Box Score (PDF)
 
ITHACA, N.Y. — Sophomore forward Christian Hilbrich and senior forward John McCarron scored power-play goals, and the Cornell men's hockey team never trailed in a 2-2 tie with Colgate on Saturday night in front of a sellout crowd at Lynah Rink.
 
Sophomore goaltender Mitch Gillam – who entered the game leading the nation in both goals-against average and save percentage – made 23 saves in the deadlock.
 
Called upon infrequently over the first 40 minutes, Gillam was at his best in the latter stages. Colgate's Tyson Spink was set up for a one-time shot from point-blank range with 2:23 left in the third period, but Gillam flashed his left pad to make the kick save. He then made four saves in overtime, where the visiting Raiders enjoyed a power play. Gillam then slammed the door with saves on Joe Wilson and Jake Kulevich with 40 and 30 seconds remaining, respectively.


Cornell (9-9-3, 7-6-1 ECAC Hockey) held the edge in play for the first two periods, but could never build on a pair of one-goal leads. Hilbrich scored his team-leading seventh goal just 25 seconds into the second period to give the Big Red the night's first lead. From the left circle, senior forward Cole Bardreau set up senior defenseman Joakim Ryan for a one-timer from the center point that Hilbrich redirected between the pads of Colgate goalie Charlie Finn (29 saves).
 
The Big Red then appeared to take a two-goal lead a little less than five minutes later. Bardreau forced a puck toward the crease from behind the net to Finn's left, with the puck popping high in the air. The 6-foot-7 Hilbrich was the first to get a hand to it, and sophomore forward Jake Weidner eventually sent a shot over Finn's glove. The goal was allowed to stand on the ice, but was eventually overturned on video review – despite the Big Red's belief that the puck hit at least one Colgate player after Hilbrich's swat of the puck, which would have negated the hand pass.
 
Colgate (14-9-3, 6-5-3), the preseason favorite in both the coaches and media polls to win the league, equalized with 23.5 seconds left before the intermission on a shot from Daniel Gentzler in the right circle directly off a faceoff.
 
The Big Red then took the lead back at the 9:41 mark of the third on McCarron's first goal of the season. Hilbrich worked the puck up to sophomore Holden Anderson at the right point, and then he passed to senior defenseman Jacob MacDonald in the middle. His shot toward goal was deflected by McCarron, high over the right shoulder of Finn to give Cornell the lead again.
 
But the Raiders fought back one last time, scoring off a faceoff with 4:28 left in the third period. Tylor Spink won a draw to the left of Gillam to his twin brother, Tyson, who passed to the far point for Jake Kulevich. His shot hit traffic in front of the net, and Kyle Baun slid it under Gillam.
 
With the tie, Cornell earned three of four available points in the weekend and moved into a tie for fifth place in ECAC Hockey with games remaining for all 12 teams.
 
Saturday's game was the inaugural Courage Classic, with honorary coaches assigned to each team from Camp Good Days and Special Times. There was a ceremonial puck drop before the game, with all of the honorary captains joining the teams on the ice.
 
Cornell continues its home-heavy stretch with two more ECAC Hockey games next weekend, when it plays host to league-leading Quinnipiac on Friday, Feb. 6 and Princeton on Saturday, Feb. 7.