HEADING HOME: Princeton University men’s hockey player Tyler Rubin takes the puck up the ice last Friday as Princeton hosted Colgate. Senior defenseman Rubin scored the lone goal for Princeton as it battled to a 1-1 tie with Colgate through overtime with the Raiders securing the extra point in a penalty shootout. The Tigers clinched home ice for at least the first round of the ECAC Hockey playoffs with the OT tie. A night later, the Tigers topped Cornell to move into fourth place alone and in line for a bye to the quarterfinals and hosting a best-of-three quarters series. The Tigers, now 15-11-2 overall and 11-8-2 ECACH, wrap up regular season action by playing at Harvard on February 27 and at Dartmouth on February 28. (Photo by Frank Jacobs III)
By Bill Alden
It was the last regular season action at Hobey Baker Rink for the seniors on the Princeton University men’s hockey team as the Tigers hosted Colgate and Cornell last weekend.
With ECAC Hockey playoff seeding on the line, Tyler Rubin and his classmates were determined to make it back to home ice for postseason play.
“It is a special weekend, it is a really big weekend for our team here and the next couple of weeks,” said Princeton senior defensemen Rubin. “We are fighting for a playoff spot, that is the first focus here.”
While the playoff push may have been the focus, Rubin did reflect on the journey with his classmates.
“It is definitely emotional for our class, we have gone through a lot together,” said Rubin, a 5’10, 175-pound native of Natick, Mass. “I am excited to finish it out here with the guys. It is just spending time with the guys and the good memories of the dining halls, the bus rides, winning games.That is definitely going to be something to look back at in the future.”
Against Colgate, Princeton made things exciting as it rallied from a 1-0 deficit to knot the game at 1-1 on a third period goal by Rubin and force overtime. Neither team scored in OT and Colgate went to win a penalty shootout.
“It took us a little time to get back into our game,” said Rubin.
“We just focused on keeping our energy up and staying detailed into our structure.”
After Colgate scored midway through the second period to go 1-0, the Tigers picked up there game, generating a number of scoring chances over the last nine minutes of the period.
“I think there was a huge shift of momentum in the second,” said Rubin. “We just focused on getting our game and our identity. We did a really good job of that late in the game.”
With 8:37 left in the third period, Rubin broke the ice for Princeton as he found the back of the net.
“I think Seamus Latta made an unbelievable play, he drove the net and took it far side,” said Rubin, whose tally gave him 13 points on the season with two goals and 11 assists “I just followed up the ice and buried the rebound. It was a great play by Latts.”
The game went into overtime and neither team scored in the five-minute extra session. Colgate ultimately prevailed 2-1 in the penalty shootout that ensued.
“I thought we were really good in OT, we had a lot of chances,” said Rubin. “Their goalie played well, it was a good game for him. We definitely had some chances there.”
Although the Tigers didn’t get the win, earning a point for the OT tie secured a finish in the ECACH top eight and home ice for at least the first round of the playoffs.
“I thought we played well defensively, we had good structure last weekend and this weekend,” said Rubin. “We have to continue to build off of that. I thought we did a really good job of playing D, except for that one unlucky goal there.”
In reflecting on the progress made by the program as it clinched its first home playoff action since 2018, Rubin tipped his hat to second-year head coach Ben Syer.
“He has been unbelievable, he has done a lot for our program,” said Rubin. “We have taken the right steps in my four years. He is an awesome leader for our team. I am excited to see what he does in the future with the program.”
Rubin credited Syer with having done a lot for him individually.
“He has helped me a lot, he has done a lot on the defensive end,” said Rubin. “He tells us little details, physical things. It is super structured in getting us ready to play. He has helped me tremendously in a lot of respects of the game.”
Syer, for his part, respects what the team’s seniors have given the program.
“They have been outstanding and a really fun group to coach,” said Syer. “They care about the program deeply and the University. They are going to be really missed.”
In the clash with Colgate, the Tigers showed how much they cared collectively as they fought hard to take the game to overtime.
“I give the guys a lot of credit, they didn’t quit, they had to battle,” said Syer. “The guys realized what was at stake here and how important everything is and to keep grinding.”
In Syer’s view, Rubin exemplifies the team’s no-quit mentality.
“He has been great all year, he has been banged up at different times,” said Syer of Rubin. “He is just a competitor. For him to get rewarded for that is fantastic.”
A night later, Princeton competed hard as it defeated Cornell 4-2 in improving to 15-11-2 overall and 11-8-2 ECACH. The win left Princeton alone in fourth place in the ECACH standings. A finish in the top four would give the Tigers a bye into the quarterfinals and home ice for a best-of-three quarters series.
Coming into the Cornell matchup, Syer knew his team would have to raise its game to overcome the Big Red.
“They are a good team, they are fighting tooth and nail here too for a bye,” said Syer. “I think they are in a spot where they could clinch first place. Every point matters for them as it does for us.”
Solidifying home ice for at least the first round of the playoffs was a big step forward for the program.
“We have got to keep grinding, the guys know we have a lot to still play for,” said Syer, whose team wraps up regular season action by playing at Harvard on February 27 and at Dartmouth on February 28. “Obviously a goal at the start of the season is to be able to get home ice. It is certainly a good start. I thank the fans that keep coming out to support us. I really appreciate it.”
Rubin is hoping to give the fans a lot more action at Hobey Baker Rink this winter.
“That means a lot,” said Rubin, reflecting on clinching home ice.“In our time here, we haven’t done that so it is a big step. We want more than that right now. We will focus on getting more.”