Princeton traveled to Niagara for a non-conference series this past weekend.

Yale

Yale was one of the ECAC’s top offensive teams last season. Unfortunately for Coach Tim Taylor ’63, it doesn’t look like that will be the case this winter.

Gone are Jeff Hamilton—whose 55 points represented more than half of Yale’s goals last season—and his 1.77 points per game average, and longtime linemate Ben Stafford (14-28-42).

However, the Bulldogs certainly have the tools to compete in the ECAC, as junior Nick Deschenes and senior Luke Earl return to the fold up front. Sophomore Jeff Dwyer, a 20-point man and co-Ivy Rookie of the Year last season along with Harvard’s Tim Pettit, is one of the top blue-liners in the league.

In order for the Elis to be successful this season, though, senior Dan Lombard has to be on top of his game every night. In the past, any inconsistency in his play was masked by the stellar offensive output of Hamilton and Stafford. This year, Lombard will not be afforded that luxury if Yale hopes to win.

Yale will jump right into their ECAC slate Saturday against St. Lawrence.