Princeton Hockey Rides momentum into Weekend Series Against Brown and Yale
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Princeton University’s men’s hockey team enters a crucial weekend matchup wiht a surge of confidence, fueled by a strong start to the 2025-26 season and a roster brimming with talent.The tigers will frist face off against Brown on November 7th at Meehan Auditorium, followed by a contest against Yale on November 8th at Ingalls Rink. Both games will be broadcast on ESPN+ with live stats available, offering fans multiple ways to follow the action.
The Tigers hold a ancient advantage over Brown, boasting a 78-94-12 record in a series dating back to 1901. However, last year proved challenging, with Princeton unable to secure a victory in three meetings against the Bears, including a 3-2 loss in the first round of the ECAC Playoffs. The Yale series presents a different narrative, as Princeton holds a 115-144-12 record against the Bulldogs, and secured a 4-1 win at Yale last season – marking Ben Syer’s first win as head coach. The teams later skated to a 2-2 tie, with Princeton ultimately winning the shootout. princeton has won thier last two visits to New Haven by a score of 4-1.
Key Players to Watch
Several players are leading the offensive charge for Princeton, including David Jacobs, Jaxson Ezman, and Kai Daniells, all of whom registered points in both games last weekend.
Gorman Leading the Charge
Brendan Gorman is emerging as a key offensive force for the Tigers. He finished last season with 13 points (6 goals, 7 assists) over his final 13 games and led the team in goals (12), assists (14), points (26), and faceoff wins (285). His consistent growth is evident in his increasing point totals over his collegiate career – 19 as a freshman, 24 as a sophomore, and 26 as a junior.Currently ranked 41st in all-time Princeton men’s hockey scoring with 73 points (26g, 47a) in 92 games, Gorman is poised to climb the ranks.Last season, he earned third-team All-ECAC and first-team All-Ivy honors.
Manfre Making an Impact as a Sophomore
Jake Manfre is looking to build on a stellar rookie season where he led all princeton first-years with 17 points (8 goals, 9 assists). His remarkable performance earned him ECAC Rookie of the Week and Rookie of the Month honors in November 2024. Manfre’s three power-play goals were among the team leaders and ranked highly within the ECAC.
Key Contributors Stepping Up
David Jacobs, now in his second year as captain, brings experience and leadership to the team. Despite a limited 24 games last season,he remains a important offensive threat,currently ranking 75th in Princeton’s all-time scoring list with 56 points.Jaxson Ezman is fully healthy and building on a career year, earning ECAC Forward of the Week honors after a strong start to the season. Goaltender Arthur Smith, an honorable mention All-Ivy selection as a freshman, provides a solid presence in net with a career record of 12-14-3. Junior Kai Daniells has also made an immediate impact, matching his entire point total from the injury-riddled 2024-25 season in just two games.
New additions are also contributing,with freshman hans Martin Ulvbene,one of six Norwegian players in Division I men’s hockey,adding depth to the roster. Newcomers Malcolm Green and Let’s join Latta, teammates from the Victoria Grizzlies, are also expected to make an impact.
Princeton’s success is also built on the continued development of players like David Ma, Nick Marciano, Miles Gunty, and Kai Greaves, all of whom set career highs in points last season and are poised for even greater contributions this year. The tigers are entering this weekend with a renewed sense of purpose and a determination to build on their strong start to the season.
