Princeton Edges Clarkson, 4-3

Princeton University extended its home winning streak this season to five games with a 4-3 triumph over conference rival Clarkson University last night at Hobey Baker Rink. Tigers junior forward Kai Daniells notched the game-winning goal in the third period, his second straight game-winner and sixth goal of the weekend, to complete Princeton's comeback from a two-goal first-period deficit.

"We've got to make our own breaks," said Princeton head coach Ben Syer afterwards, "to compete and believe in ourselves and do it together."

Owen van Steensel (power-play) and Luke Pakulak scored 48 seconds apart to open the scoring for Clarkson midway through the opening period. Luc Pelletier then scored on a breakaway midway through the second stanza for the Tigers, shortly after he burst out of the penalty box after serving two minutes for tripping.

"That goal gave us a little bit of life, hope, whatever you want to call it," said Syer.

Kevin Anderson tied the contest early in the final frame, before Julian Fachinelli gave Princeton its first lead just under four minutes later. 

"We knew if we stuck to our game, we were too good not to break through," said Daniells post-game. "When we stick to our structure and play our game, we're as good as anyone in the conference."

Daniells then made it 4-2 with less than three minutes left, wristing a shot home from the high slot after skating right to left.

"He has skill," said Syer of Daniells. "When he plays hard, he's a different player, and he earned his goals this weekend. He didn't cheat the game, and he set the tone for the entire team."

Remi Gelinas tallied an extra attacker goal in the final minute to pull Clarkson within one, but Daniells won a faceoff with 1.6 seconds left in Princeton's defensive zone to seal the victory.

"I'm proud of them," said Syer about his team. "They competed and didn't quit. They stayed with it."

Conor Callaghan made 23 saves for the Tigers, and also added an assist on Pelletier's goal. 

"He was good," said Syer of Callaghan, who has started the last five games in net for the Tigers. "He made some timely saves, and he was real good for us."

Shane Soderwall, the 2024-25 NCAA Division III Player of the year at Curry College, stopped 24 shots for the Golden Knights, who have lost their last five games overall, three of them by two goals or less. 

Princeton outshot Clarkson, 28-26, while the two schools went a combined 1-for-7 on the power play. The Tigers and Golden Knights will meet again on Jan. 30 in Potsdam, N.Y. to complete their season series.

Princeton (5-2-0 overall, 2-2-0 ECAC Hockey) steps out of conference play next weekend for two games at CCHA opponent Bowling Green. Clarkson (4-10-0, 1-5-0) will take part in the Adirondack Winter Invitational in Lake Placid, N.Y., along with Alaska Fairbanks, St. Lawrence and UMass Lowell. 

"It's going to be exciting, " said Daniels, who added that he has friends on this year's Bowling Green squad. "It's some school time off, to get out and play some hockey."

Daniells Scores Five in Princeton Win

Kai Daniells had two goals on the season entering Princeton's game on Friday evening against ECAC Hockey rival St. Lawrence at Hobey Baker Rink. He left with seven.

Daniells, a junior forward from Whistler, B.C., scored five goals to lift the Tigers over the visiting Saints, 7-4. He tallied Princeton's second, third, fourth, fifth and seventh goals, two in the second period and three in the third. His goal with just over three minutes remining in regulation stood up as the game-winner, while his final goal was scored into an empty net in the final minute of play. Tyler Cristall notched two goals on the night for the Saints who lost their fourth straight conference contest.

According to College Hockey News, Daniells is the first NCAA Division I men's hockey player to score five goals in one game since Minnesota Duluth's Mike Connolly did so back on Feb. 5, 2011 in a 6-4 win over Minnesota. UMD went on to win the national title that season. Daniells is also the first Tiger to score five goals in one night since John Cook scored five against Northeastern on Nov. 30, 1962, according to Princeton's athletic web site. 

The Tigers (4-2-0 overall, 1-2-0 ECAC Hockey), who have won four consecutive home games to start the 2025-26 campaign, will now host Clarkson on Saturday evening, while SLU (2-10-2, 1-4-0) will visit Quinnipiac.

Princeton Wins Fourth Straight

After six straight losses, Princeton University men's hockey has now won four straight NCAA contests. 

Following a home sweep of Bentley in non-conference action on Jan. 25-26, the Tigers closed out the first month of the new calendar year with a 4-3 overtime victory at ECAC Hockey/Ivy League rival Harvard on Jan. 31. Kai Daniells notched the game-winner in the extra session, while David Ma recorded a goal and two assists in regulation. Princeton then opened February with a 3-1 win at Dartmouth the next night, also in ECAC Hockey/Ivy League play. Brendan Gorman led the Tigers with a goal and an assist, while Ethan Pearson stopped 19 shots following a 32-save effort at Harvard.

Princeton (10-10-1 overall, 5-8-1 ECAC Hockey) returns to ECAC Hockey action this weekend at home at Hobey Baker Rink, when it faces Clarkson on Friday and St. Lawrence on Saturday.

Princeton Tops Harvard, 5-2, in 2023 Finale

Nick Carabin tallied a goal and two assists, and Nick Seitz set up three goals as Princeton rebounded for a 5-2 win over visiting Ivy League and ECAC Hockey rival Harvard yesterday at Hobey Baker Memorial Rink It was Princeton's first victory over Harvard since Nov. 2019, and also marked the completion of the two-game 2023-24 season series between the two schools, who played to a tie in Cambridge, Mass. in early November (with Princeton winning a subsequent shootout).

After Jack Bar and Joe Miller staked Harvard (1-6-3 overall, 1-4-3 ECACH) to a 2-0 lead just over 16 minutes into Saturday's contest, Princeton (6-5-2, 5-3-1) then rebounded with five unanswered goals spanning the last two periods for the win. Jaxson Ezman got the Tigers on the board with a shot from the slot 3:30 into the middle stanza to make it 2-1, before Adam Robbins and Kai Daniells tallied power-play goals just under 12 minutes apart to give Princeton a 3-2 lead after 40 minutes.

Ezman salted away the contest on his second goal of the afternoon, with just over five minutes remaining in regulation, before Carabin scored shorthanded into an empty net less than two minutes later for the final margin, with Harvard's goaltender pulled for an extra attacker. Princeton outshot Harvard, 31-30, on the afternoon, while the Crimson won 32 of 61 faceoffs in all. The Tigers also went 2-for-3 on the power play, while killing off all four Harvard man-advantages, including a 5-on-3 in the first period.

Arthur Smith finished with 28 saves for the Tigers, while Derek Mullahy made 26 stops for the Crimson. Princeton will return to NCAA action on Jan. 5-6 at Hockey East opponent New Hampshire, while Harvard will visit Hockey East's UConn today to close out the calendar year.