FINAL APPROACH: Princeton University men’s hockey player Tom Kroshus heads up the ice in recent action. Last weekend, senior defenseman Kroshus and his classmates played their final weekend at Baker Rink. Unable to capitalize on the emotions of the last home games, Princeton fell 4-1 to Brown on Friday and 6-2 to Yale a day later. The Tigers, now 4-19-3 overall and 2-16-2 ECAC Hockey, will wrap up regular season play with games at Dartmouth on February 27 and at Harvard on February 28. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Coming into the final regular season home weekend of his career with the Princeton University men’s hockey team, Tom Kroshus was hoping for a quick start.

Instead, the Tigers fell behind 1-0 in the first period as they hosted Brown at Baker Rink last Friday night.

“We have been starting slowly,” said senior defenseman Kroshus. “We have got to really focus on coming out and playing with more jam and passion in the first period.”

After giving up three unanswered goals in the second period to fall behind 4-0, Princeton did show some passion in the third, scoring a goal and putting pressure on the Bears after pulling goalie Colton Phinney with around four minutes left in regulation.

“There was definitely more energy in the third,” said Kroshus. “But it shouldn’t take the goalie being pulled to have us step our game up like that. We have to play with that level of passion, energy and jam all 60 minutes.”

While Princeton head coach Ron Fogarty acknowledged that the Tigers showed more energy in the third, he was disappointed that his players didn’t show that intensity from the opening face-off.

“Our guys are protecting an inanimate object harder than they protect Colton Phinney and that is what is discouraging,” said Fogarty.

“They are embarrassed if someone gets an empty net goal, they should be embarrassed if someone gets a shot on Colton Phinney. We went five and a half minutes without a shot on goal. It doesn’t matter if you have six, guys should be jumping and guys should be competing. Unfortunately tonight we jumped and competed in front of an open net instead of Colton Phinney.”

In digging the 4-0 hole, the Tigers hurt themselves by some sloppy play.

“I felt the goals were a product of us being out of position,” said Fogarty. “They capitalized on the opportunities from our fault of being in the wrong position.”

With Princeton celebrating its senior class last weekend, Fogarty was hoping to see his team capitalize on those emotions.

“I am upset and disappointed that six groups of parents didn’t see a win tonight,” said Fogarty, who was happy to see junior forward Kevin Liss get his first career goal in the loss to Brown. “Hopefully we will rebound tomorrow and put our best foot forward.”

A day later, Princeton didn’t put its best foot forward, falling 6-2 to No. 13 Yale in dropping to 4-19-3 overall and 2-16-2 ECAC Hockey.

Despite the team’s struggles, Kroshus is leaving with a positive view of his Princeton hockey experience.

“There have definitely been a lot of ups and downs in my four years here but it has been a great ride with my class,” said Kroshus, whose fellow seniors on the squad are Aaron Ave, Ryan Benitez, Tucker Brockett, Aaron Kesselman, and Tyler Maugeri.

“I have gotten to be really good friends with them; the whole team has been great.”

Through it all, Kroshus has gotten better as a player. “Coming in, I lost my confidence and I wasn’t playing with too much poise,” said Kroshus, a 6’1, 190-pound native of Calgary, Alberta who has 17 points in his Princeton career on five goals and 12 assists.

“Especially with Ron coming in this year, he allows us to play our game. I think I have stepped up my game a little here this season.

In Kroshus’s view, there is a good foundation in place for Princeton to step up over the next few years.

“It is only going up from here, I am expecting great things,” said Kroshus. “When our freshmen are seniors, I am sure our program will be really good.”