#9 Men's Hockey Set to Face #4 Denver in Loveland Regional Semifinal

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

PUCK DROP

• For the third time in the last four seasons, the third-seeded and ninth-ranked Cornell men’s hockey team (22-10-1) will face second-seeded and fourth-ranked Denver (25-11-3) in the NCAA Division I Men’s Hockey Championship. The Big Red and Pioneers meet in the second semifinal of the Loveland Regional this evening at 6 p.m. ET (4 p.m. MT) at Blue Arena in Loveland, Colo.

• The game will be streamed live on ESPN+ with John Buccigross (play-by-play) and Colby Cohen (analyst) having the call, and Quint Kessenich reporting from ice level.

ROAD TO LAS VEGAS

• Cornell is participating in its 26th NCAA Division I Men’s Hockey Championship this weekend. The appearance marks Cornell’s fourth straight trip to the NCAA Tournament, the second such stretch in program history, joining the Big Red’s four-year run from 1967 to 1970 — which includes both of its national championships in 1967 and 1970.

• The Big Red’s 26 NCAA Tournament appearances are the 10th-most by any Division I program and is the second-most by the 12 members of ECAC Hockey, trailing fellow Ivy League program and bitter rival Harvard (27).

• Joining the Big Red in the Loveland Regional this weekend is the site host Denver (34th appearance), along with the fourth-overall seed Western Michigan and Minnesota State, both of whom are playing in the Division I NCAA Tournament for the 11th time in program history.

BIG RED, BIGGER STAGE

• Last season, Cornell upset top-seeded and top-ranked Michigan State, 4-3, in the Toledo Regional semifinal behind Sullivan Mack’s go-ahead power-play goal with 10 seconds remaining in regulation, before falling 3-2 in overtime to eventual national runner-up Boston University in the regional final.

• The win over Michigan State extended Cornell’s streak to three consecutive NCAA Tournaments with at least one victory, having previously defeated Denver in Manchester, N.H. (2023), and Maine in Springfield, Mass. (2024).

• With a win over Denver this evening, the Big Red would become the first program to record at least one win in four consecutive NCAA Tournaments since Minnesota (2021-24) — just the 10th time this century a program has accomplished the feat — and just the sixth Division I program in history to accomplish it multiple times, joining Minnesota, which did it four times (1985-91; 1993-97; 2002-05; 2021-24), Michigan (1948-57, 1995-2005), North Dakota (2004-08, 2011-16), Boston College (1998-2001,
2003-08), and Maine (1988-91, 1999-2002).

JONESING FOR VICTORIES

• Former Cornell captain Casey Jones ‘90 has led the Big Red to the NCAA Tournament in his first season at the helm — making him just the second Cornell head coach in program history to do so, joining his predecessor, Cornell Athletics Hallf of Famer Mike Schafer ‘86, who retired after last season following a 30-year tenure (1995-2025).

• Jones enters tonight’s game owning the fourth-best win percentage (.682) and third-most wins (22) through a Big Red head coach’s first 33 games. In win percentage, Jones trails Dick Bertrand ‘70 (28-5-0, .848), Brian McCutcheon ‘71 — the coach whom he played for at Cornell — (23-10-0, .697), and Schafer (21-8-4, .697). Bertrand and McCutcheon are those with more victories.

• A win over Denver would push Jones’ record to 23-10-1 (.712), joining Bertrand (29), McCutcheon (24) and Schafer (21) as the lone Cornell head coaches with at least 21 wins within their first 34 games.

• Jones is serving as a head coach in the NCAA Tournament for the third time in his career, having previously led ECAC Hockey rival Clarkson to the tournament in 2018 and 2019. He is one of two first-year head coaches in this year’s field, along with North Dakota’s Dane Jackson, and one of six coaches directing their alma mater, joining Jackson, Denver’s David Carle, Western Michigan’s Pat Ferschweiler, Michigan’s Brandon Naurato and Michigan State’s Adam Nightingale.

IT'S A MAJOR AWARD!

• Junior forward Jonathan Castagna was named ECAC Hockey’s Best Defensive Forward last Thursday evening at the conference’s annual awards ceremony in Lake Placid, N.Y. at the Olympic Center.

• Castagna became the eighth different Cornell player to receive the award since it was first presented in 1993 and the first since Jake Weidner in 2017.

• Cournoyer also received his trophy for being named the 2026 recipient of the Ken Dryden Goaltender of the Year award back on March 12, presented annually to the top goaltender in ECAC Hockey. An All-ECAC Hockey First Team selection alongside Castagna, Cournoyer is the seventh Big Red netminder to win the award since it was first presented in 1996, joining Matt Underhill (2002), David LeNeveu (2003), David McKee (2005), Ben Scrivens (2010), Galajda (2018) and Ian Shane (2024).

• By being named an All-ECAC Hockey First Team selection, Cournoyer is the fourth true-freshman netminder to earn first-team honors and the first since Galajda in 2018. Clarkson’s Don Sylvestri (1981) and Vermont’s Christian Soucy (1992) are the only others to accomplish the feat.

CLEAR THE TROPHY CASE!

• Freshman defenseman Xavier Veilleux and freshman goaltender Alexis Cournoyer were unanimously named to the ECAC Hockey All-Rookie Team on March 9 — the sixth time in program history and third time in the last 18 years Cornell has had multiple All-Rookie honorees, accompanying  Riley Nash and Mike Devin in 2008 and Jonathan Castagna and Ben Robertson in 2024.

• Veilleux was named to the All-ECAC Hockey Second Team on March 11, becoming just the third Cornell freshman to earn a spot on one of ECAC Hockey’s three main all-league teams, joining goaltender Matthew Galajda (first team in 2018) and Robertson (third team in 2023).

• With Castagna and Cournoyer being named to the All-ECAC Hockey First Team on March 12, it is Cornell’s second time in three seasons with multiple First Team honorees — joining Gabriel Seger and Shane in 2023-24 — and the third time in the last 20 seasons, also done in 2010 with Brendon Nash and Scrivens.

• In the Ivy League awards, also released March 11, Cournoyer earned Rookie of the Year honors and was a unanimous All-Ivy First Team selection. Joining him as unanimous First Team honorees were both Castagna and Veilleux. Junior forward Ryan Walsh and junior defenseman George Fegaras each earned honorable mention recognition.

SURGING AT THE RIGHT TIME?

• Since its 7-2 victory at St. Lawrence on Dec. 6, Cornell is one of four programs nationally to rank in the top 10 in win percentage, scoring offense and scoring defense, accompanying Providence, North Dakota and Western Michigan, the top-seeded team in the Loveland Regional.

• The Big Red’s .717 win percentage (16-6-1) ranks eighth nationally, while its 3.57 goals per game ranks ninth. Cornell’s 2.04 goals allowed per game is fourth, trailing only UMass (1.45), Western Michigan (1.95) and Providence (2.00).

• Cornell’s 16 wins are tied with Merrimack (16-6-2), North Dakota (16-5-1), Providence (16-2-0) and Sacred Heart (16-8-1) for the second-most victories in Division I hockey since Dec. 6. Only Western Michigan (17-4-1) has more.

• The Big Red have been equally dominant at the faceoff dot, winning 54.6 percent of its draws — seventh in Division I — while its 34.17 faceoff wins per game rank fourth, behind Niagara (35.64), Quinnipiac (35.24) and Michigan State (34.80).

• Rounding out the Big Red’s top-10 marks since Dec. 6 are its scoring margin (plus-1.52) and shooting percentage (11.9 percent), ranking sixth and eighth nationally, respectively. Cornell’s power play, converting at a 24.6 percent clip (17-for-69), is just outside the top 10, ranking 11th.

FRESHMAN PHENOMS

• Cornell is one of four Division I programs with multiple freshmen registering at least 20 points since Dec. 6, joining Quinnipiac’s Ethan Wyttenbach (15-18—33) and Antonin Verreault (11-15—26), Merrimack’s Parker Lalonde (8-20—28) and Justin Gill (11-12—23) and St. Thomas’ Lucas Van Vliet (8-12—20) and Nathan Pilling (10-10—20).

• Leading the way for Cornell is forward Caton Ryan, who ranks sixth among all Division I freshmen in scoring over that span (8-16—24), and defenseman Xavier Veilleux (4-17—21), who leads all freshman defensemen by four points and ranks ninth overall.

• Ryan, who has 30 points entering tonight’s contest (11-19—30), is one of 12 freshman in program history to reach the 30-point milestone and just the second Big Red player this century to accomplish the feat, joining Riley Nash (12-20—32 in 2008-09).

WALSH HIM GET POINTS

• Junior captain Ryan Walsh (10-23—33) has recorded consecutive 31-point seasons, the 10th time a Cornell player has accomplished the feat since Joe Nieuwendyk did it three times between 1984 and 1987, and the first time since Morgan Barron across 2018-20.

• Walsh is one of 10 players over the last 40 years to post at least 22 points in each of his first three seasons with the Big Red, 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 his second-period power-play goal last Friday against Princeton, Walsh jumped ahead of Colin Greening ‘10 for the third-most goals scored by a Big Red player through his first three seasons with the program. Only Moulson (53) and Andison (46) have more goals.

• Walsh’s 47 career assists are part of what makes him one of eight players with at least 35 goals and 35 assists through 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).

• Having posted multi-point games in each of his last three games, Walsh could become the second Cornell player this year to record a four-game multi-point streak, joining fellow junior forward Jonathan Castagna. The last time Cornell had multiple players with four-game multi-point streaks was 2022, done by forward Ben Berard ‘23 and defenseman Sam Malinski ‘23.

JONNY-ON-THE-DOT

• Junior forward Jonathan Castagna leads the nation in faceoff win percentage among players with at least 300 wins, converting 65.5 percent of his draws (431-of-658) this season. He is one of five players with at least 300 wins and a success rate of 60.0 percent or better, and his 13.06 wins per game trail only St. Cloud State’s Tyson Gross (13.58) and Michigan State’s Charlie Stramel (13.17) in Division I.

• Since Jan. 1, 2025, Castagna has won 64.1 percent of his faceoffs (638-of-995), making him 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 reached double-digit faceoff wins in 28 of his 33 games this season. He is the only player in Division I with multiple 22-win performances and one of four with multiple 20-win games, joined by Gross, Stramel and Veinbergs.

• He posted a career-high 23 faceoff wins in the Big Red’s series-clinching win over Harvard on March 15. His 23-for-29 performance was the most faceoff wins in a game ending in regulation since Dartmouth’s Luke Haymes (25-for-28) against St. Lawrence on March 8, 2025.

• Castagna’s 60.5 career faceoff percentage (941-of-1555) leads all active players with at least 900 career wins since the start of the 2023-24 season. He is one of six Division I players since 2010 to win at least 800 faceoffs at a 60.0 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 — one of three freshmen on the list, joining Michigan’s Jack Ivankovic and North Dakota’s Jan Špunar. He is the first Big Red goaltender to earn the distinction since Ian Shane in 2024 and joins two-time finalist Matthew Galajda (2018, 2020) as the only Cornell netminders to appear on the list.

• Cournoyer’s 1.98 goals-against average leads all freshman goaltenders with at least 1,000 minutes played this season, and he is one of just two freshmen to post a sub-2.00 goals-against average in 1,000-plus minutes, joined by Providence’s Jack Parsons (1.99). His 18 wins are tied for third among freshman goaltenders, trailing Ivankovic (23) and Boston College’s Louka Cloutier (19).

• Through his first 27 career games Cournoyer carries an 18-9-0 overall record with a 1.98 GAA and .917 save percentage into the NCAA Tournament. His 18 wins place him among nine Cornell goaltenders in the program’s modern era (since 1957-58) to reach that mark within his first 27 career appearances, joining Ken Dryden ‘69 (26 wins), Brian Cropper ‘71 (24), Dave LeNeveu (23), Galajda (21), Dave Elenbaas ‘72 (20), Corrie D’Alessio ‘91 (19) and Steve Kelleher ‘75 and Brian Hayward ‘82 (18 each).

• Michigan State’s Trey Augustine, UMass’ Michael Hrabal and Augustana’s Josh Kotai were named finalists, with the winner to be announced 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 1.939 goals per game (64 goals in 33 games). Along with the Big Red, Augustana (2.000, 74 goals in 37 games) and Minnesota State (2.000, 78 goals in 39 games) are the other programs averaging two or fewer goals allowed per game.

• Cornell’s 64 goals allowed are the fewest in Division I — six fewer than second-place Dartmouth (70) and one of four programs that have allowed under 75 goals, also joined by Augustana and Michigan State (74 each).

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

• Since 2016-17, Cornell has allowed 1.980 goals per game, joining Minnesota State (1.896) 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).

POWER (PLAY) SURGE

• Cornell’s power play enters this weekend’s series ranked 13th nationally, converting at a 24.0 percent clip (24-for-100) that leads all ECAC Hockey programs by nearly one full percentage point (Union — 23.3 percent, 15th).

• The Big Red have scored eight more power-play goals (24) than last season’s total (16) in nine fewer attempts, improving from its 14.7 percent rate from last season (16-for-109).

• Six Big Red players have multiple power-play goals this season, led by junior forward Ryan Walsh’s six. Freshman defenseman Xavier Veilleux has five, freshman forward Caton Ryan and sophomore forward Charlie Major have three each, while junior forward Jonathan Castagna and freshman forward Gio DiGiulian have added two apiece. It marks the fourth time in the last seven seasons Cornell has had six or more players with multiple power-play goals.

• Veilleux and Walsh are the first pair of Big Red teammates to have at least five power-play goals in the same season since Max Andreev ‘23, Dalton Bancroft and Gabriel Seger ‘24 all had five goals while on the man advantage in 2022-23.

FRESH IMPACT

• Cornell’s 12-player freshman class — the largest of any program in this year’s NCAA Tournament field — has combined for 111 of the Big Red’s 300 points (37.0 percent) and 44 of its 109 goals (40.4 percent) this season.

• Five freshmen have scored six or more goals, tying Clarkson for the most in Division I. Leading the way is forward Caton Ryan (11), followed by forwards Gio DiGiulian and Aiden Long (nine each) and defenseman Xavier Veilleux and forward Reegan Hiscock (six each). Cornell is one of five programs nationally with three freshmen scoring nine or more goals, joined by Lindenwood, Michigan State, Quinnipiac and St. Lawrence.

• With DiGiulian and Long are both one goal away from reaching a double digits, Cornell is on the doorstep of having two freshmen score 10-plus goals in the same season for the seventh time in program history and second time in three seasons, joining the 2023-24 team when now-juniors Ryan Walsh (12) and Jonathan Castagna (11) accomplished the feat. Should both reach the mark, it would be the first time in program history the Big Red have had three freshmen score 10-plus goals in the same season.

• Behind Ryan (11-19—30), Veilleux (6-20—26) 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 when forwards Jonathan Castagna (11-14—25) and Ryan Walsh (12-10—22) and defenseman Ben Robertson (5-18—23) accomplished the feat. The Big Red are one of seven teams nationally with at least three freshmen reaching 20 points this season, joining North Dakota (four) and Lindenwood, Miami, Michigan State, Northeastern and Quinnipiac (three apiece).

X GON' GIVE IT TO YA

• Freshman defenseman Xavier Veilleux (6-20—26) enters tonight tied with Penn State’s Jackson Smith (11-15—26) for the highest point total among freshman defensemen in Division I this season. Veilleux is one of five first-year blueliners with at least 20 points this season, also accompanying Union’s Étienne Lessard (5-19—20), Wisconsin’s Luke Osburn (5-15—20) and North Dakota’s Keaton Verhoeff (6-14—20).

• Among active Division I defensemen, Veilleux joins Boston University’s Cole Hutson (12-27—39 last season) and Penn State’s Mac Gadowsky (4-22—26 from 2023-25 with Army) as the lone blueliners to register at least 26 points within their first 33 career games.

• Following his two assists against Harvard in the ECAC Hockey quarterfinals, Veilleux set the single-season record for assists by a freshman defenseman (20), besting the previous mark of 19, set by Chris Norton ‘88 (4-19—23) in 1984-85.

• With his second-period goal against St. Lawrence on Feb. 27, he officially broke his tie with Norton (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 tonight’s contest, 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 matching outputs from Long Island’s Nick Bernardo, Denver’s Boston Buckberger and Eric Pohlkamp, Colgate’s Isaiah Norlin and Clarkson’s Tate Taylor for the second-most power-play goals by a defenseman in Division I this season, trailing 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. He would also be just the 10th freshman in program history to reach that mark and the first since Michael Regush (six) in 2018-19. The last Big Red player with six power-play goals was Dalton Bancroft (seven) in 2023-24.

WHAT CAN BLUE(LINERS) DO FOR YOU?

• After a two-point weekend against Harvard in the ECAC Hockey quarterfinals, junior blueliner George Fegaras (5-16—21) joined freshman defenseman Xavier Veilleux (6-20—26) in posting a 20-point season. It is the 12th time in program history that multiple Cornell defensemen have had at least 20 points in the same season, and the first since Mark McRae (9-19—28) and Doug Murray (5-20—25) in 2002-03.

• The Big Red are one of nine Division I programs with multiple defensemen with 20-plus points this season. North Dakota leads the way with three such players, and Air Force, Augustana, Boston University, Colgate, Denver, Union, and Wisconsin right behind with two apiece.

• Both Veilleux and Fegaras have been on offensive surges in the new year, as Veilleux’s 19 points since Jan. 1 rank second behind Sacred Heart’s Mikey Adamson (1-20—21) for the nation’s lead, while Fegaras’ 16 points (5-11—16) is tied for eighth over that span. Cornell is one of three programs (Quinnipiac and Sacred Heart) with multiple defensemen with at least 15 points since Jan. 1.

• Fegaras alone is averaging a point per game over his last eight contests (2-6—8), recording at least one point in seven of his last eight outings. He is one of seven players with at least eight points since Feb. 20, and is in a four-way tie with Dartmouth’s Tim Busconi (1-7—8) and CJ Foley (0-8—8) and Minnesota State’s Evan Murr (4-4—8) for the fourth-most points by a Division I defenseman over that span. Ahead of the quartet is Adamson, Maine’s Brandon Holt (1-8—9) and Bentley’s David Helledy (2-7—9).

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 and is only one of five programs to average three or more goals per game in each of the last five seasons, joined by North Dakota (six) and Michigan and Quinnipiac (five each).

• During the same timeframe, Cornell owns the 12th-best scoring offense, averaging 3.22 goals per game, one of 18 Division I programs to average three goals per contest. The Big Red’s average ranks second in ECAC Hockey, trailing Quinnipiac (3.516, fifth).

• Entering tonight’s game, Cornell has scored at least one goal in each of its last 56 games, the fourth-longest streak in program history and its best stretch without being shut out since going 76 straight games between Dec. 28, 1995, and Jan. 31, 1998.

• The Big Red’s current 56-game goal-scoring streak is tied with Michigan for the fifth-longest active streak in Division I hockey, trailing only Arizona State (125), Ohio State (101), Dartmouth (84) and UConn (62).

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 on Feb. 27-28 — 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 cumulative .690 win percentage (192-77-34) since 2016-17 ranks third in Division I, trailing only fellow Loveland Regional participants Minnesota State (266-94-25, .723) and Denver (260-102-32, .701), and is one of 12 programs with at least a .600 win percentage or better over that span.

YOU FEEL THAT (NHL) DRAFT?

• Cornell has nine NHL draft picks on its roster this season, the program’s highest total since 2005-06. Only the 1990-91 (14) and 2004-05 (10) rosters had more NHL selections, and the Big Red’s nine picks are second in ECAC Hockey behind Harvard (10) and tied with Colorado College for 11th in Division I.

• This weekend’s Loveland Regional features 34 NHL draft picks, the most of any four regional sites by two (Worcester — 32; Sioux Falls — 29; Albany — 27). Of the 34 draft picks at the Loveland regional, 33 are from the top three seeds, as the Pioneers possess the nation’s third-most NHL draft picks (14), trailing only Boston University (19) and Michigan State (15). Western Michigan is tied with Harvard and Wisconsin for the eighth.

• For the first time in program history, Cornell has three draft picks selected within the first three rounds: junior forward Jonathan Castagna (70th overall, originally by Arizona, whose assets were claimed by Utah; his rights were traded to Calgary two weeks ago), sophomore defenseman Michael Fisher (76th, San Jose) and junior defenseman George Fegaras (83rd, Dallas). Cornell had 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 and the first Big Red player selected by San Jose since defenseman Joakim Ryan in the seventh round (198th overall) in 2012.

• Freshman goaltender Alexis Cournoyer was Cornell’s lone player selected in the 2025 NHL Draft, taken in the fifth round (145th overall) by Montréal. He is the 13th Big Red goaltender to be drafted and the first since David LeNeveu in 2002 (48th overall, Phoenix).

PASSING THE TORCH ON EAST HILL

• Casey Jones ‘90, the Jay R. Bloom ‘77 Head Coach of Cornell Men’s Ice Hockey, began the season as one of 25 head coaches in Division I hockey leading their alma mater — roughly 40 percent of the 63 active Division I programs.

• After taking over for Cornell Athletics Hall of Fame head coach Mike Schafer ‘86, who retired after 30 years (1995-2025), Jones has extended the program’s streak of having an alumnus as head coach to 39 consecutive years, continuing a lineage that traces back to the coach Jones himself played for — Brian McCutcheon ‘71 (1987-95). Since Dick Bertrand ‘70 became head coach in 1970-71, Cornell has featured an alumnus in the position for 50 of the last 55 seasons.

• Cornell’s 39-year streak is the second-longest active run in Division I hockey with an alumnus as head coach, trailing only Boston University (53 years). New Hampshire (36 years) and Boston College (32 years) are the only other programs with streaks of 30 or more years.

• Within ECAC Hockey, Jones is joined by Ted Donato (Harvard), Mike Harder (Colgate), Jean-François Houle (Clarkson) and Brendan Whittet (Brown), who announced Jan. 28 he would step away from the program effective Feb. 20 to take a family medical leave.

PUTTING THE ‘BIG’ IN BIG RED

• Cornell entered the season ranked second nationally in both average height (6-foot-1.7) and weight (198.0 pounds), trailing only UMass (6-foot-1.9) and Notre Dame (200.3 pounds) in each category. 

• The Big Red, who are both the tallest and heaviest college hockey team in this year’s NCAA Tournament, were one of seven programs to rank in the top 10 in both metrics, alongside Brown (6-foot-1, 193.0 lbs.), Harvard (6-foot-1.1, 194.0 lbs.), North Dakota (6-foot-1.2, 195.0 lbs.), Notre Dame (6-foot-1, 200.3 lbs.), St. Cloud State (6-foot-1.4, 194.3 lbs.), and UMass (6-foot-1.9, 193.8 lbs.).

• This year’s roster features some of the largest averages in Cornell’s modern era (since 1957-58). The team’s average height breaks the program record set in 2015-16 by 0.16 inches, while the 198.0-pound average ranks fourth — behind averages from 2015-16 (198.86 lbs.), 2014-15 (198.85 lbs.), and 1999-00 (198.70 lbs.).

• Freshman goaltender Alexis Cournoyer (6-foot-4) is the tallest netminder on record in the program’s modern era, surpassing 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 distinction.

• Sophomore defenseman Luke Ashton (6-foot-5) is tied for being the tallest Cornell blueliner in program history, matching 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 comprise the first Big Red trio to be 6-foot-5 or taller since 2017-18 (Beau Starrett, Anthony Angello, and Dwyer Tschantz ‘18 — each 6-foot-5).

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 DENVER

• Denver enters tonight’s game riding a nine-game winning streak and unbeaten in its last 13 games (12-0-1), coming off a thrilling 4-3 double-overtime victory over No. 6 Minnesota Duluth in the NCHC Frozen Faceoff Championship title game last Saturday at Magness Arena. Freshman forward Kristian Epperson thwarted the Bulldogs’ comeback attempt — Denver had surrendered a 3-0 lead midway through the first period — with a goal 1:54 into double overtime.

• Despite yielding a season-high three goals, freshman goaltender Johnny Hicks made a season-high 41 saves in the victory. Hicks has been Denver’s go-to goaltender of late, earning the starting nod in each game during the unbeaten streak after fellow first-year netminder Quentin Miller suffered a lower-body injury against St. Cloud State on Jan. 24. Over that span, Hicks has posted a gaudy 1.14 goals-against average and .958 save percentage, to go along with a pair of shutouts.

• Defenseman Eric Pohlkamp (17-20—37) paces Denver in both goals and points, while Clarke Caswell (6-23—29) leads the team in assists. The Pioneers have four players with 30-plus points, also including Rieger Lorenz (15-18—33), Sam Harris (13-18—31) and James Reeder (10-21—31).

• The Pioneers rank in the top 10 nationally in goals per game (3.51, 10th), goals against per game (2.15, 6th), scoring margin (plus-1.36, 7th) and save percentage (.925, 4th).

60 YEARS, 1669 MILES, 14 MEETINGS

• Cornell and Denver meet for the 15th time tonight — and for the third time in the last four years, all in the NCAA Tournament.

• The Big Red posted a 2-0 victory over the top-seeded Pioneers in the 2023 Manchester Regional semifinal behind Ian Shane’s 27-save shutout. Denver avenged the loss with a 2-1 triumph in the 2024 Springfield Regional final en route to the Pioneers’ 10th national championship.

• Denver holds an 8-6-0 edge in the all-time series and has won five of the last eight meetings (5-3-0). Tonight marks the seventh time the programs have met in NCAA Tournament play, with the series evenly split at 3-3.

• The Pioneers defeated the Big Red, 3-2, in the 1969 national championship in Colorado Springs, Colo., as Denver goaltender Gerry Powers outlasted Cornell netminder and future Hockey Hall of Famer Ken Dryden ‘69. Powers made 22 saves while Dryden stopped 32 of 35 Pioneer shots.

• Cornell defeated Denver, 7-2, in the 1972 national semifinals at Boston Garden behind Dave Westner’s natural hat trick and Dave Elenbaas’ 32 saves before the Big Red fell to Boston University, 4-0, in the national championship.

• The two programs met in the 1986 NCAA Tournament quarterfinals at University of Denver Arena in a two-game, total-goals series, with Denver advancing on a 7-6 aggregate. The Pioneers won the opener, 4-2, before Cornell took the second game, 4-3.

CORNELL - DENVER CONNECTIONS

• Winter Wallace, who grew up in Boulder, Colo., returns to The Centennial State ...  Michael Fisher and Tyler Catalano were teammates with Tory Pitner on the 2022-23 Youngstown Phantoms ... Marian Mosko played alongside Boston Buckberger (Lincoln Stars) and Jake Fisher (Fargo Force) during the 2022-23 season ... Sean Donaldson and Sam Harris played on the 2021-22 Sioux Falls Stampede ... Nicholas Wolfenberg was teammates with Rieger Lorenz (2021-22 Okotoks Oilers) and Reid Varkonyi (2023-24 Salmon Arm Silverbacks) ... Jake Kraft and Ryan Walsh played with Eric Pohlkamp on the 2022-23 Cedar Rapids RoughRiders ... George Fegaras and Xavier Veilleux were teammates with Payton Nelson on the 2022-23 Muskegon Lumberjacks, where Veilleux and Paxton Geisel spent the 2023-24 season together ... Parker Murray and Brady Millburn were teammates on the 2023-24 Chilliwack Chiefs, and Connor Arseneault joined Millburn and Quentin Miller on the following year’s Chiefs team ... Nelson and Donovan Hamilton were teammates on last year’s Salmon Arm Silverbacks ... Erick Roest and Johnny Hicks both represented Team Canada West as goaltenders at the 2023 World Junior ‘A’ Challenge in Truro, Nova Scotia.

PRINCETON NETS THREE UNANSWERED GOALS TO DEFEAT #11 MEN'S HOCKEY

BOX SCORE | RECAP | HIGHLIGHTS | POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE | PHOTO GALLERY

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (MARCH 30, 2024) — Sam Harris' power-play goal with 4.8 seconds left in the second period proved to be game-winning marker for No. 3-ranked Denver, who clinched its third Frozen Four appearance in the last five years, with a 2-1 victory over the No. 12-ranked Cornell men's hockey team in the Springfield Regional final at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, Mass., on Saturday afternoon.

Sophomore forward Nick DeSantis scored the lone marker for Cornell, which concludes the 2023-24 season with a 22-7-6 overall record. Senior forward Gabriel Seger and junior forward Kyle Penney aided DeSantis in scoring his eighth goal of the season. Junior goaltender Ian Shane stopped 16 shots in the setback.

Along with Harris, Miko Matikka scored his 20th goal of the season for Denver (30-9-3), as Pioneers goaltender Matt Davis stopped 24-of-25 shots in the victory.

DeSantis drew first blood with a goal six minutes into the first period, capitalizing on a loose puck on the edge of the goalmouth following a pair of missed Cornell shots.

While Cornell was on the power play, Denver was able to generate a breakaway following an offensive zone turnover. The shot attempt by Jared Wright was stopped by Shane with his left pad to keep the Big Red's lead intact.

Denver eventually found the back of Cornell's net late in the first period when Matikka benefited from McKade Webster, who chipped the puck toward the high slot, leading to the first-year goal from the native of Helsinki, Finland.

During a late power play in the second period, Denver took the lead as a wrist shot from the middle of the right faceoff circle was deflected by Sam Harris at the top of the goal crease, trickling between Shane's legs and slowly crossed the goal line.

Cornell had plethora of scoring chances late in the third period, but were unable to capitalize. Freshman forward Jonathan Castagna has a one-timed shot with under four minutes to play go wide of the net and another one-timer by freshman forward Ryan Walsh was stopped by Davis' right-pad in a sprawling save to keep the Pioneers ahead.

Following the contest, junior forward Sullivan Mack, who had two goals in Cornell's 3-1 victory over Maine on Thursday, and freshman defenseman Ben Robertson were named to the All-Tournament Team.

KARNISH'S GOAL SENDS PRINCETON PAST #8 MEN'S HOCKEY INTO ECAC HOCKEY FINAL

BOX SCORE | RECAP | HIGHLIGHTS | POSTGAME INTERVIEWS

LAKE PLACID, N.Y. (MARCH 20, 2026) — Joshua Karnish scored with 7:55 remaining in the third period to break a 2-2 tie and lift fourth-seeded Princeton to a 3-2 victory over third-seeded Cornell at the 1980 Rink — Herb Brooks Arena on Friday night.

Karnish buried a rebound on the edge of Cornell's crease to send the Tigers (18-12-3) to the ECAC Hockey Championship game for the first time since 2018, when Princeton last won the Whitelaw Cup with a similar upset of the Big Red (22-10-1), who were ranked second at the time.

"They had urgency. We lacked it," said Casey Jones '90, the Jay R. Bloom '77 Head Coach of Cornell Men's Ice Hockey. "They just seemed to want it more than us tonight. It was pretty apparent."

David Jacobs and Julian Facchinelli also scored for Princeton, and Kai Daniells added two assists for the only multi-point performance of the night for the Tigers.

Junior forward Ryan Walsh had a goal and an assist and junior defenseman George Fegaras also tallied a goal for the eighth-ranked Big Red (22-10-1), who had its aspirations of claiming the Whitelaw Cup for a third consecutive season halted.

Arthur Smith stopped 21 shots for Princeton, and freshman Alexis Cournoyer also made 21 saves for Cornell.

Fegaras gave Cornell the early lead when his shot from the top of the faceoff circle snuck through Smith's five-hole 2:32 into the first period.

Princeton seized control in the second, with Jacobs redirecting a point shot by Ian Devlin just 2:34 into the period before Facchinelli beat Cournoyer to his short side with a burst of speed at the offensive blue line following a Tigers faceoff win in the neutral zone.

Cornell was outshot 10-1 over the first 16 minutes of the period, but a Princeton penalty gave the Big Red life. Walsh batted a loose rebound of a Hoyt Stanley shot on the edge of the crease with 2:47 left for his 10th goal of the season — his sixth on the power play — to pull even at 2-2.

"We had a couple good shifts in a row, ended up drawing a penalty, scoring on the power play," Walsh said. "I thought we had it going in the second period."

Defenseman Nick Marciano twice came close to putting Princeton ahead in the third. Senior defenseman Jack O'Brien blocked a Marciano shot at the left post with Cournoyer out of his net just past the eight-minute mark, and another attempt rang off the right post two minutes later before Karnish finally broke through.

Cornell pressed in the final minutes in search of the equalizer, outshooting Princeton 12-0 over the final eight minutes, but Smith turned aside all three shots on net to secure the win. Princeton blocked five of the other nine attempts.

"One of our strengths is we can skate and they were beating us up ice a lot," Jones said. "We talk about being a really good transitional team. Well, part of being a good transitional team is going from offense to defense. And we were poor with that 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 win Friday, Cornell will advance to the Loveland Regional Final, where it will played the winner of the first semifinal between top-seeded and fifth-ranked Western Michigan (26-10-1) or 14th-ranked Minnesota State (22-10-7). Puck drop and television assignments will be announced at a later date. 

• Should Cornell play Western Michigan, it would be the 10th time the programs will play in program history, and the first since Nov. 1, 2003. It would serve as the second game between the Big Red and Broncos at a neutral site, with the previous instance coming during the Pepsi Tournament on Dec. 28, 1997, at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Mich. After winning the first seven meetings, Western Michigan has gone unbeaten in the last two encounters (1-0-1), playing to a 5-5 tie and beating Cornell, 3-2, in a two-game series at Lynah Rink on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, 2003.

• A Cornell-Minnesota State regional final would serve as the second all-time meeting between the Big Red and Mavericks. Cornell defeated Minnesota State, 5-2, on March 29, 2003, in Providence, R.I., securing the Big Red's first Frozen Four appearance since 1980.