable, because I don't have access to that much other coverage of the Tigers. IMO, such posts form much of the real substance of this forum, and I look forward to reading more of them in the future, whether the games be viewed through rose-colored glasses, lenses of a different color, or the naked eye.

[PrincetonFan]

Thanks, ARM. I was ready to abandon posting here. I doubt Radar has read all of my posts, because I certainly have been critical of the team when I think it's warranted. Of course, I look for the positive whenever I can find it.

[Trillium]

Over the years, PrincetonFan has consistently shared eyewitness accounts of Princeton games with readers of this forum. I have found these invaluable, because I don't have access to that much other coverage of the Tigers. IMO, such posts form much of the real substance of this forum, and I look forward to reading more of them in the future, whether the games be viewed through rose-colored glasses, lenses of a different color, or the naked eye.

Definitely agree. It's always nice to get game reports of the various teams from someone who was there--whether biased or not.

[DC78-82]

Over the years, PrincetonFan has consistently shared eyewitness accounts of Princeton games with readers of this forum. I have found these invaluable, because I don't have access to that much other coverage of the Tigers. IMO, such posts form much of the real substance of this forum, and I look forward to reading more of them in the future, whether the games be viewed through rose-colored glasses, lenses of a different color, or the naked eye.

Good post, ARM. I tried to rep you, but, well, ya know how that goes, and I just don't give that out;)

The post being referred to contained a speculation about a player which didn't suggest anything to me other than understated concern for the individual, and an obvious concern for the team in her on ice absence. Many others simply ask, "Who knows why so and so didn't play today?"


Human nature is certainly well-represented in this forum, and it is refreshing to have posters on each thread such as PrincetonFan, who are real fans. I don't consider an honest critique of a team (whether you favor them or not) to be negative. There are many ways to say the same thing, and being judicious, courteous, and insightful is nothing less than maturity.


There are those who post who are so predictably negative it's hard to give credence their comments. Evidently some people tipped their glass over, then stepped on their glasses on the way to pick up the pieces. I guess I'd be in a bad mood then too:rolleyes: ;)

[rodney]

Agreed. From one Princeton fan to another, keep up the posting.

[dayglo]

Agreed. From one Princeton fan to another, keep up the posting.

And from one who's not a Princeton fan ;) keep posting anyways.

Since Dartmouth plays its first official game there next weekend, I'll be interested in any thoughts ahead of time and posts during the game.

[sheba]

Hi PrincetonFan we also enjoy your recaps - please keep em coming!

Here is a special request - open to anyone who has a suggestion... Is there any better (ie less traffic, congestion, etc) route to Princeton from New Haven, CT on I-95 that might avoid New York City , especially the GW Bridge?? Is it preferable to go Merritt Parkway instead of I-95 (cars only) or is it longer? ANy suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.

[Hux]

The Merritt to White Plains and then across to the Tappan Z is the best way. No trucks, scenic, moves along quite nicely.

[notfromaroundhere]

Hi PrincetonFan we also enjoy your recaps - please keep em coming!

Here is a special request - open to anyone who has a suggestion... Is there any better (ie less traffic, congestion, etc) route to Princeton from New Haven, CT on I-95 that might avoid New York City , especially the GW Bridge?? Is it preferable to go Merritt Parkway instead of I-95 (cars only) or is it longer? ANy suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.

The other main alternative to crossing the river is the Tappan Zee, which you can get to either on the Garden State Parkway or leaving Princeton going up to 287. Both routes are more mileage, but if traffic is bad could be better timing.

If you do come over on the Tappan Zee, getting to the Merritt Pkwy is easy and you can choose which way to go based upon traffic reports (if you believe them). I've driven both Merritt and I95 towards the Tappan Zee. Not much difference unless there is an accident, although the scenery is better on the Merritt and pehaps in rush hour the Merritt is less stop and go, but a steady slower.

Another thing, IIRC, if you break down on the Merritt, AAA cannot bail you out. The state has a contract with one towing outfit to get cars off the parkway. AAA isn't allowed on. Can be more expensive.

Another note: I hate the fact that all GPS devices want to route travel across the GW. I try to avoid it if at all possible.