#9 Men's Hockey Renews Rivalry With Harvard in ECAC Hockey Quarterfinals

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

PUCK DROP

• For the second time in three years, the ninth-ranked and third-seeded Cornell men’s hockey team (20-8-1) begins its pursuit for a third consecutive Whitelaw Cup title this weekend when it welcomes sixth-seeded Harvard (15-14-2) to Lynah Rink for a best-of-three quarterfinal series in the 2026 ECAC Hockey Championship.

• All games on the weekend will be streamed live on ESPN+ with Jason Weinstein (play-by-play) and Tony Eisenhut ‘88 (analysis) on the call. Puck drop for Friday and Saturday are scheduled for 7 p.m., with Sunday’s game, if necessary, scheduled for 4 p.m.

BACK TO SCHEDULED PROGRAMMING

• Cornell, which secured one of the four opening-round byes for the 2026 ECAC Hockey Championship on Feb. 20 after defeating then-No. 5 Quinnipiac, 6-1, in Hamden, Conn., has earned one of the coveted opening-round byes in eight of the last nine tournaments, dating back to 2017. Since the 2005-06 season, the first under ECAC Hockey’s current alignment, Cornell has a league-leading 15 opening-round byes, three more than the second-place holder, Quinnipiac (12).

• Having already repeated as Whitelaw Cup champions, Cornell is vying to become ECAC Hockey’s first program to ever win the Whitelaw Cup in three consecutive seasons multiple times. After winning four straight tournament titles between 1967 and 1970, Boston University (1974-77) and Union (2012-14) are the others to have accomplished the feat.

• The Big Red, which have won its last nine games in the ECAC Hockey Championship, are tied for having the conference’s fourth-longest win streak in history and is the program’s second-longest in conference postseason play, trailing its
13-game win streak between 1967 and 1971.

SURGING AT THE RIGHT TIME?

• Since its 7-2 victory at St. Lawrence on Dec. 6, Cornell is one of five programs nationally to rank in the top 10 in win percentage, scoring offense and scoring defense over that span, joining Providence, Western Michigan, North Dakota and Quinnipiac.

• The Big Red’s .763 win percentage (14-4-1) is tied with Quinnipiac for fifth nationally, while its 3.68 goals per game ranks ninth and its 2.053 goals allowed per game ranks fourth, behind UMass (1.444), Providence (1.947) and Western Michigan (1.952).

• Cornell has also been dominant at the faceoff dot over that stretch, winning 54.9 percent of its draws — third in Division I behind Quinnipiac (56.7 percent) and Robert Morris (55.2 percent) — while its 34.26 faceoff wins per game rank fifth, behind Niagara (35.64), Quinnipiac (35.16), Michigan State (34.74) and Robert Morris (34.27).

• Rounding out the Big Red’s top-10 marks since Dec. 6, Cornell’s plus-1.63 scoring margin ranks sixth — trailing Quinnipiac (plus-2.53), Providence (plus-1.84), Western Michigan and North Dakota (both plus-1.81) and Michigan State (plus-1.79) — and its 12.1 shooting percentage ranks seventh, one of nine programs above 12.0 percent over that span.

RYAN ON ALL CYLINDERS

• Freshman forward Caton Ryan (11-16—27) has the most points by a Cornell freshman since Riley Nash (12-20—32) in 2008-09, making him just the eighth first-year player in the last 40 years (since 1986-87) to reach 27 points in his freshman season.

• Since the start of his season-long six-game point streak on Dec. 6, Ryan has tallied the sixth-most points among Division I freshmen (8-13—21) and is one of eight players overall with 20-plus points over that span.

• Since freshmen became eligible to play on the Big Red’s varsity team with the 1975-76 season, Ryan is the 15th Cornell freshman to register at least 27 points. Three points in this weekend’s series would make him just the fifth freshman in the last 40 years to reach the 30-point plateau, joining Trent Andison (21-17—38) and Doug Derraugh (11-21—32) in 1987-88, Kyle Knopp (11-22—33 in 1995-96) and Nash (12-20—32) in 2007-08.

WALSH HIM GET POINTS

• Junior forward Ryan Walsh (8-19—27) has recorded at least 22 points in each of his first three seasons with the Big Red, becoming the 43rd player in program history to reach that mark.

• Over the last 40 years (since 1986-87), Walsh is one of 10 players to post 22-plus points in each of his first three seasons, joining Trent Andison and Doug Derraugh (1987-90), Kyle Knopp (1995-98), Ryan Moynihan (1996-99), Ryan Vesce (2000-03), Matt Moulson (2002-05), Topher Scott (2004-07), Riley Nash (2007-10) and Joel Lowry (2011-14).

• With 37 career goals, Walsh is tied with Nash for fourth on the Big Red’s all-time goals list among players through their first three seasons over the last 40 years. His next goal would tie Colin Greening ‘10 for third, while two goals would give him sole possession of third place, behind only Moulson (53) and Andison (46).

• In addition to Walsh’s 43 career assists, he is one of eight players with at least 35 goals and 35 assists in his first three Cornell seasons since 1986-87, joining Vesce (36-66—102), Nash (37-64—101), Moulson (53-47—100), Andison (46-49—95), Derraugh (36-51—87) and Greening (38-42—80).

JONNY-ON-THE-DOT

• Junior forward Jonathan Castagna leads the nation in faceoff win percentage among players with at least 300 wins, converting on 64.7 percent of his draws (368-of-569) this season.

• Castagna is one of six players with at least 300 wins and a success rate of 60.0 percent or better this season. His 368 faceoff wins rank 13th in Division I, while his 12.69 wins per game rank third, trailing St. Cloud State’s Tyson Gross (13.58) and Michigan State’s Charlie Stramel (13.09).

• Since Jan. 1, 2025, Castagna has won 63.5 percent of the faceoffs he’s taken (575-of-906), one of two active Division I players with a 60.0 percent win rate and 500-plus wins, joined by Colorado College’s Klavs Veinbergs (60.6 percent, 636-of-1050).

• Castagna has won at least 13 faceoffs in 15 games this season, with seven of the 13 outings coming in his last 10 games. He enters this weekend’s series tied with Veinbergs for the fifth-most games with at least 13 faceoff wins this season. Following his 22-for-30 performance at the dot against Princeton on Jan. 16, Castagna is tied with Veinbergs and Bowling Green’s Jaden Grant for the most faceoff wins in a game this season.

• His 59.9 career faceoff percentage (878-of-1466) leads all active players with at least 800 career wins since the start of the 2023-24 season and ranks seventh among the 11 Division I players since 2010 to win at least 800 faceoffs at a 59.0 percent clip or better.

NO ROOKIE MISTAKE

• Freshman goaltender Alexis Cournoyer was named one of 10 semifinalists for the 2026 Mike Richter Award on Feb. 13, as announced by the Hockey Commissioners Association.

• Presented annually since 2014 to the top goaltender in Division I men’s hockey, Cournoyer is the first Big Red goaltender to be named a semifinalist since Ian Shane ‘25 in 2024, joining two-time finalist Matthew Galajda (2018 and 2020).

• Through his first 23 games, Cournoyer has a 16-7-0 record with a 2.01 goals-against average and .917 save percentage. His 16 wins place him among eight Big Red goaltenders in the program’s modern era (since 1957-58) to have at least 16 wins in his first 23 career appearances, joining Ken Dryden ‘69 (22), Brian Cropper ‘71 (20), Dave LeNeveu (19), Brian Hayward ‘82 and Galajda (17 each), Dave Elenbaas ‘72 and Corrie D’Alessio '91 (16 each).

• Other semifinalists include Michigan State’s Trey Augustine, Dartmouth’s Emmett Croteau, UMass’ Michael Hrabal, Michigan’s Jack Ivankovic, Augustana’s Josh Kotai, UConn’s Tyler Muszelik, North Dakota’s Jan Špunar, Minnesota State’s Alex Tracy and Northeastern’s Lawton Zacher. Three finalists will be announced in early March, with the winner revealed at the Men’s Frozen Four in Las Vegas.

(BIG) RED MEANS STOP

• Cornell enters this weekend’s series with the best scoring defense in Division I, allowing just 1.931 goals per game (56 goals in 29 games). The Big Red and Augustana (2.000, 72 goals in 36 games) are the only two programs averaging two or fewer goals allowed per game.

• Cornell’s 56 goals allowed are the fewest in Division I — 11 fewer than second-place Dartmouth (67).

• Defensive excellence is a program hallmark: Cornell has finished in the top 12 nationally in scoring defense in each of the last eight seasons, the longest active streak in Division I, and in 10 of the last 11 seasons overall.

• Since 2016-17, Cornell has allowed 1.980 goals per game, joining Minnesota State (1.898) as the only Division I programs under 2.00 in that span. The Big Red have not allowed 100 goals in a season since 1997-98 — a streak of 26 seasons that is twice as long as any other active run (Minnesota State and Providence, each at 13 seasons).

FAITHFUL TO LYNAH

• Cornell is 30-7-2 (.795) at Lynah Rink since Jan. 1, 2024, the second-best home winning percentage in Division I over that span, trailing only ECAC Hockey rival Quinnipiac (35-7-3, .811). The Big Red are one of three programs with a home mark of .750 or better in that stretch.

• The Big Red are one of 11 Division I programs with at least 30 home wins over that span, joining Denver and North Dakota (36 each), Holy Cross, Maine and Quinnipiac (35 each), Minnesota State (33), Minnesota (32), Western Michigan (31) and Boston College and Michigan (30 each).

• Entering this weekend’s series, Cornell’s 13 home wins this season are its most since 2017-18 (15-2-0) and is the 11th time in program history it has won at least 13 games at home in a season.

• Cornell has won at least nine home games in each of the last 10 seasons, the fifth-longest active streak in Division I, trailing Minnesota (49), Denver (27), North Dakota (24) and Minnesota State (13).

MODEL OF CONSISTENCY

• Cornell’s road sweep of Yale and Brown on Jan. 23-24 extended the Big Red’s streak of 10-win seasons in ECAC Hockey play to nine consecutive seasons, the third-longest such run in program history behind stretches of 19 (1964-83) and 13 seasons (1999-2012).

• The Big Red concluded ECAC Hockey regular-season play with a 15-6-1 record after sweeping St. Lawrence and Clarkson two weekends ago — its most conference victories since also going 15-6-1 in 2022-23. The 15-win mark is the Big Red’s 17th time reaching that plateau in conference play and just the fourth time since 2005-06.

• Cornell’s nine-season streak of at least 10 conference wins is the fourth-longest active such streak in Division I, trailing Minnesota State (14 seasons), Boston University (12) and Western Michigan (10).

• The Big Red’s sustained excellence extends beyond conference play as Cornell’s .692 win percentage (190-75-34) since 2016-17 ranks third in Division I, trailing only Minnesota State (264-94-25, .722) and Denver (258-102-32, .699). Cornell is one of 11 programs with a mark of .600 or better over that span.

FRESH IMPACT

• Cornell’s 12-player freshman class has made an immediate impact this season, combining for 105 of the Big Red’s 265 points (39.6 percent), a rate that ranks sixth nationally and fourth among ECAC Hockey programs, trailing St. Lawrence (44.4 percent), Clarkson (41.9 percent) and Quinnipiac (41.8 percent).

• The Big Red’s freshman class has proved to be prolific goal-scorers, accounting for 43 of the team’s 97 goals (44.3 percent), good for seventh in Division I and fourth in ECAC Hockey, again trailing St. Lawrence (52.9 percent), Quinnipiac (48.1 percent) and Clarkson (47.1 percent).

• Leading the goal-scoring charge is forward Caton Ryan with his 11 goals, followed by fellow forwards Gio DiGiulian and Aiden Long with nine apiece. Cornell  is one of five programs nationally with three freshmen scoring nine or more goals, joined by Lindenwood, Michigan State, Quinnipiac and St. Lawrence.

• The freshman scoring depth extends further as five first-year players have reached five or more goals, with defenseman Xavier Veilleux (six) and forward Reegan Hiscock (five) rounding out the group — tying Arizona State, Clarkson, Michigan, North Dakota and Wisconsin for the highest total in Division I.

• With Ryan (11-16—27), Veilleux (6-18—24) and Long (9-11—20) all reaching the 20-point plateau, Cornell has three freshmen with 20-plus points in the same season for just the second time in program history and second time in three seasons, joining the 2023-24 team, highlighted by production fromn Jonathan Castagna (11-14—25) and Ryan Walsh (12-10—22). It marks the 10th time overall the Big Red have had multiple freshmen reach 20 points in a season.

X GON' GIVE IT TO YA

• Freshman defenseman Xavier Veilleux (6-18—24) enters this weekend’s series with the second-highest point total among freshman defensemen in Division I, one point behind Penn State’s Jackson Smith (11-14—25) for the national lead. Veilleux is one of five first-year blueliners with at least 20 points this season.

• Among active Division I defensemen, Veilleux joins Boston University’s Cole Hutson (8-22—30 last season) and Smith (11-14—25 this season) as the only blueliners to register at least 24 points within their first 29 career games.

• With his second-period goal against St. Lawrence on Feb. 27, Veilleux broke his tie with Chris Norton ‘88 (4-19—23 in 1984-85) and Ben Robertson (5-18—23 in 2023-24) for the most points by a freshman defenseman in program history. Entering this weekend’s series, Veilleux’s six goals are the second-most by a Cornell freshman defenseman all-time, trailing only Joakim Ryan ‘15 (seven) in 2011-12.

THE ‘X’ FACTOR

• Five of freshman defenseman Xavier Veilleux’s six goals this season have come on the power play, pacing the Big Red and tying Long Island’s Nick Bernardo, Colgate’s Isaiah Norlin and Clarkson’s Tate Taylor for the second-most power-play goals by a defenseman in Division I this season, behind only Penn State’s Jackson Smith (seven).

• Having already more than doubled the program record for power-play goals by a freshman defenseman, Veilleux is the 14th blueliner (19th instance) in program history with at least five power-play goals. Another power-play goal would make him the first Cornell defenseman with six in a season since Nick D’Agostino ‘13 in 2011-12, and just the 10th freshman in program history to reach that mark — the first since Michael Regush (six) in 2018-19. The last Big Red player overall with six power-play goals was Dalton Bancroft (seven) in 2023-24.

WHAT CAN BLUE(LINERS) DO FOR YOU?

• Freshman defenseman Xavier Veilleux (6-18—24) and junior blueliner George Fegaras (4-14—18) give Cornell multiple defensemen with at least 18 points in the same season for the 21st time in program history and the third time in the last seven seasons, joining Sam Malinski (8-18—26) and Travis Mitchell (6-13—19) in 2022-23 as the most recent duo to do so.

• With two more points this season, Fegaras would make this the first Cornell team since 2002-03 to have multiple defensemen reach 20-plus points in the same season, when Mark McRae (9-19—28) and Doug Murray (5-20—25) achieved the feat.

• Junior defenseman Hoyt Stanley enters this weekend’s series tied with 21 other blueliners for the most game-winning goals by a defenseman this season with two, most recently netting the game-winner in Cornell’s regular-season finale against Clarkson on Feb. 28. Stanley joins Minnesota’s Luke Mittelstadt and New Hampshire’s Brendan Fitzgerald as the only defensemen this season to have all of their goals come via game-winners.

JONESING FOR VICTORIES

• Casey Jones ‘90, in his first season as Cornell’s head coach, enters this weekend’s series with the second-best win percentage (.707) and tied for the second-most wins (20) through a Big Red head coach’s first 29 games, alongside Brian McCutcheon ‘71 (20-9-0). Only Dick Bertrand ‘70 (24-5-0, .828) had a better win percentage and more wins through that mark.

• A sweep of Harvard this weekend would push Jones to 22-8-1 (.726), joining Bertrand (26) and McCutcheon (22) as the only Cornell head coaches with at least 22 wins in their first 31 games.

• Two wins this weekend would also give Cornell 22 wins on the season for the fourth time since 2017-18 and the 17th time in program history.

LIGHTING THE LAMP (CARNELIAN) RED

• Cornell has averaged at least three goals per game in each of the past seven seasons dating back to the 2017-18 season. The Big Red’s seven-year streak stands as the second-longest active run in Division I hockey, trailing Western Michigan’s nine-season stretch.

• During the same timeframe, Cornell owns the 12th-best scoring offense, averaging 3.22 goals per game, one of 17 Division I programs to average three goals per contest. The Big Red’s average ranks second in ECAC Hockey, trailing Quinnipiac (3.528, fourth).

• Entering this weekend’s series, Cornell has scored at least one goal in each of its last 52 games, the fourth-longest streak in program history and its best stretch since scoring in 76 straight games between Dec. 28, 1995, and Jan. 31, 1998.

• The Big Red’s current goal-scoring streak is the sixth-longest active streak in Division I hockey, trailing Arizona State (125), Ohio State (98), Dartmouth (80), UConn (59) and Michigan (53).

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 (15-14-2, 11-10-1) enters the weekend coming off last weekend’s 4-3 overtime victory against 11th-seeded St. Lawrence in the opening round of the 2026 ECAC Hockey Championship, where Mick Thompson scored the game-winning with 1:40 remaining in the first overtime.

• Thompson (9-18—27), the reigning ECAC Hockey Player of the Week, paces the Crimson’s offense in assists and points and is tied with Casey Severo (9-9—18) for the team lead in goals. Heikki Ruohonen (6-11—17) was named the conference's Rookie of the Week after factoring on two of the Crimson's goals, scoring a short-handed goal in the second period before logging the primary assist on Michael Callow's game-tying goal with under five minutes to play in the third period.

• Sophomore goaltender Ben Charette has started all 31 of the Crimson’s games this season, posting a 15-14-2 record with a 2.72 goals-against average and .910 save percentage. His lone shutout of the season came against Union on Jan. 19.

• The Crimson enter this weekend's series with the nation's third-best penalty kill, yielding just 10 opposing power-play goals in 86 opportunities (88.4 percent). Against ECAC Hockey opposition, Harvard killed 90.2 percent of its penalties (55-of-61), which was the best penalty kill in conference play among all 57 Division I teams with a conference affiliation.

116 YEARS, 328 MILES, 170 MEETINGS

• Cornell and Harvard meet in the ECAC Hockey Championship for the third time in four years, with the Big Red leading the all-time series 85-71-14 and unbeaten in the last seven meetings (6-0-1) — their longest such streak since a 9-0-1 run from Nov. 11, 1995 to Nov. 13, 1998.

• Cornell has also won four straight at Lynah Rink against the Crimson, its longest home winning streak in the rivalry since four consecutive wins between Nov. 21, 2008 and March 13, 2010. A win Friday would serve as the Big Red's longest home win streak over the Crimson since collecting six straight victories between Feb. 11, 1976, and Feb. 28, 1981. It would also be the program's first five-game home unbeaten streak over Harvard since going 6-0-1 from March 10, 2010, to Nov. 5, 2014.

• The Big Red are undefeated at home against Harvard in the ECAC Hockey Championship (9-0-1) and hold a 16-10-1 all-time record against the Crimson in postseason play.

CORNELL - HARVARD CONNECTIONS

• George Fegaras and Xavier Veilleux were teammates on the 2022-23 Muskegon Lumberjacks alongside Michael Callow, Justin Solovey, William Hughes and Matthew Morden, with Veilleux winning last June’s Clark Cup with the Lumberjacks alongside Chase Stefanek ... Charlie Major played on the Chicago Steel from 2022-24 with Mick Thompson, Cameron Johnson (2022-23) and Hudson Gorski (2023-24) ... Parker Murray and David Hejduk were Wenatchee Wild teammates from 2021-23, with Murray (2023-24) and Caton Ryan (2024-25) also playing with Matthew Biotti there ... 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 ... Sean Donaldson spent two seasons with Ryan Healey on the Sioux Falls Stampede (2020-22), which also featured Will McDonough in 2021-22 ... Justin Katz played with Sean Keohane (2023-24) and Luke Devlin with Ben MacDonald (2022-23) on the West Kelowna Warriors ... Devlin teamed with Philip Tresca in Muskegon in 2020-21 and also played alongside Marek Hejduk, Ryan Fine and Salvatore Guzzo in the U.S. NTDP in 2021-22 and with Healey on Team USA at the 2021 Hlinka Gretzky Cup ... Jonathan Castagna and Devlin played with Morden at St. Andrew’s College in 2021-22, while Connor Arseneault and Aidan Lane were teammates there in 2023-24 ... Lane and Castagna both have their NHL rights owned by Calgary ... Arseneault and Drake Murray were Sioux City teammates last season, as were Donovan Hamilton and Mackey in Cedar Rapids ... Michael Fisher (2022, 3rd) and Richard Gallant (2025, 7th) are both San Jose draft picks, while Ryan Walsh (2023, 6th) and Mason Langenbrunner (2020, 5th) were both selected by Boston.

CASTAGNA, LONG LEAD #12 MEN'S HOCKEY TO VICTORY OVER HARVARD

BOX SCORE | RECAP | HIGHLIGHTS | POSTGAME INTERVIEWS | PHOTO GALLERY

ITHACA, N.Y. (JAN. 24, 2026) — Linemates Jonathan Castagna and Aiden Long each had a goal and an assist to lead the 12th-ranked Cornell men's hockey team to a 4-1 victory over Harvard before an over-capacity crowd at Lynah Rink on Saturday night.

Junior forward Jake Kraft and junior defenseman George Fegaras joined Castagna and Long in the goal-scoring column, scoring 26 seconds apart to give the Big Red (14-5-0, 9-3-0 ECAC Hockey) a 2-0 lead following a scoreless first period.

"I talked to our guys, that's close to 120 minutes of our identity, of how we want to play, that we've seen this year," said Casey Jones '90, the Jay R. Bloom '77 Head Coach of Cornell Men's Ice Hockey. "Last Saturday put us in our place. We had a really nice week of practice and they carried it into the weekend. I thought we executed pretty well tonight."

After a relatively even first period, which featured no scoring and Harvard having a slight 21-20 edge in shot attempts with both teams registering nine shots on goal, Cornell had a considerable jump coming out of the dressing room from the first intermission. The Big Red dominated the period, owning advantages in shot attempts, 27-6, and shots on goal, 12-4.

The Big Red's second-period surge was a product of relentless pressure and sustained offensive zone time.

"We sustained so much offense in their zone. That was exciting for me," Jones said. "I thought it was as close to 120 minutes [of our identity] that we've had all year long. In a big weekend, you'd kind of expect that. But just the physicality, our intensity on pucks and in terms of managing the game, it was one of our best weekends."

Picking up where he left off from Friday night's win against Dartmouth, Kraft netted the first goal of the night at 11:27 of the second period before Fegaras added a marker 26 seconds later, pouncing on a loose rebound at the right faceoff circle.

Long capped Cornell's three-goal second period with a tally with 1:05 left in the frame. An indirect clearing attempt out of Harvard's defensive zone was corralled by freshman defenseman Xavier Veilleux in the neutral zone and Long squeezed between a Harvard defender and the boards to gain separation. Once at the bottom of the faceoff circle, he wristed a shot that beat Harvard goaltender Ben Charette to his five-hole.

For Long, a freshman experiencing his first Cornell-Harvard game at Lynah Rink, the goal — his fifth of the season — capped a memorable evening.

"I just kind of saw their D was tired — we'd had them in [the zone] for a while," Long said. "Next [Veilleux] gave me a pass up the wall. I thought I could beat the D and did and I thought I'd try to take it to the net and kind of just put it on net. I saw Jonny [Castagna] go in there and luckily it snuck in."

The atmosphere wasn't lost on the freshman forward.

"Obviously, being a freshman and my first taste of the Harvard rivalry at home, it definitely didn't disappoint," Long said. "The energy in the building was awesome and to come out with the win is huge."

Long, who had never played before a crowd like Saturday's, fed off the Lynah Faithful's energy.

"Obviously, MSG was probably close to that, but I've never been in an environment like that," Long said. "To have the Lynah Faithful behind us is huge and we build off that energy."

Harvard thwarted Cornell freshman goaltender Alexis Cournoyer's bid at his first collegiate shutout early in the third period, beating him to his high blocker side after Lucas St. Louis fanned on a pass from the top of the blue line just two seconds after the expiration of a Big Red penalty. Cournoyer finished the night with 17 saves.

Cornell retook its three-goal lead just 47 seconds later as a battle for the puck in front of Cornell's bench resulted in freshman forward Reegan Hiscock playing the puck to Castagna, setting up a 2-on-1 scoring chance with senior forward Nick DeSantis. Slowly entering the offensive zone, Castagna lasered a shot that beat Charette to his short side to restore the three-goal lead.

Castagna, who has been on fire lately with points in 11 of his last 14 games, savored the moment of scoring against Harvard at Lynah.

"Everyone's dream is to score a goal in the Harvard game, so it's nice to finally get to do that at home," Castagna said. "It was a 2-on-1, so I just tried to stay calm and slow it down a little and take what was given."

Harvard appeared to have scored a goal with an extra attacker with under three minutes left, but Cornell challenged for a potential missed offside call, which the Big Red won.

The Big Red had a pair of chances to score into a Harvard empty net, but both went wide of the goal.

KEOPPLE SHINES IN SENIOR NIGHT STARTS, BACKSTOPS #11 MEN'S HOCKEY PAST CLARKSON

BOX SCORE | RECAP | HIGHLIGHTS | POSTGAME INTERVIEWS

ITHACA, N.Y. (FEB. 28, 2026) — Senior goaltender Remington Keopple made 20 saves, including a crucial blocker save with under a minute to go, to backstop the 11th-ranked Cornell men's hockey team to its 2-1 victory over Clarkson on Senior Night before a sold-out crowd at Lynah Rink on Saturday night.

Freshman forward Caton Ryan broke a scoreless tie with his 11th goal of the season on a second-period power play before junior defenseman Hoyt Stanley's third-period tally proved to be the game-winner, lifting Cornell (20-8-1, 15-6-1 ECAC Hockey) to its 20th win of the season — the program's best regular-season record since 2019-20.

Stanley's goal, however, came at a cost — the defenseman was assessed a five-minute major for hitting from behind and a game misconduct with 4:31 remaining, forcing the Big Red to survive a frantic push by Clarkson (15-16-3, 9-10-3 ECAC Hockey) and setting the stage for Keopple's decisive late stop.

Cornell and Clarkson were held scoreless after the opening 20 minutes of play, largely due to the Big Red blocking nine first-period shots. Six of those nine blocks came while the Golden Knights were on their three power plays.

Junior forwards Jake Kraft – who was playing in his 100th career collegiate game – and Jonathan Castagna and sophomore defenseman Michael Fisher blocked two shots apiece in the period. Fisher and Castagna recorded both of their blocked shots while on the penalty kill.

Fisher appeared to have scored his first goal as a member of the Big Red five-plus minutes into the second period, but Clarkson successfully challenged the play for offsides and the goal was overturned.

The Big Red officially took the lead when Ryan took a drop-pass breakout from junior defenseman George Fegaras on the power play, wristing a shot from the top of the slot as he entered the offensive zone, beating Clarkson's Shane Soderwall to his high glove hand at the 10:04 mark of the second period.

"I just made a bit of an adjustment during the intermission," Ryan said. "I thought I'd throw a sneaky shot and was fortunate enough to go in."

Cornell doubled its lead early in the third period as Stanley saw an opening on the left side of the ice following an offensive-zone faceoff win by junior forward Ryan Walsh, and Stanley's shot on the edge of the goal crease trickled past Soderwall.

Tristan Sarsland initiated Clarkson's lone goal of the night by dropping the puck back to Talon Sigurdson in the defensive zone, then sprinted up ice to receive a stretch pass at the blue line, splitting a pair of Big Red defenders before beating Keopple on a quick breakaway just past the midway point of the third period.

Cornell was tested late in the contest as Stanley was assessed a five-minute major for hitting from behind and a game misconduct with 4:31 remaining in regulation.

"You can't put yourself in front of the team," said Casey Jones '90, the Jay R. Bloom '77 Head Coach of Cornell Men's Hockey. "Our penalty kill was huge at the end to get that done."

The Golden Knights threw three shots on goal against Keopple during their 3:52 of power-play time in the final five minutes, which included his crucial blocker save on a deflected shot from the point by Matthew Mayich with under a minute to go.

"It was a shot on the ice and I heard it hit a stick," Keopple said. "I don't know if I caught it in the corner of my eye, but it's just reflexes — I stuck my blocker out and got it somehow. I think that was a little bit of luck."

Clarkson's power play would end prematurely as Sarsland was called for interference with 39.8 seconds to go after he brought Castagna down to the ice, ultimately preventing what could have ended as a short-handed empty-net goal.

During the remaining 39.8 seconds, which included Clarkson playing with an extra attacker for the final 32 seconds, the Big Red allowed two shot attempts – one that was saved by Keopple and another that was blocked by sophomore defenseman Luke Ashton.

"Good teams always find a way," Ryan said. "I think that was one of those games. Great job done tonight."

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.

• With a series win in this weekend's best-of-three quarterfinal, Cornell will make its fourth consecutive trip to Lake Placid, N.Y., to participate in championship weekend of the ECAC Hockey Championship.

• The two semifinal contests are scheduled for 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. puck drops on Friday, March 20, with the championship game slated for a 5 p.m. start on Saturday, March 21. All three games from the 1980 Rink — Herb Brooks Arena will be live streamed on ESPN+.