ITHACA, N.Y. – The Cornell men's ice hockey team has announced four additions to its roster. Mike Schafer, who returns for his 26th season as the Jay R. Bloom '77 Head Coach of Men's Hockey, announced the additions Tuesday after finishing the pandemic-shortened 2019-20 season ranked atop both major national college hockey polls.
There are two forwards and two defensemen among the newcomers, leaving the roster size to 26 – 15 forwards, eight defensemen and three goalies.
Class of 2024 Player Biographies
Jack Lagerstrom
Defenseman — 6-foot-2, 185 pounds — Edina, Minn. — Tri-City Storm (USHL)
Lagerstrom joins the Big Red after scoring three goals in 12 games during an injury-truncated 2019-20 season with USHL's Tri-City Storm. He ranked in the top five in scoring for defensemen in the British Columbia Hockey League during the previous season with 22 points in 57 games with the division-winning Penticton Vees. Lagerstrom came up through nationally-renowned Shattuck-St. Mary's program, leading team's blueliners in scoring during final two seasons. He helped SSM capture national Tier 1 title in 2016 and second-place finish in 2017.
Jack O'Leary
Forward — 5-foot-7, 160 pounds — St. James, N.Y. — Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (USHL)
O'Leary arrives on East Hill off a two-year stint with the United States Hockey League's Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, where he posted 17 goals and 32 assists for 49 points in 91 games. He served as an assistant captain during his second season there. O'Leary is a product of the P.A.L. Junior Islanders program on his native Long Island. He had a career-high 33 goals and 88 points with the 16U AAA squad during the 2016-17 season, when he wore the captain's "C". He helped the 18U team win a state title in 2018-19, and he twice competed in USPHL all-star games.
Kyle Penney
Forward — 6-foot-1, 195 pounds — Lawrenceton, Nova Scotia — Chilliwack Chiefs (BCHL)
Penney was selected as the most valuable player of the British Columbia Hockey League's Chilliwack Chiefs for the 2019-20 season. He ranked third in team scoring with 35 points on 18 goals and 17 assists over 58 games, then tied for the team lead in postseason scoring with six points over seven games. Penney served as an assistant captain and was also presented the team's most dedicated player award. Previously, Penney spent three seasons with perennial New England prep school power Kimball Union Academy. He helped the squad capture the NEPSAC Elite 8 championship in each of those three seasons, serving as captain and being selected as a State of New Hampshire all-star during his senior season.
Tim Rego
Defenseman — 6 feet, 175 pounds — Mansfield, Mass. — Brooks Bandits (AJHL)
Rego comes to Cornell after a stellar season with the Brooks Bandits in the Alberta Junior Hockey League, where he ranked second among the circuit's blueliners with 61 points on 24 goals and 37 assists over 54 games. He was named to the AJHL South All-Rookie Team and the division's All-Star Team while also taking home team awards for rookie of the year and most outstanding defenseman. Rego previously spent three years at Williston Northampton School, serving as captain his senior season. He came up through AAA with the Boston Junior Bandits and Springfield Rifles in his native Massachusetts.
