#19 Men's Hockey Continues Homestand Against #20 Union, RPI

Casey Jones '90
The Jay R. Bloom ‘77 Head Coach of Cornell Men’s Ice Hockey

PUCK DROP

• The No. 19-ranked Cornell men’s hockey team (4-2-0, 3-1-0 ECAC Hockey) continues its four-game homestand this weekend when it welcomes No. 20 Union (8-2-1, 2-2-0 ECAC Hockey) and RPI (3-9-0, 2-2-0 ECAC Hockey) to Lynah Rink.

• Both games are scheduled for 7 p.m., with Jason Weinstein (play-by-play) and Tony Eisenhut ‘88 (analyst) on the call each night.

FAITHFUL TO LYNAH

• Cornell enters this weekend boasting the third-highest home winning percentage among Division I programs since 2017-18. Only Minnesota State (126-29-9, .796) and Denver (111-28-13, .773) rank ahead of the Big Red, who join Quinnipiac (103-35-7, .735) and North Dakota (106-40-12, .709) as the only programs with a home winning percentage of at least .700 over that span.

• The Big Red have won at least nine home games in each of the last nine seasons played, excluding the 2020-21 campaign when Cornell and all Ivy League programs opted out due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Cornell’s streak of nine-or-more home wins ranks as the fifth-longest active streak in Division I hockey, trailing Minnesota (49 seasons, since 1977-78), Denver (26, since 1998-99, as the Pioneers played just six home games in 2020-21), North Dakota (23) and Minnesota State (13).

• Since Jan. 1, 2024, the Big Red are 19-5-2 (.769) at Lynah Rink, ranking fourth nationally behind LIU (18-3-0, .857), Boston College (24-6-0, .800), and Maine (29-7-4, .775). Cornell’s winning percentage is three points higher than second-place Quinnipiac (23-6-2, .766) in ECAC Hockey.

EMPIRE STATE OF MIND

• This weekend marks the third and fourth games out of 15 straight that will be played by Cornell within New York State. After opening the season with three games in Massachusetts and one in New Hampshire, the Big Red’s next game outside the Empire State will be in New Haven, Conn., when it plays at Yale on Jan. 30.

• The 15-game stretch features 12 contests at Lynah Rink, its biennial Red Hot Hockey contest against Boston University at Madison Square Garden in New York City (Nov. 29), and the Big Red’s annual trip to the North Country to face Clarkson and St. Lawrence (Dec. 5-6).

• It is Cornell’s fourth-longest streak of games played within New York and the longest since an 18-game run from Jan. 20 - March 18, 2017.

WALSH HEADED TO SPENGLER CUP

• Junior captain Ryan Walsh was named to the United States Collegiate Selects roster for this year’s Spengler Cup, it was announced last Thursday (Nov. 6). Walsh will compete Dec. 26-31 in Davos, Switzerland, in the 97th Spengler Cup, marking the first year a select team representing college hockey will participate in the prestigious tournament. Only two U.S.-based college programs — Minnesota (1981) and North Dakota (1982) — have previously competed in the event.

• Walsh is the 14th Cornell player since 1983 named to a Spengler Cup roster, joining Lance Nethery (HC Davos, 1983-89), Dan Ratushny (Team Canada, 1988, 1990, 2000), Brad Chartrand (Team Canada, 1997), Jason Elliott (TPS, 2002), Dave LeNeveu (Team Canada, 2009), Charlie Cook (HC Davos, 2010), Mike Iggulden (Team Canada, 2010), Mike Knoepfli (HC Fribourg-Gottéron, 2012), Kirill Gotovets and Ben Scrivens (Dinamo Minsk, 2016), Ryan Vesce (HC Lugano, 2016; EHC Olten, 2017), Riley Nash (Team Canada, 2022), Alex Green (Straubing Tigers, 2024).

• Cornell has had a player compete in three of the last four tournaments.

RYAN HIGH

• Freshman forward Caton Ryan enters this weekend serving as Cornell’s first freshman to average at least a point per game through the first six contests since defenseman Ben Robertson (2023-24), and the first first-year forward since Morgan Barron (2017-18).

• Ryan’s back-to-back multi-point performances last weekend made him the first Cornell freshman to record multiple points in consecutive games since Nick DeSantis and Sean Donaldson both accomplished the feat during the 2022-23 season.

• Should Ryan register a multi-point game Friday, he would become the first freshman with three straight multi-point games since defenseman Sam Malinski ‘23 in 2019-20. The last freshman forward to accomplish the feat was Brian Ferlin in 2011-12.

• If Ryan extends his streak with multiple points in both games this weekend, he would be the first player with a four-game multi-point streak since Malinski and Ben Berard ‘23 in 2022-23. Such a performance would make Ryan the fourth freshman in program history with a four-game multi-point streak, joining Brock Tredway (6, 1977-78), Roy Kerling (4, twice, 1977-78), and Joe Nieuwendyk (11, 1984-85).

GIO-GETTER

• Freshman forward Gio DiGiulian has been a clutch scorer from the get-go, opening his collegiate career with goals in each of his first three games to become the only Division I freshman this season to start with a three-game goal streak. He’s just the second Cornell freshman — and ninth player in his first year of eligibility — ever to score in the Big Red’s first three games, joining Trent Andison (1987-88).

• DiGiulian’s knack for timely tallies reached historic proportions with his game-winning goal against Brown last Friday, making him the first freshman or first-year eligible player in Cornell program history to net multiple game-winning goals through the team’s first five games in a season. After scoring against Brown, DiGiulian also became the third Cornell freshman to score in four of the first five games of a season, joining Gary Cullen (1981-82) and Kent Manderville (1989-90). It was the first time the feat had been accomplished — regardless of class — since Matt Moulson in 2003-04.

• Should DiGiulian net a game-winning goal Friday, he would become the fifth player in program history to have three game-winning goals through the seventh game of a season, joining Edmund ‘Stubby’ Magner and Frank Crassweller (1910-11), Lance Nethery (1976-77), and Nick D’Agostino (2011-12).

• A game-winning goal in either game this weekend would make DiGiulian the first freshman or first-year eligible player with three game-winning goals through the first eight games in program history. It would also be the most game-winners scored by a player through the first eight games since D’Agositno in 2011-12.

FRESH IMPACT

• Cornell’s 12-player freshman class has made an immediate impression, combining for 21 of the Big Red’s 47 points this season (44.7 percent). Cornell is one of six Division I programs receiving at least 40 percent of its offensive production from first-year players, joining Merrimack (33-of-73 — 45.2 percent), New Hampshire (27-of-62 — 43.5 percent), Miami (46-of-106 — 43.4 percent), St. Lawrence (28-of-68 — 41.2 percent), and Quinnipiac (46-of-114 — 40.4 percent).

• Ten of Cornell’s 17 goals this season have come from first-year players, led by forward Gio DiGiulian’s four tallies. The Big Red’s 58.8 percent scoring share from freshman leads the nation by four percentage points over New Hampshire (54.5 percent — 12-of-22) and makes Cornell one of just three programs with at least half of its goals scored by freshmen, joining New Hampshire, and Merrimack (51.9 percent — 14-of-27).

• Underclassmen have been key contributors overall, accounting for 29 of Cornell’s 47 points (61.7 percent) — the 15th-highest percentage nationally. Minnesota Duluth (119-of-129) leads the nation with 92.2 percent of its scoring from freshmen and sophomores.

JONNY-ON-THE-DOT

• Since the calendar year flipped to 2025, junior forward Jonathan Castagna has been one of the nation’s most reliable players at faceoffs, winning 61.6 percent of his draws (274-of-445), one of three active Division I players with at least a 60 percent success rate on faceoffs, joining Wisconsin’s Gavin Morrissey (380-of-614 — .619) and Ferris State’s Josh Zary (261-of-435 — .600).

• Through the first six games, Castagna is 62.0 percent on faceoffs (67-of-108), ranking sixth nationally and second among ECAC Hockey players with 60-plus faceoff wins, trailing Morrissey (63.9 percent — 159-of-249), Union’s Colby MacArthur (62.9 percent — 83-of-132), North Dakota’s Ellis Rickwood (62.6 percent — 119-of-171), Bowling Green’s Noah Morneau (62.6 percent — 82-of-131), and Notre Dame’s Panayioti Fimis (62.1 percent — 87-of-140).

LUCK OF THE DRAW

• The success that junior forwards Jonathan Castagna (67 faceoff wins, 62.0 percent) and Ryan Walsh (63 faceoff wins, 52.5 percent) have had on faceoffs has enabled Cornell to serve as the lone Division I program with multiple players averaging at least 10.5 faceoff wins per game this season.

• Castagna’s team-leading 67 faceoff wins has resulted in an 11.17 faceoff wins per game average, ranking as the 14th-highest average in Division I hockey while placing himself second among ECAC Hockey players, only behind Dartmouth’s Hank Cleaves (12.17). Walsh’s 10.50 faceoff wins per game average ranks fourth in ECAC Hockey, trailing Colgate’s Ryan Sullivan (11.08).

• Entering this weekend, Walsh has recorded at least 10 faceoff wins in four consecutive games, while Castagna has had a double-digit faceoff win total in four of the six games this season, with three of the four games featuring at least 12 faceoff wins.

ALEXIS-CELLENCE BETWEEN THE PIPES

• Freshman goaltender Alexis Cournoyer has been nothing short of stellar between the pipes through his first five collegiate games, compiling a 4-1-0 record with a 1.42 goals-against average and .953 save percentage — the fifth-best goals-against and second-best save percentage among Division I goaltenders this season.

• Cournoyer is the sixth Cornell goaltender over the last 20 seasons to post a sub-2.00 goals-against average through his first five career games, joining Matthew Galajda (1.16, 2017-18), Mitch Gillam (1.41, 2013-15), Ian Shane (1.73, 2021-22), Nate McDonald (1.79, 2021-22), and Hayden Stewart (1.97, 2014-15). His .953 save percentage ranks as the second-best mark by a Cornell goaltender through their first five career games since the 2005-06 season, trailing only Gillam’s .955 clip set between 2013-15.

• Among active Division I goaltenders, Cournoyer’s .953 save percentage ranks second through a player’s first five career games, trailing only Army’s JJ Cataldo (.959, 2024-25). His 1.42 goals-against average ranks as the seventh-best by all active Division I goaltenders through their first five games (minimum 250 minutes), joining Michigan’s Jack Ivankovic (1.00, 2025-26), Bentley’s Nicholas Bevilacqua (1.18, 2024-26), Cataldo (1.21, 2024-25), Wisconsin’s William Gramme (1.30, 2023-25), LIU’s Noah Rupprecht (1.37, 2023-24), and Boston University’s Mikhail Yegorov (1.41, 2024-25).

ITHACA, N.Y. — Ken Dryden '69, the legendary Cornell men's hockey goaltender who still holds the program record for career wins (76) and backstopped the Big Red to its first national championship in 1967, died Friday after a courageous battle with cancer. He was 78.

"Ken Dryden was not only one of the greatest goaltenders in the history of hockey, but also a symbol of excellence, intellect, and leadership who represented Cornell with unmatched distinction," said Dr. Nicki Moore, Cornell's Meakem & Smith Director of Athletics & Physical Education. "His impact on the game, on our university, and in communities throughout his homeland in Canada will endure far beyond the ice. Cornell Athletics & Physical Education mourns his passing, and we extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and all who were inspired by his extraordinary life."

"Ken Dryden was the quintessential student-athlete," added Casey Jones '90, the current Jay R. Bloom '77 Head Coach of Cornell Men's Ice Hockey. "He was a great ambassador for Cornell and hockey in general. Our thoughts are with his family and friends."

"Intelligent, classy, articulate, kind, athletic, and thoughtful are just a few characteristics that come to mind," stated former Cornell men's hockey head coach Mike Schafer '86. "Ken Dryden was a legend and a trailblazer in the sport of hockey. Cornell University, Cornell Hockey, the Montreal Canadiens, and the hockey community have lost one of the greatest ambassadors for our sport. Our thoughts go out to his family, and especially his wife, Lynda."

At Cornell, Dryden compiled a remarkable 76-4-1 record with a 1.59 goals-against average and .939 save percentage, while leading the Big Red to the first three of its four consecutive ECAC Hockey Tournament titles (1967-69), two ECAC Hockey regular-season championships (1968 and 1969), and the 1967 NCAA title. His career goals-against average and save percentage still rank second in program history among eligible goaltenders.

After graduating from Cornell in 1969 with a degree in history, Dryden launched an extraordinary eight-year NHL career with the Montréal Canadiens. He won six Stanley Cups, five Vezina Trophies, the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1971 as the Stanley Cup Playoffs' MVP, and the Calder Trophy in 1972 as the league's Rookie of the Year.

In 1973, Dryden earned the first of his five Vezina Trophies after leading the league in wins (33), goals-against average (2.26), and save percentage (.926). He remains one of four goaltenders in NHL history to win the award at least five times, alongside Jacques Plante (seven), Bill Durnan (six), and Dominik Hasek (six).

Dryden stepped away from hockey for the 1973-74 season, briefly retiring while earning a law degree from McGill University and working at a Toronto law firm, before returning to the Canadiens in 1974. Over the next five seasons, he anchored one of the NHL's most dominant dynasties, guiding the Canadiens to four straight Stanley Cups (1976-79) and capturing the Vezina Trophy each year. During that stretch, he posted a 150-33-30 record with a 2.13 goals-against average, .920 save percentage, and 28 shutouts.

"From the moment Ken Dryden joined Montréal as a 23-year-old rookie in 1971, he made an immediate and lasting impact on the NHL, the Canadiens franchise, and the goaltending position," said NHL Commissioner and fellow Cornell alumnus Gary Bettman '74 in a statement." After playing six regular-season games during that first year, Ken proceeded to lead his team to a Stanley Cup while winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoffs' most valuable player. It is almost incomprehensible to believe that he accomplished all of that the year prior to winning the Calder Memorial Trophy as the League's best rookie in 1971-72.

"Ken's early success was only a harbinger of what was to come. In eight years with the Canadiens, Ken would lead a team filled with future Hall of Famers to six Stanley Cup championships, quickly becoming a beloved figure in his adopted hometown of Montréal. He won five Vezina Trophies as the League's top goaltender, including four consecutive awards from 1975-76 to 1978-79. Named as a member of the League's Greatest 100, he was the NHL's dominant goaltender during the 1970s.

"On a personal note, Ken was a fellow Cornellian whose career ranks among the greatest runs in collegiate hockey and famously led the Big Red to the 1967 NCAA Championship. On behalf of the National Hockey League, we mourn the passing of a legendary Canadian and extend our sincere condolences to his wife Lynda, family, and many friends and fans all over the hockey world."

Dryden was inducted into the Cornell Athletics Hall of Fame in 1978 and the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1983, both in his first year of eligibility. His No. 29 sweater was retired by the Canadiens in 2007, and his No. 1 sweater was retired by Cornell in 2010, alongside Joe Nieuwendyk's No. 25.

The Dryden family has requested privacy at this time. Those wishing to honor his memory are encouraged to make a donation to the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre or the Concussion Legacy Foundation.

SCOUTING UNION

• Union (8-2-1, 2-2-0 ECAC Hockey) enters the weekend ranked No. 20 nationally — its first appearance in the polls since Nov. 5, 2024 — and riding its best start since 2016-17 (also 8-2-1). Fresh off dismantling UMass Lowell 7-1 and New Hampshire 6-0, the Garnet Chargers have scored at least five goals in six of their eight wins.

• The Garnet Chargers’ balanced attack has them ranked tied for third nationally in scoring offense (4.00) and tied for seventh in scoring defense (1.91), making them one of four programs — alongside Dartmouth, Denver, and Michigan — in the top 10 of both categories. Union also boasts the nation’s third-best penalty kill at 95.1 percent, allowing just two power-play goals in 41 opportunities.

• Forward Brandon Buhr (10-6—16) leads ECAC Hockey in goals (10), points (16), and multi-point games (5) after notching a natural hat trick against New Hampshire last Saturday. Parker Lindauer (4-11—15) is tied for the league lead with 11 assists.

• Cameron Korpi (7-2-1, 1.60, .927) has earned ECAC Hockey’s MAC Goaltending Goaltender of the Week honors twice this year, anchoring Union’s defense, which has allowed just 21 goals in 11 games.

97 YEARS, 152 MILES, 84 MEETINGS

• Cornell holds a 49-25-10 all-time advantage over Union as has posted an 8-3-1 record in the last 12 meetings with the Garnet Chargers. Union has won the last three contests and will look to post its fourth consecutive victory over the Big Red — a feat the Garnet Chargers have never accomplished against Cornell. Despite Union’s recent success, Cornell has outscored the Garnet Chargers 51-24 over the last 12 meetings.

• A Union win would also mark the program’s longest unbeaten streak against Cornell since posting a 3-0-1 record between March 6, 2015, and Feb. 26, 2016. All three victories during that stretch came at Lynah Rink, a mark the Garnet Chargers will attempt to match Friday. A victory or tie would also equal Union’s longest unbeaten streak over Cornell in the all-time series, matching a pair of 3-0-1 stretches from Dec. 7, 1996, to Feb. 28, 1996, and March 6, 2015, to Feb. 26, 2016.

• Recent meetings between the two programs have been decisivie affairs, with eight of the last nine being decided by at least three goals. The lone one-goal game came in Union’s 3-2 victory on March 1, 2024, at Lynah Rink — the first win of its current three-game win streak.

• Friday marks the 17th time Cornell will face a ranked Union team, all coming since 2009-10. The Big Red hold a 9-5-2 record all-time against ranked Garnet Chargers squads, including a 4-1-1 mark in the last six such matchups.

CORNELL - UNION CONNECTIONS

• Cornell head coach Casey Jones coached Union’s Brandon Buhr (2022-23) and Carter Rose (2023-24) while at Clarkson, where Union head coach Josh Hauge served as an assistant (2015-19) and associate head coach (2019-22) under Jones. Nick DeSantis and D.J. Hart were teammates with the Sioux Falls Stampede in 2018-19 and the Madison Capitols in 2021-22. Aiden Long and Will Felicio played together with the Madison Capitols in 2023-24. Marian Mosko and Hart were teammates with the Lincoln Stars in 2022-23, as were Mosko and Tyler Dunbar. Gio DiGiulian and Étienne Lessard also played together with the Lincoln Stars last season. Tyler Catalano and Winter Wallace played with Carter Rose and Nate Hanley on the Youngstown Phantoms in 2020-21, while Catalano, Wallace, and Chase Pirtle played with Rose in 2021-22. Jake Kraft and Ryan Walsh played with Connor Smith on the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders in 2022-23, while Donovan Hamilton played with Smith and Ben Muthersbaugh in 2023-24. Luke Devlin played with Dunbar on the Muskegon Lumberjacks in 2020-21, as did George Fegaras and Xavier Veilleux in 2022-23. Jonathan Castagna and Alex Laurenza were teammates with the Newmarket Hurricanes in 2022-23. Luke Ashton and Luke Buss played together with the Vernon Vipers in 2021-22, while Wallace and Buss were teammates at Shattuck St. Mary’s 18U Prep in 2019-20.

UNION'S OFFENSE POWERS ITS WAY PAST MEN'S HOCKEY

BOX SCORE | RECAP

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (FEB. 28, 2025) — A three-goal first period and four unanswered goals allowed Union (19-11-3, 12-7-2 ECAC Hockey) to secure a top-four seed in the ECAC Hockey Championship as it defeated the Cornell men's hockey team (12-10-6, 9-8-4 ECAC Hockey) 4-1 at a sold-out Messa Rink on Friday night.

Colby MacArthur was the only Garnet Charger with a multi-point night, recording a goal and an assist. Brandon Buhr, Nick Young, and Ben Muthersbaugh also scored for Union, which benefited from a 20-save performance by Kyle Chauvette between the pipes.

Senior defenseman Tim Rego potted the game's lone tally for the Big Red. Senior goaltender Ian Shane made two saves before giving way to junior netminder Remington Keopple, who stopped 11 of 12 shots in relief.

Cornell took the lead just 89 seconds into the contest as Rego one-timed a centering pass by senior forward Sullivan Mack at the right post.

Union tied the game up at the 6:49 mark of the first period on a power-play goal by MacArthur, who one-timed a feed from John Prokop at the far-side faceoff dot.

The Garnet Chargers quickly established a 3-1 lead late in the first period, netting two goals just 25 seconds apart. Buhr redirected a shot from DJ Hart at the right point to give Union the advantage. Young doubled the Garnet Chargers lead with a wrist shot from the point following an offensive zone faceoff win by MacArthur, which prompted Cornell to bring Keopple in off the bench.

A friendly bounce off the boards in Cornell's offensive zone led to Ben Miles chipping the puck up the wall to Muthersbaugh, who created a scoring opportunity and fired a shot past Keopple from the right faceoff circle to extend the Garnet Chargers' lead to 4-1 with 7:48 left in the middle frame.

The Big Red continued to rely on their impressive penalty kill recently, preventing Union from scoring during a five-minute face-masking penalty with under eight minutes left in the second period. During the man advantage, Cornell allowed only four Union shot attempts (one on goal, two blocks, and one off target). The lone shot on goal posted by the Garnet Chargers came with 20 seconds remaining in the power play.

Cornell mustered 10 shots on goal in the third period, but Chauvette stood tall in goal for the Garnet Chargers to help preserve their three-goal victory.

SCOUTING RPI

• RPI (3-9-0, 2-2-0 ECAC Hockey) has found its footing after an 0-6-0 start that included four losses to ranked opponents. The Engineers have split their last three weekends, including ECAC Hockey series against Capital Region rival Union and North Country foes St. Lawrence and Clarkson. Most recently, RPI dropped a 6-3 decision to New Hampshire before bouncing back with a 2-0 shutout of UMass Lowell.

• Forward Luciano Wilson (0-8—8) is tied for fourth in ECAC Hockey with eight assists, while Filip Sitar (5-4—9) is tied for eighth in goals with five. Ethan Bono (2-3—5) has been a short-handed threat, tallying both of his goals while on the penalty kill — making him the only ECAC Hockey player and one of six Division I players with multiple short-handed tallies.

• Nate Krawchuk (2-5-0, 2.75, .919) has been busy this season in goal, stopping 205 shots to rank third in the league and standing as one of five ECAC Hockey goaltenders with 200-plus saves.

117 YEARS, 170 MILES, 122 MEETINGS

• Cornell holds a commanding 72-39-11 all-time record against RPI and has dominated the recent series, winning nine of the last 10 meetings while averaging 4.60 goals per game with an average margin of victory of 2.60 goals.

• The Big Red are currently riding a six-game win streak over the Engineers — the third-longest in series history and the longest since a seven-game run from Nov. 10, 2001, to March 15, 2003. Cornell’s longest win streak against RPI came during an eight-game stretch between March 9, 1974, and Feb. 13, 1979.

• A victory Saturday would extend Cornell’s home win streak over RPI to six games, which would be the second-longest in series history behind an 11-game stretch from Jan. 12, 1966, to Feb. 4, 1983. The Big Red have outscored the Engineers 25-9 in their last five meetings at Lynah Rink.

CORNELL - RPI CONNECTIONS

• RPI assistant coach Cory Schneider served as an assistant coach for Cornell head coach Casey Jones in his final two seasons at Clarkson (2022-24). Remington Keopple and Matthew Jovanovic played together on the 2020-21 Des Moines Buccaneers. Sean Donaldson, Kazimier Sobieski, and Gustavs Ozolins were teammates on the 2021-22 Sioux Falls Stampede. Aiden Long played with Rainers Rullers in 2023-24 and Ian Scherezer last year on the Madison Capitols. Erick Roest and Lucas Lemieux competed together on the Canada West U19 Team at the 2023 World Junior ‘A’ Challenge. Justin Katz played on the West Kelowna Warriors with Landen Hilditch (2022-24) and Jackson Kyrkostas (2023-24), while Katz, Luke Devlin, and Hilditch all played together in 2022-23. Caton Ryan and Michael Fisher played with Hilditch on last year’s Penticton Vees. Hoyt Stanley spent two seasons on the Victoria Grizzlies (2021-23) with Jack Gorton, while Reegan Hiscock was also on the Grizzlies’ roster in 2022-23. Devlin, Keopple, and Dovar Tinling were teammates on the 2021-22 Des Moines Buccaneers. Jake Kraft and Ryan Walsh played with Bruno Bruveris on the 2022-23 Cedar Rapids RoughRiders. Nicholas Wolfenberg and Jagger Tapper were teammates for three years on the Okotoks Oilers (2021-24). Luke Ashton and Luciano Wilson played together last year at Minnesota State.

RPI'S NHL CONNECTION

• Cole Gordon’s brother, Boyd, appeared in 706 NHL games over a 13-year NHL career (2003-17) with Washington, Arizona, Edmonton, and Philadelphia. Boyd is currently in his third year serving as a pro scout for the Detroit Red Wings.

KEOPPLE SHINES AS MEN'S HOCKEY SHUTS OUT RPI IN REGULAR-SEASON FINALE

BOX SCORE | RECAP | HIGHLIGHTS

TROY, N.Y. (MARCH 1, 2025) — Junior goaltender Remington Keopple recorded 21 saves on his way to achieving his first career shutout in the Cornell men's hockey team's (13-10-6, 10-8-4 ECAC Hockey) 6-0 victory against RPI (12-20-2, 7-15-0 ECAC Hockey) at Houston Field House on Saturday night.

Along with his shutout, Keopple notched his first career point, assisting freshman forward Charlie Major on his third-period goal.

Junior forward Dalton Bancroft and senior forward Sullivan Mack each tallied a goal and an assist in the victory. Sophomore defenseman George Fegaras added two assists to round out the trio of Cornell players with multi-point nights. A total of 15 players appeared on the scoresheet for the Big Red.

Joining Bancroft, Mack, and Major in scoring were senior forward Kyler Kovich, sophomore defenseman Ben Robertson, and junior forward Nick DeSantis.

Kovich's goal was his second career game-winning marker, joining his go-ahead tally against North Dakota on Jan. 7, 2022.

RPI's Noah Giesbrecht made 25 saves in between the pipes for RPI before giving way to Jack Watson, who stopped nine of 11 shots he faced in relief.

For the second consecutive night, the Big Red opened the scoring within the first two minutes as Kovich lasered a shot from the left faceoff circle past a screened Giesbrecht off a feed from sophomore defenseman Hoyt Stanley.

Cornell's lead was doubled at the 9:32 mark of the second period on a backhanded shot by DeSantis, who pounced at a loose rebound on the edge of the goal crease.

A four-goal third period separated Cornell from RPI, with all four Big Red goals scored in a span of 5:56.

Bancroft netted the period's first goal, lasering a shot from the point following a breakout from the Big Red's defensive zone.

Major followed Bancroft with his own goal 47 seconds later, picking up the puck at the far half-wall inside the Big Red's defensive zone off a pass from Keopple, ultimately chasing Giesbrecht from the game after scoring from the point on a snap shot - similar to Bancroft's tally.

Robertson extended Cornell's lead to 5-0, snapping his 20-game goalless streak, before Mack tacked on an insurance marker 37 seconds later.

WALSH'S TWO GOALS, RYAN'S MULTI-POINT NIGHT LEAD #20 MEN'S HOCKEY PAST YALE

BOX SCORE | RECAP | HIGHLIGHTS | POSTGAME INTERVIEWS

ITHACA, N.Y. (NOV. 15, 2025) — Junior forward Ryan Walsh had a two-goal night and freshman forward Caton Ryan had a goal and an assist to help lead the No. 20-ranked Cornell men's hockey team to a 5-2 victory over Yale before a sold-out crowd Saturday night at Lynah Rink.

The multi-point nights for both Walsh and Ryan helped punctuate their three-goal weekends as the Big Red (4-2-0, 3-1-0 ECAC Hockey) came away with six points in its first home weekend of the season.

"It's always good to get six points in a sweep in the first home weekend," Walsh said.

Freshman forward Reegan Hiscock and senior forward Nick DeSantis also scored for Cornell, who received 27 saves from freshman goaltender Alexis Cournoyer.

Ronan O'Donnell and David Chen scored for Yale, and Jack Stark made 21 saves in the setback for the Bulldogs (2-3-0, 2-2-0 ECAC Hockey).

Following a scoreless opening period, Cornell exploded with a four-goal second period. Walsh ignited the offensive outburst with a one-timer on the power play 7:02 into the frame.

"I just shot the puck and it happened to go in the net," Walsh said. "Getting a power-play goal to start things off was nice."

Hiscock doubled the Big Red's lead just over two minutes later, but O'Donnell answered for Yale 27 seconds after that to cut the deficit to 2-1.

DeSantis restored Cornell's two-goal cushion before Walsh capitalized on a scramble along the goal line. Freshman forward Aiden Long backhanded the puck off the side of the net, and Walsh threw it toward the goal as Stark hugged the post. The puck deflected off Stark's glove and into the net.

"I didn't know how it went in. I just chipped it from one foot out, and I didn't even know it went in until guys started celebrating around," Walsh said.

Between the second and third periods, a 62-minute delay due to an ice issue created an unprecedented challenge for both teams.

"It's one of those things where it's hard to prepare for almost an hour between the second and third," Walsh said. "There's also uncertainty if we were even going to play. Guys were trying to stay loose because it was a two-goal game and that easily could have flipped."

Casey Jones '90, the Jay R. Bloom '77 Head Coach of Cornell Men's Ice Hockey, emphasized the mental challenge the delay presented.

"Both teams are going through it. We just talked about being mentally sharp," Jones said. "We started pretty good, managed the game early, but I thought we got a little loose as we went. It's a tough situation to be in. Let our guys handle it, get the three points, and let's get out of here."

Jones was particularly appreciative of the Lynah Faithful who stuck around during the lengthy delay.

"I really appreciate the fans sticking around, big time," Jones said. "A large percentage of the crowd hung tough, and that means a lot to us. Our guys were talking about it on the bench — the loyalty of the fans to stick around meant a lot to us."

After play resumed, Yale nearly made things interesting. O'Donnell blocked a shot by junior defenseman Michael Fisher at the point, creating a 2-on-1 rush. Chen used a toe-drag deke to get around senior defenseman Jack O'Brien's shot-block attempt, and after Cournoyer made the initial save, Chen buried his own rebound to cut the lead to 4-2 six minutes into the third period.

Ryan answered more than eight minutes later, redirecting a shot from the left point by O'Brien for his third goal of the weekend to restore the three-goal cushion and ultimately put the game out of reach.

2025-26 Roster

If you’ve never been to a Big Red hockey game at Cornell’s Lynah Rink, there are quite a few things you’ve never experienced. You’ve never camped in line 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 experienced all the best that college hockey offers.

Lynah Rink, which enters its 68th year serving as the home of Big Red hockey this season, was formally dedicated on April 6, 1957, a month after its opening to the public on March 4, 1957. The facility, which was built following a $500,000 anonymous donation (approximately $5.59 million in 2024), honors the late James Lynah '05, who served as the director of athletics at Cornell from 1935-43.

The donation to build Lynah Rink resurrected the Cornell hockey program following a 10-year hiatus, ensuring hockey returned as a varsity sport for the 1957-58 season.

Cornell began sponsoring hockey as a varsity sport with the 1900-01 season, which featured all Big Red home games played on the university’s outdoor rink on Beebe Lake. Due to a series of abnormally mild winters, the program was left — literally — on thin ice, causing Cornell to drop the program entirely after the 1947-48 campaign.

Since its opening in March of 1957, Lynah Rink has received numerous face-lifts since hosting its inaugural event on March 21, 1957, a 7-3 victory for the NHL’s New York Rangers in an exhibiton against the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League (AHL). Hockey Hall of Fame goaltender Gump Worsley stopped 44 shots in the victory for the Rangers.

Among the renovations, Cornell spent nearly $1 million in the summer of 2000, to replace the rink floor, drainage system, frost protection and refrigeration piping, and adding new boards and seamless glass.

During the summer of 2006, a 16,700-square-foot expansion added new locker rooms, coaches offices, study lounges, new athletic training space, and approximately 450 new seats in the seating bowl.

Over last season’s winter break, updated Cornell branding on the façade and south concourse brought a more modern look to the facility.

Though many physical aspects of Lynah Rink have changed over time, the crowd remains constant. Lynah Rink can hold 4,267 boisterous Cornell hockey fans, who provide unwavering support for the Big Red while creating an unparalleled atmosphere in college hockey.

Although many rinks in the nation are bigger in capacity, few are known to be louder. The Cornell fans, aptly named the "Lynah Faithful," stream into every home contest, making 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 reaffirms the old saying, "There’s no place like home."

Since the doors opened on Lynah Rink, the Cornell men's hockey program has won a pair of NCAA Division I men’s hockey championships in 1967 and 1970, garnering an ECAC Hockey-record 13 tournament championships (1967-70, 1973, 1980, 1986, 1996-97, 2003, 2005, 2010, 2024) and 26 Ivy League titles, 22 of which have been won outright.

• Cornell returns to Madison Square Garden in New York City for the 10th edition of Red Hot Hockey on Saturday, Nov. 29, when it faces No. 18-ranked Boston University (5-6-1) at 8 p.m. Game action will be streamed live on ESPN+.

• The Big Red will look to retain the Kelley-Harkness Trophy for a fifth consecutive meeting at the World's Most Famous Arena, having hoisted the hardware in each of the last four matchups between the storied programs.

• Next Saturday's contest serves as a rematch of last year's Toledo Regional Final of the 2025 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Championship, where Boston University defeated Cornell 3-2 in overtime to advance to its third straight Frozen Four.