#12 Men's Hockey Concludes Homestand Against #10 Dartmouth, Harvard

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

PUCK DROP

• The 12th-ranked Cornell men’s hockey team concludes its eight-game homestand this weekend on Reunion Weekend when it hosts ECAC Hockey and Ivy League rivals No. 10 Dartmouth (14-4-1, 8-2-1 ECAC Hockey) and Harvard (10-7-1, 8-4-0 ECAC Hockey) at Lynah Rink.

• Both games are scheduled for 7 p.m. puck drops, with game action streamed live on ESPN+. Canadian fans can also view Saturday night’s game against Harvard on TSN+.

FAITHFUL TO LYNAH

• Cornell has posted a 26-6-2 (.794) record at Lynah Rink since Jan. 1, 2024, one of nine Division I programs with at least a .700 home winning percentage over that span and trailing only ECAC Hockey rival Quinnipiac (31-6-3, .813).

• The Big Red’s 11-game home winning streak came to an end last Saturday against No. 7 Quinnipiac. The streak was tied for the sixth-longest in program history and was the longest registered by a Division I program since Boston College won 18 straight at Conte Forum between Dec. 6, 2023, and Dec. 6, 2024.

• With its win over No. 18 Princeton last Friday, Cornell registered its ninth home win of the season, extending its streak of nine-plus home wins to 10 consecutive seasons — the fifth-longest active streak in Division I behind Minnesota (49), Denver (26), North Dakota (24), and Minnesota State (13).

THE ‘X’ FACTOR

• Cornell freshman defenseman Xavier Veilleux enters this weekend with a team-leading four power-play goals, matching outputs by Long Island’s Nick Bernardo, Denver’s Boston Buckberger, Colgate’s Isaiah Norlin, Penn State’s Jackson Smith and Clarkson’s Tate Taylor for the most by a Division I defenseman this season.

• Among all Division I freshmen, Veilleux is one of 16 first-year players with at least four power-play goals — and one of only two defensemen, alongside Smith.

• Veilleux has already set a Cornell program record for power-play goals by a freshman defenseman, doubling the previous mark of two held by eight players: Larry Pierce (1997-98), Mark McRae and Doug Murray (both 1999-00), Sasha Pokulok (2004-05), Brendon Nash (2006-07), Mike Devin (2007-08), Sam Malinski (2019-20) and Ben Robertson (2023-24).

• His four power-play goals are the most by any Big Red defenseman since Alec McCrae ‘19 tallied five during his junior season in 2017-18. One more would make Veilleux the 14th Cornell defenseman (19th instance) with five power-play goals in a season and just the eighth to do so this century, joining McRae (five in 2000-01 and 2001-02), Murray (seven in 2001-02), Charlie Cook (six in 2004-05), Ryan O’Byrne (five in 2005-06), Nick D’Agostino (six in 2011-12) and McCrae in 2017-18.

• With a fifth power-play goal, Veilleux would be the 16th Big Red freshman in program history to reach that milestone and the first since Dalton Bancroft in 2022-23. He would become the sixth first-year player to accomplish the feat this century, joining Ryan Vesce ‘04 (2000-01), Colin Greening ‘10 (2006-07), Riley Nash (2007-08), Michael Regush (2018-19) and Bancroft.

COMPLETE PACKAGE

• Junior forward Jonathan Castagna is one of five Division I players this season who has registered multiple game-winning, power-play and short-handed goals, joining Boston University’s Jack Harvey, St. Thomas’ Nathan Pilling and Lucas Van Vliet and Minnesota Duluth’s Max Plante.

• Castagna, who has tallied two game-winners, two power-play tallies, and three short-handed goals, is just the fourth Cornell player to accomplish the feat since 1996-97, joining Mike Knoepfli ‘05 (2004-05), Riley Nash (2008-09) and Dalton Bancroft (2024-25). Current Cornell head coach Casey Jones ‘90 also achieved the feat as a sophomore in 1987-88, posting two game-winners, four power-play goals, and two short-handed goals.

SHORT-HANDED SPECIALIST

• Junior forward Jonathan Castagna enters this weekend tied for the nation’s lead in short-handed goals with three, matching outputs by Michigan’s Josh Eernisse, Penn State’s Dane Dowiak and St. Thomas’ Alex Gaffney and Nathan Pilling for the Division I lead.

• With his short-handed goal scored into an Alaska empty net on Jan. 11, Castagna became the 19th Cornell player to record at least three short-handed goals in a season and just the fifth since 1980-81, joining Randy MacFarlane ‘85 (1984-85), Doug Derraugh ‘91 (1990-91), Brad Chartrand ‘96 (1995-96) and Mike Iggulden ‘05 (2004-05) — all of whom were seniors. Castagna is the first non-senior to tally at least three short-handed goals in a season since Roy Kerling ‘82, accomplished the feat as a sophomore in 1979-80.

• The three short-handed tallies also make Castagna the fifth Cornell player to score at least three short-handed goals through the first 17 games of a season, joining Jim Stevens ‘64 (1961-62), Pete Tufford ‘69 (1966-67) and Brian Cornell ‘69 and Dan Lodboa ‘70 (1968-69).

• Should Castagna net another short-handed goal, he would become only the seventh Cornell player in the modern era (since 1957-58) with four short-handed goals in a single season, joining Stevens (four in 1961-62), Doug Ferguson ‘67 (four in 1964-65), Lodboa (four in 1969-70), Jim Vaughan ‘77 (five in 1975-76), Lance Nethery ‘79 (four in 1977-78) and Iggulden (2004-05).

JONNY-ON-THE-DOT

• Junior forward Jonathan Castagna boasts the nation’s top faceoff win percentage among players with at least 200 faceoff wins, going 222-of-338 (65.7 percent). His percentage is three percentage points higher than St. Cloud State’s Tyson Gross (62.7 percent). Castagna is one of seven players this season with at least 200 wins and a success rate of at least 60.0 percent, while also having the second-highest faceoff wins per game nationally (13.06) only behind Gross’ 14.58 average.

• Since Jan. 1, 2025, Castagna has won 63.6 percent of his draws (429-of-675), making him one of two active Division I players with at least 400 faceoff wins and a 60.0 percent win rate, joined by Colorado College’s Klavs Veinbergs (60.3 percent, 473-of-784).

• In last Friday’s win over No. 18 Princeton, Castagna won a career-high 22 faceoffs, going 22-of-29 (.733) at the faceoff circle. The 22 faceoff wins were the most by a Big Red player since Gabriel Seger ‘24 won 23 faceoffs in an overtime victory on Jan. 20, 2024 against No. 3 Quinnipiac. It was the most faceoff wins by a Cornell player in a game ending in regulation since Sean Collins ‘12 also went 22-for-29 against Ferris State on March 24, 2012, in the Midwest Regional Final of the 2012 NCAA Tournament in Green Bay, Wis.

• Castagna’s faceoff wins matched Bowling Green’s Jaden Grant (Oct. 31, vs. Bemidji State) and Veinbergs (Nov. 29, vs. Providence) for the most in Division I hockey this season. He has won at least 13 faceoffs in nine games this season, tied with Veinbergs, Dartmouth’s Hank Cleaves and Holy Cross’ Jack Stockfish for the sixth-most games with at least 13 faceoff wins this season. Only Gross (14), Army’s Barron Woodring (12), Western Michigan’s Owen Michaels (11) and Michigan’s T.J. Hughes and Michigan State’s Charlie Stramel (10 each) have more such games.

• Since his freshman year in 2023-24, Castagna’s 59.3 faceoff percentage (732-of-1235) leads all active players with at least 500 faceoff wins, ahead of Veinbergs by three percentage points.

(BIG) RED MEANS STOP

• Cornell enters this weekend with the second-best scoring defense in Division I, allowing just 1.941 goals per game. The Big Red and Michigan State (1.773) are the only two programs in the nation averaging under two goals allowed per game.

• Cornell’s defensive excellence has been a consistent hallmark of the program, having finished in the top 12 nationally in scoring defense in each of the past eight seasons — the longest active streak in Division I. The Big Red have ranked in the top 12 in 10 of the last 11 seasons overall.

• Since 2014-15, Cornell has averaged 1.983 goals allowed per game, joining Minnesota State (1.916) as the only Division I programs under 2.00 in that span. The Big Red haven’t allowed 100 goals in a season since 1997-98, a 26-year streak twice as long as any other active run in the nation (Minnesota State and Providence each at 13 seasons).

ALEXIS-CELLENCE BETWEEN THE PIPES

• Freshman goaltender Alexis Cournoyer has been stellar through his first 13 collegiate games, posting an 9-4-0 record with a 1.94 goals-against average and .923 save percentage. Among Division I goaltenders who have played at least 33 percent of their team’s minutes, Cournoyer ranks eighth nationally in goals-against average and 16th in save percentage.

• Cournoyer is one of 10 goaltenders in Cornell’s modern era (since 1957-58) to register at least nine wins in his first 13 career appearances. Since 2005-06, the 1.94 goals-against average posted by Cournoyer in his first 13 career games ranks third over that span, trailing only Mitch Gillam (1.45, 2013-15) and Ian Shane (1.70, 2021-22). Cournoyer’s .923 save percentage also ranks third in that same span, also trailing Gillam (.950) and Shane (.937).

NO BIG NIGHTS ALLOWED

• Cornell enters this weekend as one of just two Division I programs that has yet to allow an opposing player to record a three-point game this season, joined by UConn.

• Cornell has not allowed an opponent to register a three-point game in 27 consecutive contests, dating back to when Clarkson’s Ayrton Martino (1-2—3) factored on all three Golden Knights goals in a 3-1 win over the Big Red at Lynah Rink on Feb. 21, 2025, in Potsdam, N.Y.

• The Big Red have limited just eight opposing players to register multi-point games this season, four fewer than second-place Michigan State (12) for the fewest in Division I. To put that in perspective, there have been 2,077 multi-point games recorded across Division I this season — with only eight coming against Cornell.

• After Cornell and UConn, five programs have yielded just one three-point performance this season: Augustana, Boston College, Michigan State, Princeton and Union.

POWER (PLAY) SURGE

• Cornell’s power play has been one of the nation’s best this season, converting at a 28.1 percent clip that ranks fourth nationally and first among ECAC Hockey programs. The Big Red lead the conference by nearly six percentage points over second-place Quinnipiac (23.7 percent, 11th nationally).

• Since Nov. 14, Cornell has been even more lethal with the man advantage, scoring 14 power-play goals over its last 13 games while converting at a 33.3 percent rate, serving as one of four programs to have converted on at least 30 percent of its power plays, joining Minnesota Duluth (38.5 percent, 15-for-39), Minnesota (37.5 percent, 12-for-32) and North Dakota (30.2 percent, 13-for-43). The Big Red have scored at least one power-play goal in 10 of its last 13 games, including six of its last eight.

• The turnaround on the power play from last season has been dramatic. Cornell has already matched last year’s power-play goal total, scoring 16 times in 17 games compared to 16 in 36 games during 2024-25, when the Big Red converted at just a 14.7 percent clip (16-for-109).

• Five players have tallied multiple power-play goals this season, led by freshman defenseman Xavier Veilleux (four), junior forward Ryan Walsh (three), and junior forward Jonathan Castagna, sophomore forward Charlie Major and freshman forward Caton Ryan (two apiece).

FRESH IMPACT

• Cornell’s 12-player freshman class has made an immediate impression this season, combining for 63 of the Big Red’s 159 points this season (39.6 percent). The Big Red are one of just six Division I programs receiving at least 39 percent of its offensive production from first-year players.

• The Big Red have the second-highest percentage of goals scored by freshmen in Division I (46.5 percent — 27-of-58), trailing fellow ECAC Hockey counterpart St. Lawrence (50.0 percent — 23-of-46).

• Six Cornell freshmen have scored at least three goals this season: Caton Ryan (six), Gio DiGiulian and Reegan Hiscock (five each), Aiden Long and  (four each) and Chase Pirtle (three). The Big Red enter this weekend tied with Arizona State and Michigan Tech for the most freshmen with at least three goals (six).

• This season marks just the second time in program history — and second instance over the last three seasons — Cornell has had at least six freshmen score three or more goals in a season, joining the 2023-24 squad (Ryan Walsh — 12; Jonathan Castagna — 11; Luke Devlin — six; Ben Robertson — five; Jake Kraft — four; George Fegaras — three).

OFF TO A GOOD START

• First-year head coach Casey Jones ‘90 has Cornell off to an impressive 12-5-0 start, the best 17-game opening by a Big Red coach since Brian McCutcheon ‘71 began the 1987-88 season with a 13-4-0 record.

• Jones, who assumed head coaching duties from Cornell Athletics Hall of Fame head coach Mike Schafer ‘86 after a 30-year tenure (1995-2025), and his .706 win percentage is the fourth-best mark through a coach’s first 17 games at Cornell, trailing Dick Bertrand ‘70 (14-3-0, .800), Talbot Hunter (13-4-0, 1909-11) and McCutcheon (13-4-0, 1987-88).

• With a sweep of Dartmouth and Harvard this weekend, Jones would be tied with Hunter and McCutcheon (14-5-0) for the second-best win percentage through a coach’s first 19 games, only trailing Bertrand’s 16-3-0 record (.842) in the 1970-71 season.

• Among the 11 Division I programs currently playing under first-year head coaches, Cornell’s .706 win percentage through 17 games trails only North Dakota (13-4-0, .765) for the highest mark. Michigan Tech (9-6-2, .588), RIT (10-7-0, .588) and Lindenwood (9-8-0, .529) are the other programs with winning records through their first 17 games under new leadership.

NOTHING EXTRA, PLEASE

• All 17 of Cornell’s games this season have ended in regulation, the longest season-opening stretch without overtime since 1987-88, when the Big Red also played its first 17 games without needing an extra frame.

• It marks the sixth time in program history Cornell has reached its 17th game without playing overtime, also done in 1959-60 (all 21 games), 1965-66 (first 20), 1975-76 (first 22), 1978-79 (first 24) and 1987-88 (first 17).

• Entering this weekend, Cornell joins Lake Superior State as the lone two Division I hockey programs that have yet to play in overtime this season.

• Should both games against Dartmouth and Harvard end in regulation this weekend, it would mark just the fifth time in program history, and the first time since 1978-79, Cornell has played its first 19 games of a season without overtime.

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 DARTMOUTH

• Dartmouth (14-4-1, 8-2-1 ECAC Hockey) enters this weekend boasting the nation’s fourth-best scoring offense (3.95), third-best scoring defense (2.00), second-highest scoring margin (+1.95) and fourth-best penalty kill (88.9 percent).

• Hayden Stavroff (20-10—30) is tied with Minnesota Duluth’s Max Plante for the nation’s lead in goal scoring (20) and the highest points per game average (1.58). Stavroff is the lone player in Division I hockey to be averaging at least a goal per game (1.05 goals in 19 games).

• Goaltending duties have been generally split between Emmett Croteau (7-2-1, 1.79, .929) and Roan Clarke (7-2-0, 1.91, .907). Croteau ranks third and ninth, respectively, in goals-against average and save percentage, while Clarke is sixth in goals-against average.

116 YEARS, 301 MILES, 150 MEETINGS

• Dartmouth enters Friday’s contest riding momentum against Cornell, unbeaten in the last five regular-season meetings (3-0-2) dating back to 2023-24. The Big Green have won the last three matchups and swept the regular-season series last year (2-0-0), marking the first time since 2015-16 it took both regular-season games from the Big Red.

• Including playoffs, Dartmouth is 3-1-2 against Cornell in the last six meetings. The Big Red’s lone victory came in the semifinals of the 2024 ECAC Hockey Championship in Lake Placid, N.Y., as Cornell went on to claim the first of its two consecutive Whitelaw Cup titles.

• A victory Friday would give Dartmouth consecutive 2-0-0 regular-season sweeps of Cornell for the first time since 1958-59 and 1959-60.

• Despite the recent struggles, Cornell still holds a commanding 88-52-9 advantage in the series.

CORNELL - DARTMOUTH CONNECTIONS

• Luke Ashton skated with Cam MacDonald, Hank Cleaves and Roan Clarke on the Vernon Vipers (2021-23) and Ryan Schelling on the Langley Rivermen (2023-24) … Jake Kraft and Ryan Walsh (2022-23) and Donovan Hamilton (2023-24) played with Colin Grable on the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders … Hoyt Stanley (2022-23), Reegan Hiscock (2022-24) and Chase Pirtle (2023-24) were all teammates with Tim Busconi on the Victoria Grizzlies … Justin Katz and Luke Devlin teamed with Matthew Fusco on the West Kelowna Warriors (2022-23) … Parker Murray (2023-24) and Connor Arseneault (2024-25) played on the Chilliwack Chiefs with Nathan Morin … Nicholas Wolfenberg was teammates with Tucker McRae and Jack Silverberg on the Okotoks Oilers (2021-22, 2023-24) … Murray and Jason Stefanek spent the 2022-23 season on the Wenatchee Wild … Nick DeSantis was teammates with MacDonald on the Sioux Falls Stampede (2019-20) … Cornell head coach Casey Jones '90 coached Dartmouth’s Emmett Croteau at Clarkson (2023-24) … Both Croteau (2022, sixth round) and Alexis Cournoyer (2025, fifth round) were both drafted by the Montréal Canadiens.

#17 MEN'S HOCKEY'S LATE PUSH FALLS SHORT IN LOSS AT DARTMOUTH

BOX SCORE | RECAP | HIGHLIGHTS

HANOVER, N.H. (NOV. 8, 2025) — Dartmouth sophomore forward Hayden Stavroff extended his goal streak to four games and junior defenseman Matt Fusco tallied the eventual game-winning goal as Dartmouth defeated Cornell 2-1 on Saturday night at Thompson Arena. The Big Green killed a 6-on-4 power play in the final 34.5 seconds to hand Cornell its first ECAC Hockey loss of the season.

Cornell (2-2-0, 1-1-0 ECAC Hockey) mostly controlled play in the third period with a 26-11 edge in shot attempts, but managed just an 11-9 advantage in shots on goal. Big Green junior goaltender Emmett Croteau stopped all 11 shots he faced in the final frame, finishing with 23 saves to preserve the victory for Dartmouth (4-0-0, 2-0-0 ECAC Hockey), which opened with four consecutive wins for a second straight year.

Freshman goaltender Alexis Cournoyer made his third consecutive start for the Big Red, stopping 24 shots in the loss. Freshman forwards Reegan Hiscock and Connor Arseneault each recorded their first collegiate points, with Hiscock netting his first goal.

"It was a hard-fought game," said Casey Jones '90, the Jay R. Bloom '77 Head Coach of Cornell Men's Ice Hockey. "I didn't think we had everybody ready to play at the drop of the puck. We gave up the early power-play goal, but I thought we got a lot of momentum off our penalty kill as the game went on. We hung around and just couldn't get the equalizer."

Stavroff continued his torrid start to the season, netting a power-play goal seven seconds past the halfway point of the opening period to put the Big Green ahead. The sophomore forward extended his goal-scoring streak to four games after taking a pass at the left post from Hank Cleaves, lasering a wrist shot past a sprawling Cournoyer to record his sixth goal of the season and enter a four-way tie for the league lead.

Dartmouth doubled its lead 1:55 into the second period as Fusco scored while Cornell had a delayed penalty coming. Cornell challenged for a potential missed offside call, but the officials kept the call on the ice.

Cornell cut the Big Green's lead in half past the halfway point of the period as Hiscock netted his first collegiate goal 11 seconds after the expiration of his interference penalty. Arseneault also notched his first collegiate point, initiating the scoring chance off a breakout from the Big Red's defensive zone after knocking down a loose puck at the top of the slot.

Despite allowing a power-play goal in the first period, Cornell killed off all three Dartmouth power plays in the second period, holding the Big Green to four shots across the trio of man advantages.

"We made a mistake on the rotation [on the first penalty kill]," Jones said. "We're bringing guys along on the penalty kill, and we're going to have some of those early here. But I did think our penalty kill gained momentum for us as the game went on after that one."

Cornell had a chance to tie the game after pulling its goaltender and drawing a penalty with 34.5 seconds left, creating a 6-on-4 opportunity. The Big Red were unable to pot the game-tying goal despite two saves by Croteau on the doorstep of the crease following a win on the ensuing faceoff.

Special teams proved to be the difference in the contest, with Dartmouth converting on 1-of-4 power plays while Cornell went 0-for-4.

"The two games we've lost this year, we've lost the special teams battle," Jones said. "That's pure and simple. We got to flip that because we're not giving up a lot of goals 5-on-5. If we take care of special teams as we grow here in the season, it'll be critical for us."

SCOUTING HARVARD

• Harvard (10-7-1, 8-4-0 ECAC Hockey) will conclude a six-game, 12-day stretch Saturday at Cornell. The Crimson enter on a three-game win streak after sweeping last weekend’s series against Clarkson (2-1) and St. Lawrence (2-1) before shutting out Union, 4-0, on Monday.

• Harvard boasts the nation’s top penalty kill, yielding just three power-play goals in 40 chances (93.0 percent) and enters this weekend with 12 consecutive successful penalty kills, having been successful on 17 of its last 18 penalties dating back to Dec. 5.

• Mick Thompson (5-15—20) is Harvard’s lone player averaging a point per game, leading the Crimson in assists and points. Casey Severo (8-4—12) leads the team in goals. Ben Charette (10-7-1, 2.75, .908) has started all 18 games in goal.

116 YEARS, 328 MILES, 169 MEETINGS

• Saturday will mark the 170th meeting between the Ivy League rivals. Cornell leads the all-time series, 84-71-14, and is unbeaten in the last six games (5-0-1).

• A win or tie would give Cornell its longest unbeaten streak over Harvard since going 9-0-1 from Nov. 11, 1995, to Nov. 13, 1998 — the first 10 games of the rivalry under Cornell Athletics Hall of Fame head coach Mike Schafer ‘86.

• The Big Red have won its last three against Harvard at Lynah Rink. A win Saturday would mark Cornell’s first four-game home win streak over the Crimson since Nov. 21, 2008, to March 13, 2010.

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 U18s), Ryan Fine and Salvatore Guzzo (U.S. NTDP U17s) in 2021-22 and Ryan Healey at the 2021 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. Parker Murray and David Hejduk were Wenatchee Wild teammates (2021-23), while Murray (2023-24) and Caton Ryan (2024-25) also played 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 were Madison Capitols teammates (2021-22). Aiden Long played with Ben Charette (2022-23 Whitecourt) and James Mackey (2023-24 Capitols). Last season, Arseneault and Drake Murray (Sioux City) and Donovan Hamilton and Mackey (Cedar Rapids) were teammates. Ryan Walsh (2023, 6th) and Mason Langenbrunner (2020, 5th) are both Boston Bruins draft picks.

DIGIULIAN EXTENDS STREAK, CASTAGNA SCORES TWICE AS #17 MEN'S HOCKEY TOPS HARVARD

BOX SCORE | RECAP | HIGHLIGHTS

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (NOV. 7, 2025) — Freshman forward Gio DiGiulian scored for the third consecutive game and junior forward Jonathan Castagna scored twice, including a late short-handed breakaway goal, to lead the No. 17-ranked Cornell men's hockey team to a 3-1 victory over Harvard in the ECAC Hockey opener for both teams Friday night at the Bright-Landry Hockey Center.

Freshman goaltender Alexis Cournoyer carried his impressive performance from last Saturday into a 30-save outing to improve to 2-0-0 on the year for Cornell (2-1-0, 1-0-0 ECAC Hockey).

"I thought it was a great hockey game, up and down the ice," said Casey Jones '90, the Jay R. Bloom '77 Head Coach of Cornell Men's Ice Hockey. "I thought we came to play and set the tone early. Our penalty kill took a huge step forward, and [Alexis] was good in net. A lot of positives, but it's still early in the season — it wasn't as clean a game as we could play, so there's a lot of opportunity for us to grow."

Freshman forward Aidan Lane opened the scoring for Harvard (1-1-1, 0-1-0 ECAC Hockey) after the Crimson forced a giveaway in the neutral zone. The takeaway resulted in Harvard's all-freshman line of Richard Gallant, Heikki Ruohonen, and Lane playing tic-tac-toe, causing Cournoyer to bite too early and allowing Lane to open the scoring seven-plus minutes into the contest.

Cournoyer settled into a groove after allowing the game's first goal, stopping all 17 shots he faced in the second period and the final 29 shots he saw overall.

"I think that's been the most impressive thing about him — he's got composure," Jones said. "There's just a calmness to him. He's showing that now in two back-to-back road games where we feel confident. The guys on the bench can sense the confidence in him. It's nice to see as a freshman, that's for sure."

After Harvard registered the first eight shot attempts of the second period, five of which were on goal in the opening 3:23, Castagna netted his first goal of the night, converting a give-and-go with junior defenseman Hoyt Stanley. Sophomore forward Charlie Major also factored on the tally.

DiGiulian gave Cornell its first lead of the night 1:21 into the third period, depositing a loose rebound of a shot taken by his classmate Caton Ryan. Sophomore defenseman Luke Ashton initiated the scoring chance for the Big Red after poking the puck off Lane's stick.

With under three minutes remaining in regulation, freshman forward Aiden Long blocked a shot, leading to Castagna's short-handed breakaway chance. The junior forward beat Harvard goaltender Ben Charette to his blocker side to ice the game.

THIRD-PERIOD SURGE LIFTS #7 QUINNIPIAC PAST #13 MEN'S HOCKEY

BOX SCORE | RECAP | HIGHLIGHTS

ITHACA, N.Y. (JAN. 17, 2026) — A three-goal third period powered seventh-ranked Quinnipiac to a 4-1 victory over 13th-ranked Cornell on Saturday night, snapping the Big Red's six-game winning streak before 3,643 at Lynah Rink.

Junior forward Luke Devlin scored the lone goal for the Big Red (12-5-0, 7-3-0 ECAC Hockey) in the setback, which marked Cornell's first home loss since falling 3-1 to No. 19 Clarkson on Feb. 21, 2025. Freshman goaltender Alexis Cournoyer made 23 saves in the losing effort.

"They might be the best team we've seen so far this year," Casey Jones '90, the Jay R. Bloom '77 Head Coach of Cornell Men's Ice Hockey, said. "They were consistent in the way they played. What we saw on tape, we expected to see, and they brought it."

Quinnipiac's Aaron Schwartz paced the Bobcats' offense with two assists, becoming just the eighth Cornell opponent to register a multi-point game against the Big Red this season. Andon Cerbone opened the scoring and was joined on the scoresheet by Ethan Wyttenbach, who tallied the game-winning goal, as well as Elliott Groenewold and Tyler Borgula. Matej Marinov stopped 20 of 21 shots in the victory for the Bobcats (18-4-2, 10-2-0), who have won 13 of their last 14 games.

After a sluggish offensive start that featured a combined five shots on goal in the opening 10 minutes, Quinnipiac broke through at 11:12 of the first period. Following an offensive-zone faceoff win by Chris Pelosi, Aaron Schwartz fired a shot from the left circle that Cerbone deflected in front of Cournoyer.

The Bobcats outshot Cornell 9-6 in the opening frame and killed off a Cornell power play late in the period to carry their 1-0 lead into the first intermission.

Neither team found the back of the net in a tightly contested second period, though Cornell held a slight 9-6 edge in shots on goal. The Big Red generated several quality chances but couldn't solve Marinov, while Cournoyer kept the deficit at one with several key saves for Cornell.

"It was a one-goal game going into the third period," Jones said. "The chances probably through that point in time were probably, give or take a little bit maybe. They might have had the benefit in the first. We might have had the benefit in the second. It was one of those games where it was right there for the taking."

The Bobcats wasted little time extending their lead in the final frame. Just 2:20 into the third period, Wyttenbach finished off a Mason Marcellus feed to make it 2-0, with the goal standing as the game-winner.

Two minutes later, Groenewold scored on a failed clearing attempt to push the lead to 3-0. Borgula capped Quinnipiac's offensive explosion with a power-play goal at 11:06 of the third period, beating Cournoyer short-side.

"I thought we looked a little bit young and made some mistakes in the third period," Jones said. "We didn't hold our composure and didn't play the game the right way. I thought our unforced turnovers were a big difference in the game. I thought we turned a lot of pucks over tonight that we haven't done."

Devlin spoiled the shutout bid with 2:33 remaining in regulation when he pounced on a loose puck after Michael Fisher took a shot from along the goal line.

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 begins a stretch of seven road games in its next eight contests next weekend when it travels to face ECAC Hockey and Ivy League rivals Yale (7-11-0, 6-6-0) and Brown (4-15-0, 3-9-0). Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday at Ingalls Rink against Yale and 5 p.m. Saturday at Meehan Auditorium against Brown. Both games will be streamed live on ESPN+.

• The Big Red swept both teams at Lynah Rink earlier this season, defeating Brown 4-1 on Nov. 14 and Yale 5-2 on Nov. 15.