CRAZY EIGHTS: Princeton University men’s hockey player Josh Teves controls the puck in ECAC Hockey playoff action. Last weekend at the ECACH Final 4 in Lake Placid, N.Y., junior defenseman Teves starred as seventh-seeded Princeton defeated top-seeded Cornell 4-1 in the semis and then edged third-seeded Clarkson 2-1 in overtime in the title game. It marked the third straight decade that the program won an ECACH title during a year ending in 8 as the 1998 and 2008 squads also accomplished the feat. Princeton, now 19-12-4 overall, is headed to the NCAA tournament. The Tigers will be playing in the Midwest Regional in Allentown, Pa. where they are seeded fourth and will face top-seeded Ohio State on Saturday. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Even though the Princeton University men’s hockey team entered the ECAC Hockey Final 4 last weekend at Lake Placid, N.Y. as the lowest remaining seed in the competition, Josh Teves didn’t view the Tigers as underdogs.

“We have obviously been doing well in the playoffs and before that,” said junior defenseman Teves, reflecting on the team’s surge which saw it go 4-0 in the playoffs, outscoring Brown and Union by a total of 23-8 the first two rounds.

“We just had a belief that if we played our game the right way and did things patiently and kept playing our game, no one could stop us.”

That confidence proved well founded as seventh-seeded Princeton defeated top-seeded and No. 2 Cornell 4-1 in the semis and then edged third-seeded and No. 10 Clarkson 2-1 in overtime in the championship game to earn the title and improve to 19-12-4.

As a result, the Tigers will now compete in the NCAA tournament where they are the fourth seed in the Midwest Regional and will face top-seeded Ohio State (24-9-5) in a first round contest on March 24 in Allentown, Pa. with the winner advancing to the regional final the next day against the victor of the Denver-Penn State contest.

The Tigers brought some good karma to Herb Brooks Arena as Princeton had won the ECACH titles in 1998 and 2008.

“We had a celebration for the ’98 and ’08 teams a couple of weeks ago; we brought both teams back to campus and honored their wins 10 and 20 years ago, respectively,” said Teves, noting that Max Becker, the scorer of the game-winner against Clarkson wears No. 8 and is a member of the Class of 2018.

“It was pretty interesting to be able to chat with those guys and the 10-year tradition. We kept that going, it was pretty cool.”

It took a while for Princeton to get going on Friday as the Tigers fell behind Cornell 1-0 in the first period of the semi.

“We came out a little nervous against Cornell, we know they play a great defensive game, they make it difficult for you all over the ice,” said Teves, a 6’0, 180-pound native of Calgary, Alberta. “Once we got that first period under out belt, we felt that we were getting some momentum.”

Teves helped spark momentum as he assisted on Princeton’s first goal of the contest, setting up a Liam Grande tally 8:51 into the second period.

“It was a 3-on-3 rush but I didn’t really have much of a step on the guy so I took the pretty lively boards at the Herb Brooks Arena and put one off the end boards, aiming to get back into the middle for Liam,” recalled Teves. “He ended up putting it in, it went pretty well.”

A night later, Teves got the Tigers on the board three minutes into the contest as he converted a feed from Ryan Kuffner.

“That one was just using the big ice to our advantage,” said Teves, a third-team All-ECAC Hockey performer who leads the nation’s defensemen in points per game and now has 33 points on seven goals and 26 assists in 30 games.

“I skated it up and gave it to Kuffner. He is a great player; I knew if I could get myself open he would give me an opportunity and that is exactly what he did. I busted down the middle there and he laid one in there for me. I put it on net, hoping we would get a chance out of it and it ended up going five-hole. We got an early one there and it got the game started on the right foot.”

The Tigers led 1-0 until the waning seconds of the contest when the Golden Knights broke through with an extra attacker goal to send the game into overtime.

“The attitude in the dressing room was OK, they scored with six seconds to tie it up but it doesn’t make a difference,” recalled Teves.

“We are still going to come out there and play our game. We are the better team and I think the whole leadership throughout the entire team was key. We kept saying this is our trophy and they are not going to take it from us, let’s go back out there and get it.”

After Becker found the back of the net 2:37 into the extra session, the Tigers poured out on the ice for a raucous celebration.

“It was a whirlwind of emotions; it was just pure excitement and happiness for the entire team that we could get that done together,” said Teves.

“It has been a pretty special run so far to get that ECAC title and know the history of those two teams the last 10 and 20 years. It puts it all in perspective, it is just a really special feeling.”

While the Tigers have featured a high-powered offense all season, the defense become special down the stretch, surrendering 13 goals as they have won seven straight games, including the playoffs and regular season finale.

“Our defense has really stepped up, we have banded together,” said Teves. “We take a lot of pride in our defensive game and down the stretch that has been been key. Obviously having Ryan Ferland (the ECACH tournament MVP) in goal is key. I don’t think he gets enough credit for how much confidence he gives our team. He is a wall back there. He is making great saves and he is keeping us in games and he has given us opportunities to go out there and win.

Although Princeton head coach Ron Fogarty was mindful of the program’s success on the 8s, he doesn’t believe that luck or superstition has played any part in the team’s success.

“We did mention that to the guys during the pregame talk against Clarkson,” said Fogarty, referring  to the ’98 and ’08 squads.

“We said it is all coincidence because we deserve to be here, you guys deserve to win a championship regardless of what year it is with your preparation and commitment.”

In Fogarty’s view, the second period of the Cornell game turned the tide for the Tigers.

“Once Liam Grande scored that goal, it looked like the game just switched,” said Fogarty.

“We played stronger offensively, we were better defensively. That was not a reboot but it was let’s get back to our game now.”

Showing resilience, the Tigers stayed on their game in the wake of the late Clarkson goal that could have deflated a lesser team.

“It was just the first one would win the game,” said Fogarty. “We mentioned going into the third period, whatever happens, if they get a lucky one and we have to play overtime, we are still going to have this. We are a very good team, just keep pressing and playing the way we can. We outshot them 5-0 before the goal in OT.”

In reflecting on Princeton’s late surge, which is seeing it bring the nation’s longest current winning streak into the NCAA tourney, Fogarty believes his squad’s game has evolved at both ends of the ice.

“We have developed our scoring in different ways than just the rush, which we have been accustomed to,” said Fogarty.

“Our style had changed in the playoffs and we are still scoring just under five goals a game. Our forwards are playing smarter in the neutral zone and the offensive zone with their decisions. With better decisions up ice, it helps with defensive posturing. Ryan Ferland has been playing great. He has a 945 save percentage in the playoffs. It is the best and his goals against is 1.67. He has done a great job.”

Winning the title was a great moment for the program. “It is such a tough accomplishment; you look at all of the teams up in the rafters at Lake Placid and there is not one team that really dominates it,” said Fogarty.

“You need a little bit of puck luck, you need execution, and no mistakes. We played two incredible teams who are in the national tournament that we defeated. It was great to win the championship; it bodes well for our demeanor that we can play with anyone heading into the tournament.”

Fogarty is confident that Princeton will keep executing as it faces Ohio State.

“We just have to continue to play our game and have some tweaks that don’t take us out of our game in the first and second intermission,” said Fogarty, noting that Princeton posted a pair of ties against the tournament’s overall No. 1 seed, St. Cloud State, in December, in addition to beating another No. 1 seed Cornell last weekend. “We are playing well. We will have a great week of preparation and once it starts at 3:30 on Saturday, we are just going to let the guys play.”

In the view of Teves, Princeton is primed to keep playing for a while. “We are just a confident team; we have great defense, we have a hot goaltender and we have the offensive power to scare a lot of people,” said Teves of the Tigers who are 13-2-1 in their last 16 games.

“We have all of the pieces in place to really make a good run at it. The ECAC title is just the beginning for us. Playing in the regional tournament is a bigger stage but I think that bodes well for us. We are going to step our game up and play the right way. I think we are going to turn a lot of heads here with our team and our confidence.”