#11 Men's Hockey Welcomes RPI, Union to Lynah Rink This Weekend

Mike Schafer '86
The Jay R. Bloom ‘77 Head Coach of Cornell Men’s Ice Hockey

THE PUCK DROP
• The No. 11-ranked Cornell men's hockey team returns to action this weekend, opening a three-game homestand at Lynah Rink when its hosts RPI and Union. Puck drop for both games are scheduled for 7 p.m.

SAM IS THE MAN
• Senior defenseman Sam Malinski enters this weekend riding a career-long eight-game point streak.

• Malinski's point streak matches the longest by a Cornell defenseman in the Mike Schafer era, dating back to the 1995-96 season. Mark McRae (2002-03) and Patrick McCarron (2016-17) were the other pair of blueliners to accomplish the feat previously.

• With a point on Friday against RPI, Malinski would become the sixth Big Red player (seventh occurrence) to have a nine-game point streak under Schafer, joining Matt Stienburg (11 games in 2021-22), Matt Moulson (10 games in 2005-06 and 9 games in 2003-04), Ryan Knopp (9 games in 1996-97), Mike Knoepfli (9 games in 2004-05), and Topher Scott (9 games in 2006-07).

• Among active streaks, Malinski has the second-longest point streak by a defenseman, trailing Boston University's freshman blueliner Lane Hutson (10 games).

LYNAH FAITHFUL
• Five of Cornell's next six games will be played at the friendly confines of Lynah Rink, and history has shown playing in front of the Lynah Faithful has favored the Big Red.

• Since Mike Schafer '86 took over as head coach prior to the 1995-96 season, the Big Red have a 268-102-45 record at Lynah Rink (.700).

• Per data compiled from CollegeHockeyNews.com's database, Cornell boasts the sixth-highest home win percentage since Schafer took over as head coach. Only Michigan (.752), Quinnipiac (.726), North Dakota (.723), Boston College (.708), and Denver (.706) have higher win percentages.

• Cornell has been a hostile place to play over the last six-plus seasons, as the Big Red's .781 win percentage at home (54-13-6) is second behind Minnesota State (.850).

‘SPECIAL’ IN SPECIAL TEAMS
• Cornell had its streak of consecutive games with a power-play goal snapped at seven in last Saturday's loss to Harvard, going 0-for-3 on the man advantage.

• The Big Red has recorded a power-play goal in seven of its last eight games, converting 44.0 percent  (11-of-25) of its opportunities in the span.

• Cornell has the third-best power play percentage in Division I hockey (19-of-66 — .288), trailing North Dakota (36-of-111 — .324) and UMass (20-of-67 — .299).

• Over its last seven games, Cornell has scored on six of its last nine power plays in the second period, and is 7-of-15 (.467) overall in the stretch.

KILL, RED, KILL
• Cornell has successfully killed 39 of its last 46 penalties (84.5 percent) over its last 15 games. Four of the seven power-play goals allowed by the Big Red since Nov. 18 came on Jan. 7 against RPI, with three of the four markers coming during a five-minute power play.

• Entering this weekend, Cornell ranks 14th nationally in penalty kill percentage (.838) and its 12 power-play goals against is tied with Michigan Tech, UMass Lowell, and Ohio State for the fourth-fewest by a Division I program this season. Harvard (8), Dartmouth and Sacred Heart (9 each) — all teams Cornell has played this season — have fewer totals.

• In the first period this season, Cornell has killed 19 of its opponent's 20 power plays in the opening 20 minutes. After allowing a power-play goal to Clarkson on Nov. 12, the Big Red has killed its last 11 penalties in the first period.

RARELY VISITING THE SIN BIN
• Cornell has only been called for four minor penalties over its last 10 periods, dating back to the third period of the Big Red's upset of then-No. 1 Quinnipiac at Lynah Rink on Jan. 20.

• The Big Red had a stretch of 92:26 in which it did not commit a penalty, including the entire duration of Cornell's 3-2 win over Dartmouth last Friday, before that streak ended at Harvard.

• Last Friday's game against Dartmouth was the first time Cornell did not commit a penalty in a game since Jan. 4, 2019, at Princeton, in which both teams did not incur a penalty.

• Over Cornell's last 11 games, the Big Red has had just four penalties called against them in the third period. After conceding a third-period power-play goal at Boston University on Jan. 14, Cornell has gone the last 88:10 of third-period action without having a penalty called.

NONE SHALL PASS
• Cornell enters this weekend boasting one of the nation's top scoring defenses. The Big Red has yielded 47 goals allowed so far this year, the fewest allowed by a Division I program.

• The Big Red's 2.24 goals allowed average ranks seventh in the nation, and is second in ECAC Hockey only behind Quinnipiac (1.85).

• Historically, Cornell has boasted one of the stingiest defensive units in Division I hockey. The Big Red has ranked in the top 10 in scoring defense in five of the last six seasons. The lone year Cornell did not rank in the top 10 was 2020-21, the year the Big Red did not play due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Since 2016-17, Cornell has allowed 370 goals which stands as the fewest by a Division I team in that span, and is 94 goals ahead of Harvard, who is in second with 464 goals allowed in the span. The Big Red's 1.99 goals allowed per game average since 2016-17 ranks second behind Minnesota State (1.84).

SHANE'S WORLD
• Sophomore goaltender Ian Shane has been strong between the pipes for Cornell so far this year, posting a 1.92 goals-against average, which ranks sixth nationally and is second in ECAC Hockey behind Quinnipiac's Yaniv Perets, who has a Division I-leading 1.78 figure.

• Shane is currently up for two award nominations, as he was named to the Mike Richter Award watch list on Jan. 12, and is Cornell's lone nominee for this year's Hobey Baker Memorial Award.

• He is the first Cornell goaltender to be named to the Richter Award watch list in consecutive seasons since Michael Galajda in 2018-19 and 2019-20.

• Over Shane's last 13 games, he has garnered an 9-3-1 record with a 1.93 goals-against average and .909 save percentage (251 saves on 276 shots).

• During the stretch, Shane has recorded all three of his shutouts this season, two of which have come against opponents ranked in the top 10 of the USCHO.com poll, including No. 6 UConn on Nov. 26 at Madison Square Garden, and last Friday against then-top-ranked Quinnipiac.

• Recording a pair of shutouts against top-10 opposition has been a rare feat this season as Shane is one of three Division I players to do so, joining Wisconsin's Jared Moe and St. Cloud State's Jaxon Castor.

SECOND PERIOD DOMINANCE
• Cornell has excelled in the second period this season, outscoring its opponents by 13 goals (29-16) in the frame and outshooting the opposition by 81, 228-147.

• In comparison, Cornell has outscored its opponents by a combined 12 goals, 42-30, in the other two periods of action.

• Over the opening 40 minutes of play, Cornell has generated a plus-144 advantage in shots on goal (444-300). In the final period of regulation, the Big Red has a plus-21 advantage in shots (175-154).

SPREADING THE WEALTH
• Cornell has been spreading the wealth offensively this season as every single skater has recorded at least one point this season.

• Of the 22 skaters who have played this season, every player has recorded at least one point. It is the most players with a point since the 2019-20 team had 23 players register at least one point.

• The 20 different goal scorers this year marks the seventh consecutive year at least 20 players have scored a goal for the Big Red, and the 20 different players with an assist is the eighth straight season Cornell has had 20-plus players with at least one helper.

SCOUTING RPI
• RPI enters this weekend with a 10-15-1 overall record and a 5-9-0 mark in ECAC Hockey play.

• In a tale of two venues, the Engineers have a 10-3-1 record on its home ice at Houston Field House this season, but is winless in its contests away from Troy (0-12-0).

• The Engineers are coming off a 6-0 loss to its Capital Region rival Union in the 10th annual Mayor's Cup at MVP Arena in Albany last Saturday.

• Sutter Muzzatti paces the Engineers offense with 17 points (six goals, 11 assists). Jakob Lee is right behind with 16 points (six goals, 10 assists). Ryan Mahshie has a team-leading 10 goals on the year.

• Jack Watson has started 23 of RPI's 26 games this season, logging a 3.20 goals-against average and an .888 save percentage.

SERIES HISTORY
• Friday will be the 118th all-time meeting between the two Empire State programs, which dates back to the first meeting back on Jan. 31, 1908 in Albany, N.Y., at Empire Rink.

• Cornell has a 67-39-11 advantage in the series, with the Big Red going unbeaten in nine of its last 11 against the Engineers (7-2-2).

• Home ice has favored the Big Red in the series as Cornell is 32-14-8 all-time at home against RPI. The lone contest not played at Lynah Rink was when the two programs played on Beebe Lake on Feb. 16, 1924, which Cornell prevailed 13-1.

• Of the last 14 games between the Big Red and Engineers, 11 of the contests have been decided by two goals or less.

• In RPI's last game at Lynah Rink in November 2021, Max Andreev recorded Cornell's first four-goal game since Ryan Hughes against Boston College on Jan. 29, 1991, as Andreev posted six points in an 11-3 victory for the Big Red.

THE LAST TIME AGAINST RPI
RECAP | BOX SCORE

TROY, N.Y. (JAN. 7, 2023) – Senior Ben Berard and freshman Nick DeSantis each registered four-point nights for the No. 18-ranked Cornell men's hockey team in a 6-4 victory over RPI at Houston Field House on Saturday night.

All four of DeSantis' points came on assists, while Berard recorded a goal and three assists.

Junior Gabriel Seger increased his point streak to a career-high five games with a two-point night.

Sophomore Hank Kempf recorded his first collegiate goal, while senior Sam Malinski, and freshman Sean Donaldson also scored for the Big Red.

SCOUTING UNION
• Union enters this weekend with a 10-14-2 overall record and a 4-9-1 mark in ECAC Hockey play. The Dutchmen have picked up points in three of its last four games (2-1-1). The Dutchmen have struggled on the road this season, posting a 1-10-2 record away from Messa Rink.

• Nate Hanley leads Union with 19 points (four goals, 15 assists), while John Prokop is right behind with 17 points (four goals, 13 assists). Tyler Watkins has a team-leading eight goals. 

• Connor Murphy has started all 22 of his appearances this season, registering an 8-12-1 record along with a 3.54 goals-against average and a save percentage of .888.

SERIES HISTORY
• Saturday will be the 80th all-time meeting between the Big Red and Dutchmen, a series Cornell has a 47-22-10 advantage in.

• The series has been dominated by Cornell of late, as the Big Red is 13-2-2 over the last 17 meetings.

• Cornell is unbeaten in its last seven games against Union (6-0-1), outscoring Dutchmen 31-11, and posting an average margin of victory of 2.86.

• Since 2016-17, Cornell has scored at least three goals in 14 of the 15 games against Union. The Big Red have also scored at least four goals in 10 of the 15 meetings, including each of the last four.

THE LAST TIME AGAINST UNION
RECAP | BOX SCORE

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (JAN. 6, 2023) – In his first game at Messa Rink since transferring from Union, junior Gabriel Seger posted his third career three-point game, aiding the No. 18-ranked Cornell men's hockey team to a 6-1 victory over the Dutchmen on Friday night.

Seger scored a goal and logged a pair of assists to record his third career three-point game.

Senior Jack Malone registered his first career multi-goal game with his two tallies.

Fellow seniors Sam Malinski (two assists) and Ben Berard (one goal, one assist) also had multi-point nights for Cornell.

Ian Shane stopped 18 Union shots for the Big Red en route to his eighth victory of the season.

#11 MEN'S HOCKEY OPENS NEW ENGLAND ROAD TRIP WITH A WIN AT DARTMOUTH

RECAP I BOX SCORE 

HANOVER, N.H. (JAN. 27, 2023) – The No. 11-ranked Cornell men's hockey team staved off a third-period comeback attempt by Dartmouth, defeating its Ivy League rival, 3-2, at Thompson Arena on Friday night.

Cornell, who opened the contest with the game's first three tallies, recorded two power-play goals on the night against the nation's top penalty kill.

Seniors Sam Malinski and Max Andreev were the beneficiaries of the man advantages, leading the Big Red to its third straight victory and its 11th win over its last 14 contests. Sophomore Kyle Penney also scored for the Big Red.

FARRELL LEADS #10 HARVARD TO WIN OVER #11 MEN'S HOCKEY

RECAP I BOX SCORE 

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (JAN. 28, 2022) – Harvard forward Sean Farrell recorded assists on four of the six goals scored by No. 10-ranked Harvard in the Crimson's 6-2 victory over No. 11-ranked Cornell at a sold-out Bright-Landry Hockey Center on Saturday night.

Farrell assisted on the Crimson's first four goals of the night – all of which came in succession. Matthew Coronato scored twice, and Alex Laferriere, Henry Thrun, and John Farinacci each recorded a goal and an assist for Harvard.

Senior defenseman Sam Malinski and sophomore forward Ondrej Psenicka scored for Cornell in the setback.

Mitchell Gibson made 31 saves for the Crimson, while sophomore Ian Shane stopped 23 shots between the pipes for the Big Red.

2022-23 Roster

If you’ve never been to a Big Red hockey game at Cornell’s James Lynah Rink, there are quite a few things you’ve never experienced. You’ve never camped out in line just to get season tickets and ensure your spot as one of the raucous and devoted "Lynah Faithful." But most importantly, if you’ve never been to Lynah, you’ve never really experienced all the best that college hockey has to offer.

Lynah Rink, which turned 65 years old in 2022, is the home of Big Red hockey. The rink, which was dedicated April 6, 1957, was named in honor of the late James Lynah (class of 1905), director of athletics at Cornell from 1935-43.

The venue has received a facelift or two since its inaugural game on March 21, 1957, between the NHL's N.Y. Rangers and the AHL's Rochester Americans.

During the summer of 2006, the rink underwent a 16,700 square foot expansion that added new locker rooms, coaches offices, study lounges, a new athletic training space, and the addition of approximately 450 new seats. Prior to the expansion of the support space, the university spent nearly $1 million in renovations to Lynah in the summer of 2000, replacing the rink floor, drainage system, frost protection, and refrigeration piping, as well as adding new boards and seamless glass.

Though many physical aspects of Lynah Rink have changed over the years, one thing remains constant: the crowd. Lynah is capable of holding 4,267 boisterous Cornell hockey fans who provide unwavering support for the Big Red, creating an atmosphere that is unparalleled in the sport of college hockey. Although many rinks in the nation are larger in seating capacity, few are known to be louder. The Cornell fans, aptly named the "Lynah Faithful," stream into every home contest and make themselves as much a part of the game as the players do. Whether they’re cheering for the Big Red or joining the pep band in their rendition of "Give My Regards to Davy," the Lynah Faithful reaffirm the old saying, "there’s no place like home."

• Cornell concludes its three-game homestand next Friday when it welcomes Central New York rival Colgate to open a home-and-home series with the Raiders. Puck drop from Lynah Rink is scheduled for 7 p.m.

• The two-game series will shift to Hamilton, N.Y., the following night with a 7:30 puck drop from Class of 1965 Arena.

• Both games will be broadcast on ESPN+, and the radio call can be heard on WHCU (870 AM, 97.7 FM).