On Tap with ... Matt Arhontas

Forward Matt Arhontas was a freshman when the men’s ice hockey team won the ECAC Hockey championship in 2008. Now, as a senior, he is a leader on the team and role model for younger players. The co-captain leads the team in goals scored, with five, and power-play goals scored. Last year, Arhontas scored the game-tying goal to give Princeton a 6-6 result against Maine at the Florida College Classic, and he tied a career high with three points in the season-ending victory over Brown.

Q: What was your “welcome to college” moment?

A: Before the season started my freshman year, me and a couple of other freshmen went out there for a skate without shoulder pads or face masks on. Kevin Kaiser ’10 hit me pretty good, and it was a wake-up call that it wasn’t going to be that easy of a skate.

Q: What is the greatest highlight of your sports career?

A: I would probably say winning the ECAC championship my freshman year. It was great to win it with everybody.

Q: Who is your quirkiest teammate?

A: Sophomore forward Will MacDonald. The kid never stops singing. He told us last summer he’d take singing lessons, but unfortunately he never ended up taking them.

Q: What is the best part about being an athlete on campus?

A: Knowing that I have 28 other guys who are there for me and have my back on and off the ice.

Q: What is the worst part about being an athlete on campus?

A: The worst part is the time commitment. With practicing and working out, it’s up to three hours a day, and when we’re gone on weekends, you have to miss going out just like everybody else does.

Q: If you did not play hockey, what sport would you play?

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A: I’d probably say baseball. I played baseball growing up.

Q: If you were your coach for a day, what would you do?

A: I would probably tell the goalies to shut up and quit crying, and stop the puck.

Q: Does the team have any odd rituals?

A: During a pregame stretch, we sometimes put on techno. Personally speaking, I would be the first person who goes out on the ice for warmups — except for the goalies, but they don’t really count.

Q: What is your favorite thing to do when you are not practicing?

A: I’d probably say reclining in my room and watching TV. Or ripping on senior forward Sam Sabky.

Q: What has been your favorite class at Princeton?

A: I’d probably say my Law and Society class, POL 318. The lectures were a lot of discussion — it wasn’t just the teacher lecturing at you the whole time and you just burying your head and taking notes.

Q: What music inspires you?

A: I’m a big country music fan, so I listen to that.

Q: Do you consider Taylor Swift to be country?

A: Not really. She’s more pop.

Q: What would your favorite theme party be?

A: Country Night, which we usually have at Cottage once a year. Everyone’s wearing jorts and cutoff sleeves and that kind of stuff.

Q: What has been the most traumatizing thing that happened to you at Princeton?

A: Sophomore year, in the NCAA tournament, we blew a two-goal lead with 40 seconds left and ended up losing in overtime. That was pretty shocking for us.