Princeton University Men's Ice Hockey

Ben Syer has been named the 18th head coach of men’s hockey at Princeton University as announced by Ford Family Director of Athletics John Mack ‘00. A 25-year veteran behind the bench of Division I college hockey programs, Syer takes the reins of the program after recently concluding his 13th season overall at Cornell and his 12th as Associate Head Coach of the Big Red. His previous 12 seasons as a college coach came while serving as Associate Head Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at Quinnipiac from 1999-2011. In 2018, Syer was the recipient of the Terry Flanagan Award which is presented annually by the American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) to an assistant coach in recognition of his superior body of work over a career. “I am thrilled to welcome Ben and his family to Princeton and the men’s hockey program,” said Mack. “He has a proven track record of recruiting and developing student-athletes and positioning them for success on the ice and in the classroom. He has been part of championship teams throughout his entire coaching career, navigating one of the toughest conferences in college hockey year-in, year-out. Throughout this process, it was evident that Ben possesses the qualities we are looking for in a head men’s ice hockey coach at Princeton. He is a passionate recruiter, an innovative tactician and a commanding leader inside the locker room. Under his guidance, I am confident that Princeton’s best days on the ice are ahead of us.” Syer’s 13 seasons at Cornell incl

Adam Oberlin is a senior lecturer in the Department of German, and is a Princeton Athletics Fellow for the men's hockey team.

Alain is a professor of operations research and financial engineering at Princeton and is a Princeton Athletics Fellow for the men's hockey team.

Cathy is the Associate Director of Classes and Reunions in the Office of Alumni Affairs, University Advancement, and is a Princeton Athletics Fellow for the men's hockey team.

Christopher is the Roger Williams Straus Professor in the Politics department and is a Princeton Athletics Fellow for the men's hockey team.

Ben Syer's first coaching staff has been finalized as he welcomes Connor Jones as an assistant coach while retaining Tommy Davis '17 and Shane Talarico on staff heading into the 2024-25 season. Connor Jones, a former NHL player with four years of professional hockey playing experience, joins the Tigers after spending the past two seasons with the Vegas Golden Knights as a scout focused on college free agents. In his first season with the Golden Knights. he was part of an executive group which guided Vegas to a Stanley Cup. In addition to his experience identifying and recruiting potential free agents for the Golden Knights, Jones has years of experience as an on-ice clinician as owner/operator of Champions Hockey School in British Columbia and also as a lead instructor with the Kurt Nichols Powerskating School in New York. Syer and Jones have an extensive history dating back to Jones' days playing for Quinnipiac where he was a four-year letterwinner and helped the Bobcats to the 2013 national title game. A two-time assistant captain while at Quinnipiac, Jones was recruited to Hamden by Syer while he was on staff at Quinnipiac and was coached by him during the 2010-11 season before Syer joined the coaching staff at Cornell. All total for his time as a Bobcat, Jones played in 153 college hockey games and tallied 129 points on 49 goals and 83 assists. He was named Quinnipiac's male student-athlete of the year in 2011 and was also a Dean's List student. He graduated with a degree

Dan Henningson joins the Princeton Tigers as an assistant coach heading into the 2025-26 season as announced by head coach Ben Syer. Henningson and Syer's relationship goes back almost two decades as Henningson was recruited by Syer while on staff at Quinnipiac University. A steady, two-way defenseman, Henningson appeared in 150 games for the Bobcats from 2005 to 2009, recording 67 points (12 goals, 55 assists). He was twice named team MVP and served as assistant captain his junior year and team captain his senior year. Following the Bobcats' 2008-09 season, Henningson signed an ATO with Colorado's AHL Affiliate, the Lake Erie Monsters. At the time, he was the fifth Quinnipiac hockey player to sign with an AHL club in program history and he went on to a four-year professional hockey career that included stops in the AHL and ECHL. In 2009-10, Henningson signed with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the AHL. He spent time in the ECHL with the Wheeling Nailers, where he was named team captain and MVP, and posted a +19 rating. He also played for the Chicago Express and had AHL call-ups with Rockford and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Henningson ended his professional career in the AHL with the Binghamton Senators in 2012. Following his playing career, Henningson transitioned into coaching, joining the Jersey Hitmen organization. Since 2017, he has served as a head coach and skills director within the organization, including coaching the 16U and 18U teams which consistently rank top 2

Bio David is a professor in the computer science department and is a Princeton Athletics Fellow for the men's hockey team.

Henry is the Hughes-Rogers Professor of Economics, a research associate of the industrial relations section, and is a Princeton Athletics Fellow for the hockey teams.

Ian Deas is an Associate Dean & Director of Student Leadership & Engagement in the Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Students and is a Princeton Athletics Fellow for the men's hockey and wrestling teams.

Jaclyn is the Director of Studies in Whitman College and is a Princeton Athletics Fellow for the hockey teams.

James Van Wyck is an Assistant Dean for Graduate Student Professional Development in the Office of the Dean of the Graduate School and is a Princeton Athletics Fellow with the baseball and men's hockey teams.

Joe is a consultant and is a Princeton Athletics Fellow for the men's hockey team.

Kim is the Senior Associate Director of Regional Affairs in the Office of Alumni Affairs and a Princeton Athletics Fellow for the men's hockey team.

Luigi is a professor of mechanical and aeronautical engineering and is a Princeton Athletics Fellow with the men's hockey team.

Mark Milley is a Charles and Marie Robertson Visiting Professor and Visiting Lecturer in the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs and is a Princeton Athletics Fellow with the men's hockey team.

Mike Thibault is Assistant Equipment Manager. Prior to Princeton, Mike spent ten years as equipment manager with the NHL NJ Devils. He also had experience as a video coach, statistician and assistant equipment manager. Mike is a member of SPHEM (Society of Professional Hockey Equipment Managers) and SIRO (Safe Ice Resurfacer Operator/Zamboni Certification). He is proud that Tiger teams he supports have won championships including: 2012 Prince of Wales Trophy (NHL Eastern Conference Trophy), 2018 ECAC Championship- Whitelaw Cup, and 2019 EIVA Championship. Mike holds a bachelor’s degree in business management and finance from University of Massachusetts Lowell. Originally from Lowell, he enjoys relaxing with his wife, Kim, and dog, Bindi Roo, as well as golfing, fishing, kayaking, watching all sports.

Paul is the vice provost for space programming and planning at Princeton, is the physics department manager and director of operations, and is a Princeton Athletics Fellow for the men's hockey team.

Dr. Sasha Steinlight is the Director of Athletic Medicine at Princeton University Health Services. Dr. Steinlight joined UHS in 2010 as a team physician. She treats both the student-athlete and general student population for musculoskeletal and general medical concerns. Dr. Steinlight received her undergraduate degree in Biochemistry at Indiana University. She pursued her M.S. at Rutgers Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences in 2002 and subsequently her M.D. at Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School in 2006. She completed residency training in Family Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and then returned to New Jersey for a Sports Medicine Fellowship at Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson which she completed in 2010. She is board-certified in Family Medicine with a Certificate of Added Qualification in Sports Medicine. Outside of work, Dr. Steinlight loves spending time with her family and going to the beach.

Seth Sherman is part of the Athletics Facilities Grounds Crew, supervising the operations at Baker Rink since February of 2015. Before Princeton, Seth attended SUNY Cortland in Central New York earning a Bachelors in Outdoor Recreation with a concentration in Outdoor Leadership in 2014. While attending Cortland Seth worked at the Alumni Ice Arena, and football complex working field security. A Board member of North Eastern Ice Skating Association (NEISMA), Seth also holds a variety of ice rink related certifications such as refrigeration, ice maintenance, arena operations, and ice rink management. Seth is a diehard Buffalo Bills fan, avid outdoorsman, and attends numerous concerts throughout the year. He and his fiancée Alex, and dog Siska reside in Ewing NJ.

Shane Talarico enters his second season as an assistant coach with Princeton men's ice hockey in 2023-24. Talarico joined the Tigers from Cornell where he mo...