#17 Men's Hockey to Open ECAC Hockey Play at Harvard, Dartmouth

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

PUCK DROP

• The No. 17-ranked Cornell men’s hockey team (1-1-0, 0-0-0 ECAC Hockey) opens conference play this weekend when it travels to northern New England to face Harvard (1-0-1, 0-0-0 ECAC Hockey) and Dartmouth (2-0-0, 0-0-0 ECAC Hockey). Both games are scheduled for 7 p.m. puck drops, with game action streamed live on ESPN+.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN…

• Cornell is opening the 2025-26 campaign with a four-game road trip, its longest season-opening road stand since 2022-23, when the Big Red embarked on a six-game swing that began at No. 19 Minnesota Duluth before ECAC Hockey play began at Princeton, No. 7 Quinnipiac, St. Lawrence, and Clarkson.

• This marks just the fourth time in Cornell’s modern era (since 1957-58) that the Big Red have played at least their first four regular-season games away from Lynah Rink. The program previously opened with a nine-game road trip in 1959-60, a five-game stretch in 2016-17, and a six-game span in 2022-23. Cornell’s longest season-opening road trips came when the Big Red played all 10 of its games for the 1910-11 and 1911-12 campaigns on the road or at neutral sites.

GIO-GETTER

• Freshman forward Gio DiGiulian became the fourth Cornell freshman to score in the program’s first two games of a season after finding the net in both contests against No. 13 UMass. He’s the first player to accomplish the feat since defenseman Sasha Pokulok in 2004-05 and the first forward since Kent Manderville in 1989-90, joining forward Trent Andison (1987-88) in the exclusive group.

• DiGiulian’s two goals are the most by a Big Red freshman through the first two games since forward Joel Lowry and defenseman Joakim Ryan each scored twice in 2011-12, marking the 12th time in program history a first-year player has tallied multiple goals in the season’s first two contests.

• Nationally, DiGiulian is one of seven Division I freshmen this season to open their collegiate careers with goals in consecutive games, joining Lake Superior State’s Calem Mangone, Maine’s Jaden Lipinski, Miami’s Justin Stupka, Michigan’s Cole McKinney and Malcolm Spence, and UMass’ Lukáš Klecka.

LOOKING TO KEEP IT GIO-ING

• A goal against Harvard would make freshman forward Gio DiGiulian the first Division I freshman this season to open his career with a three-game goal streak and just the second Cornell freshman to score in the Big Red’s first three games, joining Trent Andison (1987-88). He would also become the first Cornell player to score in the first three games since Joel Lowry in 2013-14.

• Should DiGiulian score in both games this weekend, he would become the first Cornell freshman to score in four straight games to open a season and the 11th player overall to accomplish the feat, while being the first since Matt Moulson in 2003-04. The others: Jim Stevens (1962-63), Doug Ferguson (1965-66), Mike Doran (1966-67), Brian McCutcheon (1969-70), Craig Brush and John Fumio (1971-72), Mark Trivett (1976-77), Kevin Fullan (1977-78), and Lance Nethery (1978-79). Four players extended their streaks beyond four games: Stevens, Fullan, and Nethery (six each), and Doran (five).

• DiGiulian’s goal last Friday also extended Cornell’s streak of having a freshman score in its season opener to eight consecutive years — a feat accomplished nine times in the last 10 seasons.

COURNOYER THE RECORD BOOKS

• Freshman goaltender Alexis Cournoyer had a spectacular collegiate debut last Saturday, stopping 33 of 34 shots in the Big Red’s 3-1 victory over UMass at the Mullins Center. The native of Trois-Rivières, Québec, became the first Cornell goaltender with 30-plus saves in his debut since Matt Underhill made 47 stops in a 4-2 win over Northeastern on Nov. 24, 1998, at Matthews Arena in Boston.

• Cournoyer’s 33 saves tie him with Dave Chrastina (Jan. 5, 1975, vs. St. Lawrence at Madison Square Garden), Brian Hayward (Dec. 1, 1978, vs. Brown), and Corrie D’Alessio (Nov. 20, 1987, vs. St. Lawrence) for the fifth-most saves by a Cornell goaltender in his collegiate debut.

• He became the eighth Big Red goaltender in the program’s modern era (since 1957-58) to record 30-plus saves in his first game with Cornell.

PASSING THE TORCH ON EAST HILL

• A new era has arrived on East Hill for the Cornell men’s hockey team as former captain Casey Jones ‘90 has assumed head coaching duties from legendary head coach Mike Schafer ‘86, who retired after a 30-year tenure.

• With Jones taking the reins, the 2025-26 season continues an impressive lineage of former players coaching the Big Red. This season marks the 39th consecutive year a Cornell graduate has served as head coach, joining Brian McCutcheon ‘71 (1987-95) and Schafer (1995-2025).

• Cornell owns the second-longest active streak in Division I hockey of having an alumnus serve as head coach, trailing only Boston University (53 years). New Hampshire (36 years) and Boston College (32 years) are the only other programs with at least a 30-year streaks.

• Since 1970-71, the Big Red have featured an alum as head coach in 50 of the last 56 years.

MODEL OF CONSISTENCY

• As ECAC Hockey play begins this weekend for Cornell, the Big Red are looking to increase its streak of consecutive 10-win seasons within conference play. With its 6-0 shutout of RPI in its regular-season finale on March 1, Cornell has a double-digit win total in ECAC Hockey play each of the last eight seasons, ranking as the third-longest streak in program history, only behind spans of 19 (1964-83) and 13 (1999-2012) seasons.

• Cornell’s active streak is the fourth-longest in Division I hockey, trailing only Minnesota State (13), Boston University (11), and Western Michigan (9).

PERENNIAL POWER

• Cornell opened the season ranked No. 17 in the preseason USCHO.com poll, marking the Big Red’s ninth consecutive season starting ranked in the top 20 — the second-longest streak in program history behind an 11-year span from 2002 to 2012.

• The Big Red are one of just four Division I programs ranked in the preseason top 20 in each of the last nine seasons, joining Denver, North Dakota, and Providence. North Dakota (25 consecutive years, dating to 1997-98) and Denver (24 straight) have been ranked in every preseason poll since the USCHO permanently expanded its poll from 15 to 20 teams in 2005-06, while Providence has appeared in the each preseason poll since 2013-14.

• Across USCHO’s 29 preseason polls, Cornell has been ranked 23 times — one of seven Division I programs to appear in at least 20 preseason polls alongside North Dakota (29), Boston College (27), Michigan (27), Minnesota (26), Boston University (25), and Denver (25).

ECAC HOCKEY PRESEASON POLL

• The ECAC Hockey conference office announced Sept. 25 that Cornell was picked to finish third in its annual coaches’ preseason poll. Cornell received one of the 12 first-place votes, finishing as one of three teams with more than 100 points (111).

• Quinnipiac was tabbed to finish as ECAC Hockey’s regular-season champion, garnering nine first-place votes and finishing with 129 points, ahead of Clarkson, which had the remaining two first-place votes, by 11 points (118). Dartmouth (97 points) finished 14 points behind the Big Red, as it was selected to finish fourth to round out the projected first-round byes for the 2026 ECAC Hockey Championship.

• Union was right behind Dartmouth with 93 points, and Harvard (79), Colgate (77), and Princeton (55) were slated to host first-round games. Rounding out the 12-team poll were St. Lawrence (48), Brown (47), RPI (42), and Yale (27).

TIME TO STUDY THE ROSTER…

• Cornell has 14 newcomers on this year’s roster — 12 freshmen and two sophomore transfers — matching the program’s highest total since 2021-22, when the Big Red added 14 freshmen following the COVID-19 cancellation of the 2020-21 season.

• Only four teams in program history have had more newcomers: 1992-93 (18), 1957-58 (16), 1964-65 (16), and 1978-79 (16). The 1978-79 team included four transfers from Penn, which disbanded its program that year.

• Newcomers comprise 45.2 percent of Cornell’s roster, the 13th-highest percentage in the program’s modern era (since 1957-58) and the highest since 2021-22 (46.7 percent).

• Cornell’s 12 freshmen are tied with Alaska, Boston University, Bowling Green, Colorado College, UMass Lowell, and Miami (Ohio) for second-most in Division I, trailing only Michigan Tech (13).

YOU FEEL THAT (NHL) DRAFT?

• Cornell has nine players drafted by NHL clubs, the program’s highest total since 2005-06. Only the 1990-91 (14) and 2004-05 (10) teams had more NHL draft picks on their roster.

• For the first time in program history, Cornell has three draft picks selected within the first three rounds: junior forward Jonathan Castagna (70th overall, Utah via Arizona), sophomore defenseman Michael Fisher (76th, San Jose) and junior defenseman George Fegaras (83rd, Dallas). The Big Red previously had two players selected in the first three rounds 10 times, most recently in three of the last four seasons.

• Fisher is the highest-drafted Cornell defenseman since Sasha Pokulok went 14th overall to Washington in 2005.

• Freshman goaltender Alexis Cournoyer was Cornell’s lone selection in June’s NHL Entry Draft, taken in the fifth round (145th overall) by Montréal. He became the 13th Big Red goaltender to be drafted and the first since David LeNeveu went in the second round (48th overall) to Phoenix in 2002.

• Cornell’s nine NHL draft picks are tied with Colorado College for 11th-most in Division I. Boston University leads the nation with 19, followed by Michigan State (15), Denver (14), Michigan and Minnesota (13 each), Boston College and North Dakota (12 each), and Harvard, Western Michigan and Wisconsin (10 each).

(BIG) RED MEANS STOP

• Cornell has firmly established itself as one of the nation’s premier defensive programs, ranking among the top 10 in Division I for scoring defense 12 times over the past two decades — the most by any Division I team during that span. The Big Red are one of three programs to post 10 or more top-10 finishes in that period, alongside Denver and Minnesota State (10 each).

• Over the last nine seasons, Cornell has finished top 10 nationally in scoring defense seven times, tying Minnesota State for the most in Division I. The Big Red have also placed top 12 in each of their last eight seasons, one more than Denver and Minnesota State, and in 10 of their last 11 campaigns, matching Minnesota State for the national lead.

• Across the past decade, Cornell has allowed an average of 1.982 goals per game, joining only Minnesota State (1.893) as the lone Division I programs to yield fewer than two goals per contest.

• That consistency extends beyond recent years — Cornell has not conceded 100 or more goals in a season since 1997-98, a streak spanning 26 consecutive seasons. The run stands as the longest active in Division I hockey, double the next-closest streaks by Minnesota State and Providence (13 each). Clarkson (8) and Quinnipiac (7) rank second and third, respectively, in ECAC Hockey.

LIGHTING THE LAMP (CARNELIAN) RED

• On the opposite end of Cornell’s defensive prowess, the Big Red have also shown a consistent ability to light the lamp. Cornell has averaged at least three goals per game in each of the past seven seasons, dating back to 2017-18.

• The Big Red’s seven-year streak of averaging three or more goals per game is the second-longest active run in Division I hockey, trailing Western Michigan’s nine-season streak. Boston University and North Dakota each enter the year with six consecutive seasons above the three-goal mark, while Quinnipiac holds ECAC Hockey’s second-longest active streak at five seasons.

• Since the 2017-18 season, Cornell ranks 12th nationally in goal scoring (3.194), one of just 17 Division I programs averaging at least three goals per contest. The Big Red’s average is second-best in ECAC Hockey behind only Quinnipiac (3.432, sixth nationally), while Denver leads all Division I teams at 3.655 goals per game.

PUTTING THE ‘BIG’ IN BIG RED

• Cornell ranks second nationally in average height (6-foot-1.7) and weight (198.0 pounds) this season, according to College Hockey, Inc. research, trailing UMass (6-foot-1.9) and Notre Dame (200.3 pounds), respectively.

• The Big Red are one of seven programs to rank in the top 10 in both average height and weight, alongside Brown, Harvard, North Dakota, Notre Dame, St. Cloud State, and UMass.

• This year’s average height and weight both rank among the largest averages in Cornell’s modern era, dating back to 1957-58. The average height surpasses the previous record set in 2015-16 by 0.16 inches, while the weight ranks as the fourth-heaviest in program history, only trailing the squads from 2015-16 (198.86 lbs.), 2014-15 (198.85 lbs.), and 1999-00 (198.70 lbs.).

• Freshman goaltender Alexis Cournoyer is not your stereotypical Cornell goaltender. The 6-foot-4 native of Trois-Rivières, Québec, is the tallest netminder on record in the modern era of the Big Red men’s hockey program. Cournoyer edged the late Cornell Athletics and Hockey Hall of Fame goaltender Ken Dryden ‘69 (1966-69), Jean-Marc Pelletier (1995-97), and Hayden Stewart ‘18 (2014-18) for the unique distinction.

• Sophomore defenseman Luke Ashton (6-foot-5) is tied for being the tallest blueliner in program history, matching the heights of R.J. Farnworth (1983-84), Ryan O’Byrne (2003-06), Sasha Pokulok (2004-06), and Dan Wedman (2014-17). Ashton, along with sophomore forward Parker Murray and freshman forward Reegan Hiscock — both of whom also measure at 6-foot-5 — are the first Big Red trio to stand at 6-foot-5 or taller since 2017-18, when Beau Starrett, Anthony Angello, and Dwyer Tschantz ‘18, all registered 6-foot-5 measurements.

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 HARVARD

• Harvard (1-0-1) is coming off a 6-2 victory over Stonehill on Tuesday night at the Bright-Landry Hockey Center after tying with UConn, 1-1, in its season opener last Friday night in Storrs, Conn.

• Mick Thompson (1-2—3) leads the team in points and is tied with Matthew Morden, Drake Murray, and Heikki Ruohonen for the team lead in assists.

• Ben Charette has logged all 125 minutes of action in goal for the Crimson, recording a 1-0-1 record with a 1.44 goals-against average and .959 save percentage. He has made at least 34 saves in both games so far this season.

115 YEARS, 328 MILES, 168 MEETINGS

• Friday will be the 169th meeting between the two bitter Ivy League rivals. Cornell leads the series over Harvard, 83-71-14, and is unbeaten in the last five games (4-0-1).

• With either a win or tie, the Big Red will have its longest unbeaten streak over the Crimson since winning six straight contests between Nov. 22, 2002, and Nov. 5, 2004.

• After playing to a 2-2 tie in Cambridge last November, Cornell is seeking its first three-game unbeaten streak on Harvard’s home ice since posting three consecutive wins between Jan. 26, 2018, and Dec. 6, 2019. The Big Red are 4-2-1 in its last seven road games against the Crimson.

CORNELL - HARVARD CONNECTIONS

• George Fegaras and Xavier Veilleux played with Michael Callow, Justin Solovey, William Hughes, and Matthew Morden on the Muskegon Lumberjacks (2022-23), while Luke Devlin teamed with Philip Tresca in Muskegon (2020-21) and Veilleux won the Clark Cup with Chase Stefanek in June. Devlin also played with Marek Hejduk (U.S. NTDP U-18), Ryan Fine and Salvatore Guzzo (U.S. NTDP U-17) in 2021-22, and Ryan Healey at the 2021 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. Parker Murray and David Hejduk were Wenatchee Wild teammates (2021-23), with Murray (2023-24) and Caton Ryan (2024-25) also playing with Matthew Biotti there. Sean Donaldson spent two seasons with Healey (2020-22) and played with Will McDonough (2021-22) on Sioux Falls. Charlie Major and Cameron Johnson (2022-23) played with Mick Thompson on the Chicago Steel, who also skated with Major (2022-24) and Hudson Gorski (2023-24). Justin Katz played with Sean Keohane (2023-24) and Devlin with Ben MacDonald (2022-23) on West Kelowna. San Jose draft picks Michael Fisher (2022, 3rd) and Richard Gallant (2025, 7th) both played at St. Mark’s (2021-22). Devlin and Jonathan Castagna played with Morden at St. Andrew’s College (2021-22), and Connor Arseneault with Aidan Lane there (2023-24). Marian Mosko teamed with Fine and Guzzo at Don Bosco Prep (2020-21). Nick DeSantis and Casey Severo (2021-22), and Aiden Long and James Mackey (2023-24) were teammates on the Madison Capitols. Long also played with Ben Charette on the 2022-23 Whitecourt Wolverines. Last season, Arseneault and Drake Murray (Sioux City) and Donovan Hamilton and Mackey (Cedar Rapids) were teammates. Boston draft picks include both Ryan Walsh (2023, 6th) and Mason Langenbrunner (2020, 5th).

HARVARD'S NHL CONNECTIONS

• Ryan Healey’s dad, Eric, played two NHL games with Boston (2005-06). David and Marek Hejduk’s dad, Milan, played 1,020 NHL games with Colorado (1998-2013), winning two Stanley Cups and the 2003 Maurice Richard Trophy with an NHL-best 50 goals, plus Olympic gold (1998) and bronze (2006) with Czechia. Mason Langenbrunner’s dad, Jamie, played 1,109 NHL games over 18 years with Dallas, New Jersey, and St. Louis (1994-2013), winning Stanley Cups with Dallas (1999) and New Jersey (2003). Jamie currently serves as assistant general manager with Boston. Lucas St. Louis is the son of Hockey Hall of Fame forward and current Montréal head coach Martin St. Louis, who won the Lady Byng three times (2010, 2011, 2013), Art Ross twice (2004, 2013), and both the Hart and Ted Lindsay in 2004 during his 16-year career with Calgary, Tampa Bay, and the Rangers (1998-2015), totaling 1,033 points (391 goals, 642 assists).

DESANTIS SCORES TWICE, LEADS MEN'S HOCKEY TO WIN OVER HARVARD

BOX SCORE | RECAP | HIGHLIGHTS | POSTGAME INTERVIEWS

ITHACA, N.Y. (JAN. 24, 2025) — Junior forward Nick DeSantis scored twice for the Cornell men's hockey team (8-5-5, 5-3-3) as it defeated bitter ECAC Hockey and Ivy League rival Harvard (6-10-2), 4-2, before a sold-out crowd at Lynah Rink on Friday night.
 
Sophomore forwards Jake Kraft and Ryan Walsh potted the first two goals for the Big Red, scoring six seconds apart within the first 1:23 of the game to take an early 2-0 lead.

Senior goaltender Ian Shane made 14 saves between the pipes for Cornell, who improved to 6-1-1 at Lynah Rink this season.
 
Harvard's lone tally of the game came from first-year forward Mick Thompson on an odd-man rush with his linemate Joe Miller. Sophomore goaltender Aku Koskenvuo made 20 saves in the setback for the Crimson.

"A really strong start in the first period," said Mike Schafer '86, the Jay R. Bloom '77 Head Coach of Cornell Men's Ice Hockey, following his 550th career head coaching win. "In the second, we had a little dip at one point and had to kill some penalties. I'm really happy with our penalty kill. They did a great job tonight, and I thought Ian was outstanding. He made two or three spectacular saves."

Cornell opened the scoring 1:17 into the contest as Kraft capitalized on the rebound an initial shot, poking the puck past Koskenvuo at the right post. Walsh forced a defensive zone turnover by Harvard first-year defenseman Lucas St. Louis at the far half wall, ultimately leading to Kraft's tally.

On the ensuing faceoff, Walsh won the draw to his right, allowing sophomore defenseman George Fegaras to chip the puck into the offensive zone at the center line. Junior forward Dalton Bancroft picked the puck up at the blue line, setting up a pass from the far half wall to Walsh in the mid-slot for a one-timer that beat Koskenvuo, giving the Big Red a two-goal advantage 1:23 into the contest.

In the second period, DeSantis increased Cornell's lead to 3-0, lasering a wrist shot from the left faceoff circle on an odd-man rush five seconds after the expiration of a Crimson penalty.

Harvard cut into the Big Red's lead late in the second period as Miller curled a pass around senior defenseman Tim Rego, who was prone on the ice, during a 2-on-1 odd-man rush, resulting in Thompson one-timing the puck into the net.

Five minutes into the third period, Cornell regained its three-goal lead as DeSantis backhanded his rebound into the net three seconds after the Big Red's third power play on the night.

A late penalty in the third period led Harvard to pull its goaltender to create a 6-on-4 opportunity with four minutes remaining in the contest. The Big Red held the Crimson without a shot attempt during the power play and only yielded one shot on goal across Harvard's three power-play opportunities.

SCOUTING DARTMOUTH

• Dartmouth (2-0-0) is coming off an impressive first weekend, where it outscored Stonehill and Yale by a combined 12-2 score. The Big Green posted a 5-2 triumph over the Skyhawks at Warrior Ice Arena in Boston before cruising past the Bulldogs 6-1 on Sunday night in its home opener.

• The Big Green enter this weekend tied with Princeton for the nation’s highest scoring offense (5.50) and tied with Cornell, Harvard, and Northeastern for second in scoring defense (1.50).

• Hayden Stavroff (4-0—4) leads Dartmouth in both goals and points. Eric Charpentier (2-1—3), the reigning ADAPT Nutrition ECAC Hockey Defender of the Week, is one of four Big Green players with three points.

• Goaltending duties were split between Roan Clarke (1-0-0, 2.00, .889) and Emmett Croteau (1-0-0, 1.00, .957) last weekend with Clarke starting against Stonehill and Croteau against Yale.

116 YEARS, 301 MILES, 149 MEETINGS

• Cornell enters Saturday night’s contest with an 88-52-9 lead over Dartmouth in the all-time series. The Big Green swept both regular-season games last year, marking Dartmouth’s first regular-season sweep of the Big Red since 2014-15. Ten of the last 13 games between Cornell and Dartmouth have resulted in ties or one-goal games.

• Dartmouth is looking to register its first three-game win streak over Cornell since winning four straight over the Big Red between Feb. 28, 2014, and Jan. 22, 2016, as part of a five-game unbeaten streak (4-0-1).

• The last time the Big Green won consecutive games at Thompson Arena over Cornell came in victories of 3-2 (Nov. 30, 2018) and 2-1 (Dec. 7, 2019).

CORNELL - DARTMOUTH CONNECTIONS

• Luke Ashton skated with Cam MacDonald and Hank Cleaves on the Vernon Vipers (2021-22, 2022-23); Ryan Schelling on the Langley Rivermen (2023-24); and spent two seasons with Roan Clarke on the Vipers (2021-23). On the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, Donovan Hamilton (2023-24), Jake Kraft and Ryan Walsh (2022-23) played with Colin Grable. The Victoria Grizzlies included Reegan Hiscock (2022-24), Chase Pirtle (2023-24), and Hoyt Stanley (2022-23) with Tim Busconi, while Justin Katz and Luke Devlin teamed with Matthew Fusco on the West Kelowna Warriors (2022-23). The Chilliwack Chiefs had Connor Arseneault (2024-25) and Parker Murray (2023-24) with Nathan Morin. Other links include Nicholas Wolfenberg with Tucker McRae and later Jack Silverberg on the Okotoks Oilers (2021-22, 2023-24), Murray and Jason Stefanek on the Wenatchee Wild (2022-23), and Nick DeSantis with MacDonald on the Sioux Falls Stampede (2019-20). Cornell head coach Casey Jones also coached Dartmouth’s Emmett Croteau at Clarkson (2023-24). Both Croteau and Alexis Cournoyer have their NHL rights owned by the Montréal Canadiens.

DARTMOUTH'S NHL CONNECTION

• Matt Fusco’s dad, Mark, played in 80 NHL games with the Hartford Whalers (1983-85) after winning the 1983 Hobey Baker Memorial Award with Harvard. Mark also represented the United States at the 1984 Olympics in Sarajevo.

OFFENSE PROPELS DARTMOUTH TO VICTORY OVER MEN'S HOCKEY

BOX SCORE | RECAP

ITHACA, N.Y. (JAN. 25, 2025) — Dartmouth's Luke Haymes scored two goals, leading three Big Green players in having multi-point nights, as the Big Green (10-7-2, 7-4-1 ECAC Hockey) defeated the Cornell men's hockey team (8-5-5, 5-3-3), 6-1, before a sold-out crowd at Lynah Rink on Saturday night.

Nikita Nikora assisted on two Big Green goals and CJ Foley added a goal and an assist in the victory. Emmett Croteau made 16 saves in goal for Dartmouth, upping his record on the year to 7-1-0.

Sophomore defenseman George Fegaras tallied the lone goal on the night for the Big Red, who had a 24-save performance from senior goaltender Ian Shane.

Dartmouth drew first blood 5:53 into the contest when Haymes scored the first of his two goals on the night, depositing a loose rebound at the right post after sophomore defenseman Hoyt Stanley had blocked a shot from the point by Nikora.

A high-sticking penalty resulted in Dartmouth receiving the night's first power play, but the Big Red's penalty kill proved to be stingy as it held the Big Green without a shot attempt during its two-minute man advantage.

Immediately after the expiration of Cornell's first penalty of the period, Shane made a sprawling cross-crease save to rob Sean Chisholm of doubling the Big Green's lead.

Cornell was assessed a penalty 13 seconds into the second period, granting Dartmouth its third power play of the game. Although the Big Red successfully killed off the penalty, five seconds after it expired, Trym Løkkeberg won an offensive zone faceoff, leading to Dartmouth doubling its lead when defenseman John Fusco's shot from the right point deflected off senior forward Kyle Penney's stick, soaring over Shane's head, hit the crossbar and went into the net.

Nearly five minutes later, Dartmouth's lead was increased to 3-0 as a defensive zone turnover by Cornell led to Haymes netting his second goal of the night, lasering a shot from the left hash of the right faceoff circle, beating Shane to his glove side.

Cornell cut into the Big Green's lead as Fegaras snapped his 25-game goal-scoring drought with a shot from the top of the right faceoff circle that evaded traffic in front of Croteau's crease.

Dartmouth restored its three-goal lead eight-plus minutes into the third when Hank Cleaves scored after executing a toe-drag deke from a pass by Nikora near the goal line.

The Big Green scored two short-handed goals within 20 seconds to solidify its victory. Cornell had pulled Shane to gain an extra attacker, creating a 6-on-4 advantage. A one-timer taken by sophomore defenseman Ben Robertson was blocked by Foley, who scored on a 175-foot shot.

Cooper Flinton netted Dartmouth's second short-handed goal by forcing a turnover at the blue line in Cornell's offensive zone, creating a 2-on-1 scoring chance with Chisholm, beating Shane to his blocker side.

DIGIULIAN, COURNOYER GUIDE #20 MEN'S HOCKEY TO WIN OVER #13 UMASS

BOX SCORE | RECAP | HIGHLIGHTS | GALLERY

AMHERST, Mass. (NOV. 1, 2025) — Freshman Gio DiGiulian scored for the second consecutive night, and stellar goaltending from freshman Alexis Cournoyer propelled the No. 20-ranked Cornell men's hockey team to a 3-1 victory over No. 13 UMass at the Mullins Center on Saturday night.

Power-play goals from sophomore forward Charlie Major and freshman defenseman Xavier Veilleux broke open a 1-1 game, giving the Big Red (1-1-0) all the cushion it would need. Cournoyer, who was making his first career start and appearance, stopped 33 of 34 shots in the winning effort.

Casey Jones '90, the Jay R. Bloom '77 Head Coach of Cornell Men's Ice Hockey, opted to give Cournoyer his first collegiate start after senior Remington Keopple started Friday night's opener.

"There's competition at that position," Jones said. "We felt [Cournoyer] earned playing time with his preseason and what he's shown. I thought he answered the bell. He was calm and made some key saves for us. I was impressed with him for his first game."

Mikey DeAngelo scored the lone goal for UMass (6-3-0), while Michael Hrabal made 25 saves in the loss.

DiGiulian gave Cornell a 1-0 lead just 1:41 into the contest. An aggressive forecheck by senior forward Nick DeSantis forced a UMass defender into a hurried backhand pass that junior forward Luke Devlin intercepted. DiGiulian one-timed Devlin's feed at the left post for his second goal in as many nights.

UMass answered late in the first period when Jack Musa used a slick deke to beat sophomore defenseman Michael Fisher, setting up DeAngelo for a one-timer from the right faceoff dot with 4:44 remaining to tie the game.

Major restored Cornell's lead with 3:38 left in the second period on the power play. Junior forward Ryan Walsh fed Major under the goal line, and his quick shot deflected off a UMass defender's skate and in. Freshman forward Caton Ryan earned the secondary assist.

"Last night, their penalty kill frustrated us a little bit," Jones said. "Tonight, I thought we won faceoffs, which gave us possession, and we stuck to the game plan with an attacking mentality. To bounce back and get it done on special teams, I was really excited."

Veilleux ultimately iced the victory on a 5-on-3 advantage with under eight minutes remaining in regulation, burying his first career goal after Walsh set him up following extended offensive zone pressure. Major added the secondary helper, capping multi-point nights for him and Walsh.

Jones offered high praise for the freshman defenseman, who has quickly become a fixture on Cornell's top defensive pairing.

"The one thing about Xavier is, he's won wherever he's been," Jones said. "He plays a really good team game with good hockey sense. It was hard to imagine him being this ready. He's fitting seamlessly here with us."

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 opens a four-game homestand next weekend when it welcomes Brown (0-2-0) and Yale (0-1-0) to Lynah Rink, continuing the Big Red's string of Ivy League contests to begin the season.

• Puck drop for both contests are scheduled for 7 p.m., with game action streamed live on ESPN+. Jason Weinstein (play-by-play) and Tony Eisenhut '88 (analysis) will be on the call each night.