Issuu

The Corne¬ Daily Sun

The Hockey Issue

Cornell began sponsoring Varsity men’s hockey in 1900. Women’s hockey followed suit in 1972. The Sun has been publishing longer than that — since 1880. It recently celebrated its 145th birthday.

We can’t conﬁrm, but we’re pretty conﬁdent that The Sun has never taken on something like this before.

Welcome to the Hockey Issue — a special edition of The Cornell Daily Sun that is devoted solely to men’s and women’s hockey coverage. This edition was produced by us — your hockey beat editors — but was made possible by so many, including our stellar team of reporters. In total, we have 18 articles for you to read to get prepared for hockey season. For this issue, we talked to players, alumni, coaches, NHL scouts and more, searching for all the storylines we could and ensuring we cover these teams the right way.

For men’s hockey, those storylines are endless. After 30 years, Cornell will be led by someone other than Mike Schafer ’86 — Casey Jones ’90 has taken the reins and will look to keep the program right where it always has been. Last season, Cornell ﬁnished just one goal from the Frozen Four — a place it has found itself for three consecutive years, knocking on the doorstep. 13 players from last year’s team departed. 14 new players have arrived in Ithaca. The college hockey landscape is ever-changing.

Not to be outdone, the women’s team is ﬁlled with exciting storylines as well. After setting an attendance record at Lynah Rink last spring, Doug Derraugh ’91 led his squad to an ECAC title and its fourth ever Frozen Four last spring. While the team lost 12 players in the offseason, Cornell was ranked fourth in pre-season polls thanks in large part to the return of star junior goalten-

WHERE CREDIT IS DUE...

der Annelies Bergmann and reigning ECAC Rookie of the Year forward Lindzi Avar.

We get into all of that in this edition of The Sun. This paper would not be possible without the support of so many. First, we’d like to thank The Cornell Daily Sun Board for green-lighting this issue and working with us through very rough concepts and ideas. Editor-in-Chief Julia Senzon, managing editor Dorothy France-Miller and assistant managing editor Matthew Kiviat — you three were instrumental in making this issue a reality. To all of our advertisers — we appreciate your contributions and support for this ﬁrst-ever edition of the paper.

We also must thank Cornell Athletics for allowing us to distribute this issue at Lynah Rink and showcasing student journalism. Cornell Athletics communications — particularly assistant directors of athletic communications Aaron Kelly (women’s hockey) and Marshall Haim (men’s hockey) — have given us incredible access to these teams and handled countless requests from the both of us.

Lastly, we must thank the men’s and women’s hockey programs and all those involved with them — from the coaches, to the student-athletes, to everyone else on the supporting staff. It is a privilege to cover Cornell hockey, and it would not be possible without your acceptance and cooperation with us. We can’t wait to see what’s in store for this season.

We are incredibly fortunate to cover these two teams and that this issue is a reality. From championships to improbable comebacks to last-second thrilling goals, these teams truly have done it all.

Passing of the Torch

After 30 years, a new era dawns for men’s hockey

JANE McNALLY Hockey Beat Editor

Sitting in his chair, ‘Cornell Hockey’ embossed over shelves adorned with championship trophies and baseball caps, head coach Casey Jones ’90 leaned back and laughed.

“Lots of rookie head coaches, eh?” he said.

It’s true — over the last ﬁve years, few conferences in college hockey have seen as much turnover in the head coaching position as the ECAC has. Along with Cornell, eight other ECAC schools — Colgate, Yale, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Dartmouth, Union, Princeton, Clarkson and St. Lawrence — have all made coaching changes within the last ﬁve years.

This past summer alone, two faces of the 21st century of college hockey — Mike Schafer ’86 and Keith Allain of Yale — called it quits.

While Allain’s retirement came quite suddenly, Schafer’s was long drawn out. Nearly a year before the team would skate off after an NCAA regional ﬁnal defeat to Boston University, Schafer knew that the 2024-2025 season would be his ﬁnal one, no matter the result.

That carved the path for Jones to take the reins — Schafer conﬁded in his former player (and longtime friend) to assume his position once his time at Cornell came to an end. For one year, they’d work sideby-side, handling coaching responsibilities together to smooth out the transition.

Now, Jones sits alone in his ofﬁce. Lynah Rink has seen some small renovations with the new school year, from the signage on the wall to the layout of the assistant coaches’ home base. There is a different feel. Ahead of Jones lies a 20252026 season full of question marks, from who the starting goaltender will be to how to replace all 12 outgoing players. He is preparing for his ﬁrst season as the head coach of Cornell men’s hockey.

So, yes — Jones is a ‘rookie,’ so to speak.

But really, he’s far from it.

‘He loves what he does, and he loves this program.’

Jones, like any other head hockey coach, can often be found on the ice with a

whistle. Or, he’ll be glued to his monitor, examining ﬁlm with his staff and players.

But the other times? He’s probably on the phone.

“He’s just non-stop,” said associate head coach Sean Flanagan. “I think that’s why he’s able to build teams wherever he is. … He’s connected through coaches in every league and advisors, and just never stops. He comes every day, ready to work, ready to recruit, [ready to] coach and handle a lot of balls in the air at the same time.”

When Schafer and Jones reunited on last season’s coaching staff, Schafer was quick to pass along recruiting to his successor. It was a win-win situation — Schafer was given more time to focus on his craft on the ice, while the future face of the program would begin to piece together what that future might look like.

securing — talent goes beyond just that. In his 13 years at Ohio State as an assistant and associate coach, he recruited 20 NHL draft picks to the Buckeyes, aiding the squad to a Frozen Four appearance in 1998.

That preceded a 13-year stint at Clarkson, where Jones — this time as a head coach — amassed six 20-win seasons and produced multiple NHL talents, including two-time Stanley Cup champion Nico Sturm.

To make that all happen, Jones spent a lot of time on the phone.

Just ask freshman goaltender Alexis Cournoyer.

“Casey was calling me, like, once a week, just to say, ‘what’s up?’ Like, ‘how’s it going?’” Cournoyer said. “I think Cornell’s recruiting process was top-notch.”

“It isn’t just guys who are wearing letters, it’s everyone. Everyone on our team who’s returned, even freshmen, are leaders.”

Junior forward and captain Ryan Walsh

Schafer also knew he was passing the torch to a bonaﬁde recruiter.

“He’s got a great talent,” said assistant coach Cam Clarke. “I think he’s got a great way of connecting with kids and selling what his program can offer kids. I think that’s a big part of recruiting in today’s day and age — showing kids how this program can make them better, and how they can have an impact here.”

Clarke, who joined Jones’ staff over the offseason, has long been connected to Cornell. His father, Chris Clarke, played under Schafer in 1990-1991 when Schafer was an assistant coach at Western Michigan, just a few years before he’d take over at Cornell.

When Clarke’s ties to the Hill ultimately brought him back, he was instantly captivated by what Jones was building.

“He brings a lot of energy to the rink every day, and it’s infectious,” Clarke said. “He loves what he does, and he loves this program.”

Jones has a lot of love for his alma mater, but his knack for spotting — and

Cape Breton, Nova Scotia — where Cournoyer played in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League last season — is over 1,000 miles northeast of Ithaca. Cournoyer was a late recruit, part of the ﬁrst batch of Canadian Hockey League players debuting in the NCAA this season after the Nov. 7, 2024 rule-change that permitted the previously banned CHLers to play college hockey.

From all that ways away, and even before Cournoyer stepped on campus, he felt like a part of the program.

“[The staff] were watching all my games and we were staying in touch,” Cournoyer said. “I didn’t even come for a game. I came here after my season, and I just fell in love with the campus and the people here.”

Relationships — that’s what makes Jones the pristine recruiter he is.

“I think just the way his personality is, the way he coaches — people know he really cares,” Flanagan said. “That’s why the kids are attracted to him.”

One of those kids Jones talked to is now on his staff — Josh Robinson, hired this

summer to be the director of hockey operations at Cornell, was one of the countless recruiting phone calls Jones made, back when Jones was at Ohio State and Robinson was playing in the United States Hockey League.

“He’s been around college hockey for a long time now,” Robinson said. “He has a great eye for it and part of that is experience, but he’s recruited a lot of really good players over the years.”

“He knows what he’s looking for in a player as far as what skills and attributes they have,” said assistant coach Chris Brown, another new addition to Jones’ coaching staff. Brown came all the way from Alaska to join Jones’ staff. “Then, I think he’s good at digging deeper into ﬁnding out, will he ﬁt the culture? What type of character does he have? What’s his background?”

Jones’ coaching career has taken him many places, from the North Country to Columbus. He’s coached in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association against the big-time midwest gauntlets, and has learned the ECAC from the inside out.

None of those places are like Cornell.

A Different Player Pool

Down the road in State College, Pennsylvania, a 17-year-old kid named Gavin McKenna is lacing up the skates for the Nittany Lions. He’s the projected ﬁrst overall pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft. He’s making $700,000 in the process.

Last season, McKenna played in the Western Hockey League — a league within the CHL — and is one of the many players that has recently ﬂocked to the U.S. to play in college. In one year’s time, he’ll likely make the roster of whichever NHL team drafts him, playing in the top professional hockey league in the world while his classmates suit up for their sophomore years at Penn State.

Competition between NCAA teams is ﬁerce — Michigan State reportedly engaged in a ‘bidding war’ for McKenna, while other schools like Boston University, Michigan and Providence have all made splashes in the new age of college hockey recruiting.

To continue reading this article, please visit www.cornellsun.com.

New leaders | Head coach Casey Jones ’90 and junior forward and captain Ryan Walsh are preparing to lead Cornell after a 30-year tenure of Mike Schafer ’86.

‘It Was Kind of a No-Brainer’

Amid sweeping changes in college hockey, Luke Ashton still chose Cornell

JANE McNALLY Hockey Beat Editor

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A lot goes into transferring to an Ivy League school — applications, essays, Zoom calls and everything in between.

Between video chats and phone calls with the Cornell men’s hockey coaching staff, incoming sophomore defenseman Luke Ashton undoubtedly had many questions about Cornell, and everything it would take to get there.

Still, though, he had a nagging thought that he needed to ask the coaches.

Do the Cornell fans really throw fish at Harvard?

“It was one of the things I had to question the coaches about because I saw videos online,” Ashton said with a laugh.

With his transfer announced on April 24, Ashton is one of two sophomore transfers set to debut in Ithaca this fall, and part of a sizable 14-player incoming class that stands as one of the largest in recent memory. After spending his freshman year at Minnesota State University, Ashton knew “right away” that Cornell was the place he wanted to be.

“I’m super grateful for my time at Minnesota State. I had a great time, but I felt like I needed a change in Cornell,” Ashton said. “When I was looking at other schools, Cornell had a lot of things that I felt like I missed that were offered, and I was super excited to head in their direction.”

The current landscape of college hockey is a murky one. On top of the transfer portal, a Nov. 7, 2024 rule change now allows Canadian Hockey League players to play in the NCAA — a feat that was previously banned due to the NCAA Division I Council considering the CHL a “semi-professional” league.

That’s all while the House v. NCAA settlement was approved this summer, allowing schools to pay their athletes and essentially ending amateurism in college sports. Along with the rest of the Ivy League, Cornell will not

opt into the settlement, continuing the longstanding tradition of the Ivy League’s attitude towards athletics — still, no Ivy League athlete can receive an athletic scholarship.

Big 10 hockey schools have begun offering near millions of dollars to prospective recruits. Penn State reportedly offered an NIL package of over $250,000 to Porter Martone, a CHL player who went sixth overall in the 2025 NHL Draft on June 27. Michigan State and Penn State engaged in a bidding war for Gavin McKenna, another CHL recruit that is the prospective No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.

It was reported by multiple sources on Monday that McKenna will also attend Penn State. The Nittany Lions offered nearly $700,000 to land the blue-chip recruit, who — much like many other CHL-to-NCAA bound players — will likely only play one year of college hockey before making the jump to the NHL.

Despite all of that, Ashton chose Cornell.

And when asked about what he’s most excited about, Ashton — grinning widely — said he couldn’t put a finger on one thing.

“I’ve found an exciting part for me about college hockey is the people,” Ashton said. “You get to go to school with your friends and play in front of the crowd. From everything that I hear, Cornell is quite an exciting [and] special place to be. So being able to cherish those memories and make those memories with not only my teammates but students around campus, I’m really looking forward to.”

Ashton was lured by the culture that Cornell hockey cultivates, the prestige of an Ivy League school and the program’s longstanding commitment to success both on the ice and off.

“The history is something to just be in awe of,” Ashton said. “[In] both school and hockey, the team has a winning reputation. I know that Cornell is quite a prestigious school with a lot of rich history, which I love.”

Ashton didn’t go into the process blindly — he was originally recruited

by head coach Casey Jones ’90 when Jones was the head coach at Clarkson. When Ashton entered the transfer portal on April 16 — nearly a month after the portal opened — Jones was quick to reach out to Ashton a second time.

The easy part, for Ashton, was deciding to transfer to Cornell.

The hard part? Doing the actual transferring.

“I mean, the timing of it was tough, because I won the portal late, and then applications were due a week later,” Ashton said.

After a three-day road trip from Minnesota State in Mankato, Minnesota back home to North Vancouver, British Columbia, Ashton had to hastily write his essay and cross off boxes on forms. It was “definitely worth it,” he says.

The numbers Ashton put up at Minnesota State were solid — five goals and eight assists for 13 points as a depth defenseman — but not necessarily what he’s known for. Standing at 6’6”, 239 lbs, Ashton’s uniquely massive stature separates him from the rest of the pack. Others have taken notice, too — Ashton was drafted in sixth round of the 2024 NHL Draft by the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Ashton stands heads and shoulders above his competition, measuring in at 6’6”. His two-way game makes him an intriguing prospect for Cornell

defensive corps. Photo courtesy of the Columbus Blue Jackets

After Cornell’s defensive corps was rattled by both graduation and the transfer portal, Jones confided in Ashton — as well as incoming sophomore defenseman Michael Fisher, a transfer from Northeastern — to help fill in the gaps.

“I’d like to definitely consider myself as a two-way defenseman,” Ashton said. “Obviously, I’m quite tall and big with my stature, but good with my stick. I play physical [and] hard in the defensive zone, but I definitely like to push the pace up the ice and bring an offensive element. I love to use my shot, for sure.”

After spending a few days in Columbus, Ohio for the Blue Jackets’ development camp, Ashton will return home to North Vancouver to continue training. He’s even been able to acclimate himself to the team early on, skating with fellow British Columbia natives junior defenseman Hoyt Stanley, senior defenseman Jack O’Brien and senior forward Sean Donaldson.

Chatting with them about his future school, Ashton’s excitement is palpable.

“You can just sense a great vibe from not only the team, but the school and the people who go to Cornell. Everyone has good things to say about it,” Ashton said. “So it was kind of a no-brainer.”

Guilday, Delianedis Selected in PWHL Draft

ELI FASTIFF & JANE McNALLY Hockey Beat Editors

JUNE 24 – Rory Guilday ’25 was selected with the ﬁfth pick by the Ottawa Charge in the 2025 draft’s opening round held at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Ottawa, Ontario. Guilday is set to join Brianne Jenner ’15 in Canada’s capital city, as well as the ﬁve other Cornell alumnae in the league.

“It’s pretty special,” Guilday said about being selected in front of the Ottawa Charge fans.

“Especially to be surrounded by these people and this crowd. It makes me more excited.”

The selection of Guilday rounded out the top ﬁve picks in the draft, with four of the ﬁve selections coming from ECAC teams.

Guilday was widely projected to be taken early in the draft

due to her impressive collegiate and international resume. On East Hill, the Minnesota native provided a steadying force defensively all four years, while tallying 52 career points for Cornell. During her senior year, she helped power Cornell to its ﬁrst ECAC title since 2014 and was named Third Team All-ECAC.

Guilday also brings plenty of international experience to the PWHL. Not only has she played in 38 career games for Team USA, but she has also been a part of three Women’s World Championship medals and a Six Nations Tournament title.

At 5’ 11”, Guilday has earned a reputation as a dominant defender thanks to both her size and her smart play. The Sun’s 2025 Female Athlete of the Year does the little things right defensively — such as closing passing lanes and keeping her head up on defense — while also earning praise for her ability

to use her physical style of play without drawing the ire of referees.

During her senior year in Ithaca, Guilday served as a captain for Cornell, and her teammates raved about her as a teammate both on and off the Ice.

Ottawa is coming off of a successful second campaign, reaching the Walter Cup Final before losing to the Minnesota Frost in four games, with all four of those going to overtime.

“It’s truly surreal,” Guilday said about being drafted. “Just trying to take it all in.”

The PWHL wrapped up its second season in late May, with Minnesota repeating as the Walter Cup champion. The league, which is the most recent in a long history of attempts at creating a long-lasting and stable professional women’s hockey league in North America, continues to set attendance and viewership records and is expanding to Vancouver and

Seattle for the 2025-2026 season.

With the 24th overall pick in the 2025 Professional Women’s Hockey League Draft, PWHL Seattle selected Lily Delianedis ’25 of women’s hockey. After a slow start offensively, Delianedis ﬁnished the 2024-2025 season with 12 goals and 10 assists for 22 points.

In total, Delianedis amassed 53 goals and 57 assists in four years. Those 53 goals land her in 10th place all-time on the Cornell career goals scored list. The forward plays a hard-nosed game, and can create offense from above and below the goal line. She has the ability to work from behind the net and score from just atop the crease, but showcased a new dimension in her game this past season by converting more frequently with her wrist shot from distance.

Delianedis will take her talents from Ithaca to Seattle, one of the

newest teams in the league. Added alongside PWHL Vancouver back on April 30, both teams began building their rosters on June 9, when the league held its ﬁrst-ever expansion draft.

Delianedis ranked sixth among PWHL draft declared forwards in Corsi — an advanced stat that measures the difference in shot attempts for or against a player’s team when they are on the ice.

“Being a PWHL prospect is both exciting and surreal. Growing up, there was no professional women’s league, so the dream was to become the ﬁrst female NHL player,” Delianedis told Cornell Athletics before the draft. “As a child, that goal felt possible but as I got older, it gradually shifted to simply playing college hockey. Now, with the rise of the PWHL, it’s incredible to potentially have the opportunity to play pro hockey.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS

Lindzi Avar’s Rise from Recruit to Rookie of the Year

ALEXIS ROGERS Hockey Beat Reporter

When women’s hockey took the ice last November against Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the crowd had no clue that it was about to bear witness to the breakout of the Red’s next big star.

Cornell was already up 2-0 midway through the second period. It received its only power play of the game, and rookie forward Lindzi Avar came onto the rink. A quick pass from then-junior defender Alyssa Regalado gave Avar the perfect opening to net her ﬁrst collegiate goal.

But she didn’t stop there. A minute and a half into the third period, Avar capitalized on a wayward puck, knocking it directly past the RPI goaltender. Minutes later, she made a solo drive to the net that completed the hat trick.

“I just remember seeing that puck go into the net, go past the goal, and the immediate feeling of how excited my teammates were,” Avar said. “That was the most rewarding thing, and that’s deﬁnitely a memory I’m going to carry for a while. Not even just scoring the goal, but just the excitement of my teammates for me.”

Avar went on to lead the team in goals, game-winning goals and power play goals in a historic season that ended at the Frozen Four. On a roster including the likes of Gabbie Rud ’25, Lily Delianedis ’25 and then-junior Avi Adam, Avar made an undeniable splash that earned

her ECAC Rookie of the Year and Ivy League Rookie of the Year.

To hear her tell the story, Avar’s success came from the support offered by the team.

“Even on [my ﬁrst] goal, I got a perfect pass. All I had to do was shoot the puck,” Avar said.

“That’s the perfect representa tion, too, of the people in that locker room and how we play as a team. You set everyone else up for success. By no means would I have had the season that I did last year if it wasn’t for my teammates.”

Now a sophomore, Avar is expected to be a key component of the Red’s front line. She’s proved herself as a powerful force in front of the net with a high hockey IQ, and she has made a respectable name for herself in just one year of college hockey.

Avar — like many of Cornell’s stars, including Rud, Delianedis, Rory Guilday ’25 and Izzy Daniel ’24 — hails from Minnesota. Her hometown wasn’t merely a product of chance, but strategic positioning.

When she was a young child, Avar’s family lived in Portland, Oregon. She experienced her ﬁrst exposure to the sport of hockey when her older brother, Zach, turned on the TV to a Vancouver Canucks game.

“[Zach] was like, ‘Oh, can I try this?’ And [our parents] were like, sure,” Avar recalled. “They put my

Leilani Burke/Sun Senior Editor

When I was six, I did skating lessons for about a year. Once I was seven it turned to hockey, and obviously I fell in love with it.”

Once Avar took to the hockey rink, she never looked back. By age 12, her clear talent and passion grew apparent, and she moved to Minnesota, the “State of Hockey,” for an environment that would give her opportunities to hone her craft.

The relocation had its intended effect: Avar attended Breakaway Academy, an athletic-intensive school in which “you did as much hockey as you did school,” for seventh and eighth grade. For these formative years, Avar was the only female student in her year.

“I was always playing with the boys. I think that teaches you to be a little bit different of a player,” Avar said. “It deﬁnitely made me more competitive. I think that was huge in shaping my play style

The hockey-centric culture of Minnesota built Avar’s social circle of athletes and passionate fans. Not only was she playing alongside future NHL prospects Jimmy Snuggerud and Sam Rinzel at the Breakaway Academy, but local women’s travel and high school programs recruited top-tier talent

“When I lived in Oregon, all you had were NHL players to look up to, and older boys,” Avar said. “Once you get to Minnesota, since hockey is so vast and there’s like a million different players, you start to realize that there’s some really

talented girls. It was fun to look up to those players like Rory [Guilday] and Grace [Zumwinkle].”

Avar played for four years at Minnetonka High School, where she earned 29 points in her senior season. Her standout teenage years made her a prime candidate for the U.S. national under-18 team, which she played in ﬁve games for between 2022 and 2023.

When it came time to decide where to pursue her secondary education, and, importantly, the next four years of hockey, those role models played a huge role. With former idols and teammates Guilday and Rud to take inspiration from, Avar saw Cornell as a perfect blend of competitive hockey and high-level academics.

Avar made her debut with Cornell in the fall of 2024, after winning a bronze medal with Team USA at the Under-18 championship in 2023, and the rest is history. Big Red Impact

Lynah Rink, site of Avar’s early-season hat trick and her next four goals, was a part of what made her ﬁrst year with the Red so special. Attendance at the rink ranged from under 500 in the early season to breaking the Cornell women’s hockey spectator record by drawing 3,135 fans to the NCAA Regional Final against Minnesota-Duluth.

“You want to score anywhere you go, but when you score and you hear that crowd, it’s a whole new level of excitement,” Avar said.

To continue reading this article, please visit www.cornellsun.com.

What Makes Jones a Perfect Fit? ‘He’s Just Non-Stop’

JANE McNALLY Hockey Beat Editor

Sitting in his chair, ‘Cornell Hockey’ embossed over shelves adorned with championship trophies and baseball caps, head coach Casey Jones ’90 leaned back and laughed.

“Lots of rookie head coaches, eh?” he said.

This past summer alone, two faces of the 21st century of college hockey — Mike Schafer ’86 and Keith Allain of Yale — called it quits.

That carved the path for Jones to take the reins — Schafer conﬁded in his former player (and longtime friend) to assume his position once his time at Cornell came to an end. For one year, they’d work side-byside, handling coaching responsibilities together to smooth out the transition.

Now, Jones sits alone in his ofﬁce. Lynah Rink has seen some small ren-

ovations with the new school year, from the signage on the wall to the layout of the assistant coaches’ home base. There is a different feel. Ahead of Jones lies a 2025-2026 season full of question marks, from who the starting goaltender will be to how to replace all 12 outgoing players. He is preparing for his ﬁrst season as the head coach of Cornell men’s hockey.

So, yes — Jones is a ‘rookie,’ so to speak.

But really, he’s far from it.

‘He loves what he does, and he loves this program.’

Jones, like any other head hockey coach, can often be found on the ice with a whistle. Or, he’ll be glued to his monitor, examining ﬁlm with his staff and players.

But the other times? He’s probably on the phone.

Schafer also knew he was passing the torch to a bonaﬁde recruiter.

“He’s got a great talent,” said assistant coach Cam Clarke. “I think

he’s got a great way of connecting with kids and selling what his program can offer kids. I think that’s a big part of recruiting in today’s day and age — showing kids how this program can make them better, and how they can have an impact here.”

When Clarke’s ties to the Hill

20-win seasons and produced multiple NHL talents, including two-time Stanley Cup champion Nico Sturm.

To make that all happen, Jones spent a lot of time on the phone.

Just ask freshman goaltender Alexis Cournoyer.

“Casey was calling me, like, once a week, just to say, ‘what’s up?’ Like, ‘how’s it going?’” Cournoyer said. “I think Cornell’s recruiting process was top-notch.”

Cape Breton, Nova Scotia — where Cournoyer played in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League last season — is over 1,000

“He brings a lot of energy to the rink every day, and it’s infectious. He loves what he does, and he loves this program.”

Assistant coach Cam Clarke

ultimately brought him back, he was instantly captivated by what Jones was building.

“He brings a lot of energy to the rink every day, and it’s infectious,” Clarke said. “He loves what he does, and he loves this program.”

Jones has a lot of love for his alma mater, but his knack for spotting — and securing — talent goes beyond just that. In his 13 years at Ohio State as an assistant and associate coach, he recruited 20 NHL draft picks to the Buckeyes, aiding the squad to a Frozen Four appearance in 1998.

That preceded a 13-year stint at Clarkson, where Jones — this time as a head coach — amassed six

miles northeast of Ithaca. Cournoyer was a late recruit, part of the ﬁrst batch of Canadian Hockey League players debuting in the NCAA this season after the Nov. 7, 2024 rulechange that permitted the previously banned CHLers to play college hockey.

From all that ways away, and even before Cournoyer stepped on campus, he felt like a part of the program.

Relationships — that’s what makes Jones the pristine recruiter he is.

“I think just the way his personality is, the way he coaches — people know he really cares,” Flanagan said. “That’s why the kids are attracted to him.”

One of those kids Jones talked to is now on his staff — Josh Robinson, hired this summer to be the director of hockey operations at Cornell, was one of the countless recruiting phone calls Jones made, back when Jones was at Ohio State and Robinson was playing in the United States Hockey League.

ECAC Women’s Championship Moves to Lake Placid

ELI FASTIFF Hockey Beat Editor

On Sept. 24, ECAC Hockey conﬁrmed a previous report from The Sun, that the conference’s women’s semiﬁnals and championship game — collectively known as championship weekend — will be played inside Herb Brooks Arena in Lake Placid, New York, rather than on campus sites.

“Lake Placid is a special place in the hockey community, and we are thrilled to bring the ECAC Hockey Women’s Championship to this historic venue,” said ECAC commissioner Doug Christiansen in a press release. “This move will provide an unforgettable championship atmosphere for our student-athletes and fans, while building on the league’s tradition of excellence.”

For members of the Cornell women’s hockey community, this move is bittersweet. On the one hand, the move ends a period of inequity in the conference. Previously, women’s championship weekend was held on member-schools’ campuses, while the men’s was held in Lake Placid.

“I think it’s a great step forward for women’s hockey and creating equality for both the mens and womens side, just making it the same,” said junior goaltender

Annelies Bergmann.

Plus, getting to play in the same arena where “The Miracle on Ice” took place is always special.

“I’m excited about the idea of Lake Placid, which is so rich in hockey history,” said sophomore forward Lindzi Avar. “There’s no bigger kind of pinnacle of the hockey world than the 1980 miracle … to be able to play on that same ice [is special].”

However, leaving the traditional format of on-campus ﬁnals could cause attendance and fan-engagement to fall, and with it the power of home-ice advantage. Scenes like the one at Lynah Rink last spring — where a raucous crowd was credited by players with boosting Cornell in its 5-1 championship game win — will be difﬁcult to recapture hours away from campuses.

“I think the crowd helped us immensely today, especially coming back from a three-overtime game,” said head coach Doug Derraugh ’91 after the championship win. “The crowd was just roaring today.”

“Obviously there’s a bit of sadness there, just cause we’re losing our hometown fans. … It was an unbelievable atmosphere to play in,” Bergmann said. “Hopefully we can recreate it there, we obviously know it’s harder cause it’s farther and it’s harder for students to get there.”

The Cornell’s men’s hockey program is a blueprint towards recreating that feeling of a home game at Lynah

Rink while in Lake Placid. The team captured the conference title in each of the last two seasons, despite entering championship weekend as an underdog.

“You walk in and see all the ECAC banners, and you see the different teams, and on the men’s side, [Cornell] had the most ECAC championships,” Avar said. “It was fun to see that, and it really makes you want to bring the woman’s side to it there too, and like, hang up the same banners that the men do on the ECAC side.”

There may be no location worldwide more connected to hockey than Lake Placid. The small town located nearly ﬁve hours north of Ithaca hosted what is widely regarded as the greatest hockey game of all time: a thrilling 4-3 comeback win by the United States over the Soviet Union in the the 1980 Winter Olympic Games. The venue has since hosted both men’s and women’s hockey national championships, as well as 21 men’s ECAC title-deciders

“It’ll give a real championship feel to the event, it’s not just another game in another team’s rink,” Derraugh said. “Lake Placid is a beautiful town and obviously the hockey history there…it will be a lot of fun.”

Jane McNally ’26 and Alexis Rogers ’28 contributed reporting.

Ryan Walsh is Taking His Time With Development

JANE McNALLY

In Boston, things move faster. It’s a way of life — a big city, chock full of history and charm, a population of people unapologetically devoted to their sports teams.

On Sunday, Patriots faithful relive the Tom Brady glory days. On a hot summer afternoon, fans line the streets outside Fenway, Red Sox gear adorned at every corner. The black and gold of the Bruins is everywhere, from the historic walls of TD Garden outward.

Ryan Walsh is familiar with the fast-paced nature of Boston. Drafted in the sixth round by the Bruins in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, Walsh has forged a strong connection to the city. He’s been back in Boston for each of the last three summers, attending Bruins development camp with the rest of his fellow prospects.

This summer, though, things were a little bit different. A little bit slower.

“It was good, it was interesting,” Walsh said. “Deﬁnitely a different development camp than I usually have.”

Walsh was limited to solely off-ice activities, so when the rest of the campers would

head out for skates, Walsh was working oneon-one with NHL trainers, strength and conditioning coaches and even running into some current Bruins players.

“Those guys are making $10 million a year, they have 100-point seasons, and they’re doing the same thing as me. Going through the grind every day,” Walsh said. “[It was] deﬁnitely inspiring to see. I just went into camp with an open mind, and I thought it was one of the more fun camps that I’ve had.”

That camp was just another step taken by Walsh to reach his ultimate goal — playing in the NHL.

But Walsh is careful not to skip steps. Preparing for his junior year — and embracing his new role as captain — Walsh isn’t getting too ahead of himself, even with Boston occasionally knocking on the door.

“One of the biggest reasons why I wanted to come [to Cornell] was the education is obviously very good. It’s an Ivy League school. And then obviously the hockey speaks for itself,” Walsh said. “Education is really big. I really want to get my degree. I’m going to get my degree.

Slow and Steady

Walsh’s parents — John and Kelly, who both attended college in upstate New York — were the ﬁrst ones to instill the idea of taking time in him.

As a kid, Walsh excelled everywhere he played, starting in his hometown of Rochester, New York. The dream of playing professional hockey became less and less of a dream, and more a feasible goal. Soon, he was deciding what route he would take to get there, between boarding school and junior hockey.

In the back of his mind, his parents’ advice echoed.

“They’ve always been like, ‘no matter how long you play hockey, it won’t be long enough,’” Walsh said. “Like, say you have a full pro career. You retire when you’re 35, but then it’s like,

what do you do? You can’t retire when you’re 35.”

When Walsh enrolled at the Salisbury School in Connecticut in 2020, he decided to repeat his junior year of high school.

“That’s kind of how I’ve always been. My dad always emphasized [not] to rush good times,” Walsh said. “Like, you’ll get to pro hockey, you’ll get to the workforce soon enough, and then once you’re in the workforce, you’ll want to be back in college, you’ll want to be back at prep school.”

Walsh averaged over a point-per-game player at Salisbury — as an older junior, he posted 34 points in 33 games. As a senior, his 39 points ranked him second on the team and opened up the opportunity to play in the United States Hockey League. Walsh was drafted 54th overall by the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders in the 2022 USHL Entry Draft. The following July, he committed to Cornell.

He doesn’t regret a second of it.

“Even now, like, I wish I could go back to prep school,” Walsh said. “My best friends are still from prep school. We do a trip every year. … Not rushing through those times [has] helped me on the ice, but maybe even more off the ice.”

Some might have argued that one year of boarding school would have sufﬁced, leaving Walsh to play two years in the USHL. That way, the transition to NCAA hockey would go smoother.

But that point was rendered moot — with Cedar Rapids in 2022-23, Walsh earned himself a spot on NHL draft boards. Walsh’s numbers skyrocketed, as he potted 30 goals and totaled 79 points, the latter ranking second in the USHL to future NHL ﬁrst overall pick Macklin Celebrini.

“[I] only did one year out in Cedar Rapids. But once again, that’s another development

year,” Walsh said. “Don’t get me wrong, there’s benefits [to] coming in as true freshmen. There’s benefits to signing pro early, but for me, I think taking my time has really benefited me.”

Taking the Next Step Walsh takes warmups with the rest of his teammates. He skates methodically around the zone, ﬁring pucks left and right, warming up like any other game.

A thought lingers in the back of his mind.

“There’s been games and [Boston Bruins general manager] Don Sweeney up there. And I’m like, ‘well, I should probably play good.’” Last season, Walsh got Boston’s attention — his 31 points as a sophomore led all Cornell skaters. He was heavily relied upon at the faceoff dot, winning the most faceoffs (419) and playing big minutes when the Red was down players. Walsh was one of only nine players that appeared in all 36 games for Cornell last season.

“He led our team in scoring last year, MVP,” said head coach Casey Jones ’90. “But the thing that I always talk about is [that] he’s a skilled guy, but he plays a complete game.” Walsh was a rock last season for Cornell. This year, with the ‘C’ on his chest, that will be all that much more true. He’ll likely see time on both the power play and penalty kill, embodying the core of a team with so many new faces.

At the root of it, it’s another year of development.

“I think he’ll take another step like he’s healthy. [He] played through a lot last year, too,” Jones said. “He had a good summer. He’s in great shape. I’m excited for [him] to take that next step.”

To continue reading this article, please visit www.cornellsun.com.

Hockey Beat Editor

‘I’m Very Grateful for What Happened to Me’

Inside the process that brought Alexis Cournoyer from the QMJHL to Cornell

JANE McNALLY Hockey Beat Editor

Trois-Rivières, Québec is nestled on the bank of the St. Lawrence river, just about halfway between Montréal and Québec City. It is a 12 !-hour drive from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, where freshman goaltender Alexis Cournoyer had ﬁnished out his season.

He was home for the summer, preparing to leave for college in mid-August. Cournoyer was sitting on the couch, eyes glued to his TV with his brother by his side. Day two of the NHL draft is long and unforgiving, taking multiple hours to get through rounds two through seven, a total of 192 picks made in one sitting.

But Cournoyer was in a time crunch — he had a ﬂight departing from Montréal at 8 p.m. He had received an invitation to the Nashville Predators’ prospect development camp after his strong 2024-2025 season.

It was around 3:45 p.m., Cournoyer recalls.

“I had to go at 4 p.m.,” he said. “And there’s an ad coming up on the TV. I turn around, I look at my brother. I was like, ‘imagine getting drafted during an ad? How bad would that be?’”

Cournoyer switched over to the NHL app to keep tabs on the draft during the commercial break.

With one quick refresh, everything changed.

“It was Montréal,” Cournoyer said with a massive grin. “And I see my name, goalie. I just dropped my phone on the ﬂoor. I was like, ‘That’s me! Let’s go!’” Cournoyer ultimately got selected in the ﬁfth round of the draft, 145th overall.

“It was a dream come true. It was such a great feeling, and I’m very grateful for what happened to me,” Cournoyer said.

Evidently, plans changed. That ﬂight to Nashville was can-

celled and it would be just a quick drive to get to Montréal Canadiens development camp.

It wasn’t the ﬁrst time Cournoyer had to pivot so suddenly. He had been moving around all season — at the beginning of last season, Cournoyer was playing Junior A hockey and wasn’t on any NHL draft boards. The fact that he was being drafted — let alone by his hometown team — was something he had deemed near impossible.

“I was a nobody until January,” Cournoyer said. “And then everything kind of popped up out of nowhere.”

But after he debuted in the Québec Maritimes Junior Hockey League in January, he coasted to a 13-6-1 record and a .942 save percentage in one of Canada’s top leagues. The 6’ 4” specimen in net quickly arose to become the No. 16-ranked goaltender by NHL Central Scouting. His performance secured him a spot at Cornell, making him the ﬁrst drafted goaltender the Red has had in 23 years.

All of that, though, came not without the help of a former player’s dad.

Trevor Stienburg — a former

NHL player and father of Matt Stienburg ’23 — lives fulltime near Halifax, Nova Scotia. After a playing career cut short by injury, he forged a path in professional hockey scouting and has spent the last ﬁve seasons as a regional amateur scout for the Seattle Kraken.

He was hearing noise from coaches up in Cape Breton, the northernmost team in the QMJHL. There was this new kid — a goaltender — that came up out of nowhere, and he was beginning to draw NHL interest.

Doing his due diligence, Stienburg investigated. The kid — Cournoyer — had his QMJHL rights traded to the Cape Breton Eagles. He had spent the ﬁrst half of the season with the Truro Bearcats, a team in the Maritime Junior A Hockey League.

Stienburg knew Truro’s head coach — Jon Greenwood — so he decided to give him a call. Stienburg was met with a very distraught Greenwood.

“He said, ‘Man, I just lost the best goalie in the league, maybe one of the best the league’s ever seen,’” Stienburg recalls Greenwood telling him. “And he told me about this kid, and said he’s a late bloomer. And he

went on and on. Everything just checked out.”

The conversation reminded him of his son, Matt — though he’s now playing professional hockey and bouncing between the NHL and American Hockey League, Matt was a “late bloomer” in his father’s eyes. When he was getting in contact with Cournoyer for the prospect of drafting him to Seattle, Stienburg couldn’t help but think of the one place that he thought changed everything for his son: Cornell.

“Everything I heard about this kid told me to believe he’s a late bloomer. I said, ‘I think this kid should invest in himself and not go to a scholarship school,’” Stienburg said. “‘I think he should shoot for some place like Cornell.’”

Stienburg watched his son play at Cornell for four years. He identiﬁed the Red’s stingy defensive style as being a prime system for goaltenders. Cornell has produced countless All-Americans between the pipes, from Ian Shane ’25 to Matthew Galajda ’21 to the legendary Ken Dryden ’69.

Stienburg called then-head coach Mike Schafer ’86 — who had coached Stienburg’s son —

and asked if he was looking for a goalie.

“I didn’t want to get into that side show of saying, ‘kid, if you don’t go there, you should go here.’ It looks like I’m dictating and inﬂuencing them,” Stienburg said. “I just said, ‘if this kid’s willing to call me and wants to talk, my son went to Cornell. He was a late bloomer.”

Stienburg offered himself up as a resource, as well as the now-graduated Matt.

In a few months, Cournoyer was Cornell-bound.

“I don’t know how much inﬂuence I had to tell you the truth,” Stienburg said with a laugh. “But I’m certainly committed to being wind at Cornell’s back. I feel I’m indebted to them, and I know my son does too.”

Cournoyer’s commitment to Cornell wouldn’t have been possible last year, or the year before that, or anytime before Nov. 7, 2024. That’s when the NCAA Division I Council voted to reverse a longstanding rule that barred Canadian Hockey League players — or those who play in the QMJHL, Western Hockey League or Ontario Hockey League — from having NCAA eligibility.

The decision broke a dam in the hockey world. Soon enough, many top NHL prospects that had played in the CHL — players that had never considered going to college — were now given the opportunity to play NCAA hockey, and they were taking it.

For Cournoyer, though, that was always the dream.

“I always wanted to go college since I was a kid,” Cournoyer said. “But I [thought] it wasn’t gonna happen because they’re not recruiting [a] Junior A player. But when the rule changed, I think it kind of helped me after my second half in Cape Breton.”

To continue reading this story, please visit www.cornellsun.com.

Six Newcomers Complete Women’s Hockey’s Roster

ELI KWAIT Hockey Beat Reporter

Nora Curtis / Skaneateles, NY / Williston Northampton School (USHS) / Forward

The 2024-2025 New England Preparatory School Athletic Council all-star registered 120 points (51 goals and 69 assists) in 106 games throughout her high school prep hockey career with Williston Northampton. Curtis played three sports — ice hockey, ﬁeld hockey and track — at the Massachusetts boarding school, but now returns home to New York, ready to catalyze the Red’s offense.

Liv Ferebee / Lake Placid, NY / Williston Northampton School (USHS) / Goaltender Ferebee was teammates with Curtis

at Williston Northampton, backstopping the school to two NEPSAC championships. In the 2022-2023 season the squad went undefeated (27-01), no doubt due to Ferebee’s superb play in net. The 5’ 5” NEPSAC all-star in 2024-2025 will vie for minutes behind starting junior goaltender Annelies Bergmann.

London McDavid / Maple Ridge, BC / Delta Hockey Academy (CSSHL) / Forward McDavid put up nearly a pointper-game over ﬁve seasons with Delta Hockey Academy in British Columbia (105 points in 123 games). Known for her quickness and playmaking (although she added a scoring touch last year), McDavid earned an invite to Canada’s 2023-2024 Women’s Under-18 Summer Selection Camp. The 5’ 7” forward was inspired to start playing hockey by her cousin,

Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid.

Lily Pachl / Hudson, WI / South St. Paul High (USHS) / Defenseman

As a defenseman, Pachl was a driver of South St. Paul’s offense. With 195 points (85 goals and 110 assists) in 134 games over ﬁve seasons with the team, Pachl won all-conference honors four times and Minnesota all-state honors thrice. Originally committed to Harvard, the 2025 Ms. Hockey ﬁnalist could play a large role in taking down the Crimson this season.

Shannon Pearson / Calgary, AB / Barrie Sharks (OWHL) / Forward Pearson played two years with the Edge School in Calgary — earning all-star honors in both seasons — before moving on to Barrie in the Ontario Women’s Hockey League. Playing against Under-22 competi-

tion, the 5’ 5” forward registered 27 points (18 goals, nine assists) in 40 games. Pearson plays a well-rounded game that makes everyone around her better.

Riley Scorgie / Edmonton, AB / Barrie Sharks (OWHL) / Forward Scorgie spent two years with the Edmonton Jr. Oilers Under18 AAA team before moving on to play alongside fellow freshman forward Shannon Pearson at Barrie. In 2023-2024, Scorgie won the Alberta Female Hockey League Under-18 AAA Provincial Championship with the Jr. Oilers, punching a ticket to the Esso Cup (Canada’s Under-18 AAA National Championship tournament). With Barrie last year, Scorgie totaled 23 points (11 goals, 12 assists) in 42 games. The 5’ 6”, two-way forward represents Sherwood Hockey as an ambassador.

GRADY MILLONES / HOCKEY BEAT PHOTOGRAPHER

Keeping it Going

After historic season, women’s hockey’s shrinking roster presents new challenges

ELI FASTIFF Hockey Beat Editor

Two seasons ago, women’s hockey ﬁnished fourth in ECAC Hockey behind a historic effort from Patty Kazmaier winner Izzy Daniel ’24. Last fall, the Daniel-less Red were picked third in the preseason coaches poll due to questions surrounding goal scoring, a lack of new incoming talent and an inability to beat Colgate.

“How can Cornell build on the success of 2023-2024 after losing the best player in college hockey?” The Sun asked in last year’s season preview.

It turns out the answer was scoring as a team, rather than banking on a single player. After relying so heavily on Daniel two seasons ago, last year’s Cornell squad broke through and claimed Ivy League, ECAC and NCAA regional titles thanks to an unmatched ability to have any player score on any night.

16 Cornell skaters notched ﬁve or more points and 18 scored a goal, tied for the most individual goal scorers on a team in ECAC Hockey.

Cornell’s offensive leader, thensophmore forward Avi Adam, notched 29 points. To put that number in perspective, the last time a Cornell team was led by an under-30 point scorer was in the 20162017 season. That year, the team averaged nearly a full goal less per game than last season’s squad.

Despite the lack of a singular goal scoring threat, Cornell’s offense was still one of the best in the country. The Red’s 3.29 goals per game ranked eighth in the nation, and the team’s assists, power play percentage and points were all also top-10. This year, the ‘any player on any night’ strategy will be even more challenging due to Cornell not having the depth of seasons past.

When the Ivy League announced that it would not participate in the 2020-2021 NCAA hockey season, multiple Cornell players elected to delay their matriculation to Cornell or take a gap year if they had already played a season. This shift resulted in an abnormally large class of 11 seniors graduating last spring.

With six freshmen joining the team (and only three sophomores), Cornell’s roster

size has shrunk from 27 to 21, the lowest it’s been since the 2017-2018 season. In fact, the Red’s 11 rostered for

to have a big senior season. As a sophomore, the Vermont native scored eight goals, so hitting double digit scores this

Year.

For Cornell, the key to this season’s offense (outside of avoiding injuries) is contributions from players who were not double-digit scorers last season.

“Like last year, players are going to have to take on new roles and step up into new roles,” Derraugh said. “How they perform in those new roles is going to dictate how well we do.”

Junior Beatrice Perron-Roy spent most of her ice-time on the fourth line with senior Georgia Schiff last season. While both Schiff and PerronRoy’s roles will dramatically increase, Schiff especially seems primed

the team. Dwyer also had the most blocks of a returning defender with 36 and was selected by ECAC coaches to the preseason

Sophomore Rose Dwyer and senior Alyssa Regalado each lost their line-mates to graduation, but should continue to hold down the blueline. Despite scoring just a single goal, Dwyer was a +16 in her rookie season thanks to the shutdown nature of her pairing with PWHL ﬁrst round draft pick Rory Guilday ’25. Regalado meanwhile was a major contributor offensively, notching a defense-leading 18 assists and scoring the lone goal in Cornell’s NCAA tournament regional ﬁnal win over Minnesota Duluth.

Senior captain Sarah MacEachern and freshman Lily Pachl round out Cornell’s defense. MacEachern missed most of her junior and freshman seasons to injury, but looked solid her sophomore season. Pachl, a Ms. Hockey Minnesota semiﬁnalist with impressive high school stats, will likely begin the season as Cornell’s extra skater.

“I think we’ll have to stay healthy, but if we do, we feel very comfortable about the defensive-corps as a whole,” Derraugh said.

Goaltending

While Cornell had an excellent cast of defensive players last season, any great defense starts in net. Luckily for fans of the Red, they get two more years of watching junior Annelies Bergmann. The best word to describe the goaltender’s sophomore season was dominant, from her NCAA-leading 10 shutouts to a 54-save performance in the ECAC semiﬁnals. The Detroit native ended last season as a second team AllAmerican, the ECAC Goaltender of the Year and one of three Women’s Hockey Commissioners Association Goaltender of the Year Award ﬁnalists.

The lone non-Bergmann start last season came when then-freshman Jeanne Lortie got the nod in Cornell’s matchup with Syracuse. Joining Lortie and Bergmann is freshman Liv Ferebee, who comes to Ithaca from Lake

Schedule, Conference Opponents and Closing Thoughts

position groups worked well together to shut down opponents. According to Derraugh, Cornell is at its best when its forwards are fully bought into its defensive identity.

“Generally speaking players enjoy the offensive side of things more than the defensive side, so you have to sometimes make them understand,” Derraugh said. “But our group, maybe based on last year too, saw the results you can have when you are committed to it.”

Defenders

On the defensive half of the ice, Cornell is in good shape. Last season the Red ﬁnished third in the nation in goals allowed per game and was even better against ECAC opponents, who averaged just 1.31 goals against Cornell. Five of the seven defenders who took the ice against Ohio State in the Frozen Four are set to return, four of whom played for either team USA or Canada in the Collegiate Series this summer.

“I do think you’ve got a strong senior core of [defenders] and some younger [defenders] that showed a lot of potential last year and hopefully make progress and step into even larger roles this year,” Derraugh said.

The only intact defensive pairing from the 2024-2025 season consists of senior Grace Dwyer and junior Piper Grober. Last season, the two combined for 28 points on the offensive end of the ice with Dwyer’s 16 assists being the fourth most on

Last season Cornell got off to a mediocre start, playing to a 1-2-1 record before falling to Union to open up conference play in a historic loss. This season, a point of emphasis will be getting off to a better start.

“I think that we learned a lot from those early-on defeats,” Derraugh said. “If it were to happen again, hopefully we would have that understanding that we would need to stick with things here and not lose faith.”

Cornell will open the season at Lynah Rink against Boston College, before facing Ivy League foes in each of the next two weekends. Then, on Nov. 14 and 15, Cornell will face off against 2024-2025 ECAC runner-up Colgate. Last season, the Red’s lone non-Union ECAC loss came against Colgate, so whoever wins this weekend could have an early inside track to the ECAC regular season title.

Last season Cornell and Colgate were joined by St. Lawrence, Clarkson, and Quinnipiac to form a clear top tier of conference teams. However, with many key players across the league graduating, it is unlikely that the top tier of teams in the conference will be as dominant as years past.

This year, no ECAC team on paper looks better than the Red, which is why Cornell was picked ﬁrst in the pre-season coaches poll. Instead, with a roster of just 21, the key to Cornell’s season is staying healthy.

Leilani Burke/Sun Senior Editor

SUNBURSTS: Cornell Hockey

By SUN PHOTOGRAPHY DEPARTMENT

Hockey season is here. Here’s a brief history of Cornell hockey chronicled in photos

LYNAH RINK | For many years, ice hockey was played on Beebe Lake. In 1957, Lynah Rink was built, where it remains their home to this day.

A FISHY TRADITION | In 1973, a Cornell fan threw a dead ﬁsh at Harvard in retaliation for a Harvard fan throwing a dead chicken at the Cornell goaltender. The tradition continues today.

KEN DRYDEN | Ken Dryden ’69 is regarded as one of the greatest NHL goaltenders of all time. His #1 jersey hangs in the rafters at Lynah Rink today. Dryden passed on Sept. 6 after a courageous battle with cancer.

FROZEN FOUR | Women’s hockey ﬁnished its 2024-2025 season at the Frozen Four in Minneapolis, ultimately falling to Ohio State in the NCAA semiﬁnals.

MAKING HISTORY | In 1967, Cornell men’s hockey won its ﬁrst of two national championships. The second came in 1970, marking the end of an undefeated season.

RECORD-BREAKING | 3,135 fans ﬁlled Lynah Rink as women’s hockey hosted the NCAA regional ﬁnal on March 15, 2025 the most spectators ever for a women’s hockey game at Lynah.

WHITELAW CUP | Ian Shane ’25 hoists the Whitelaw Cup after Cornell defeated St. Lawrence 3-1 in the ECAC Championship on March 23, 2024.

NHL | Sam Malinski ’23 is among the long string of Cornell alumni to play professional hockey in the NHL. The former Cornell captain currently plays for the Colorado Avalanche.

Sun File Photo Justin Rattner / Sun File Photo

Anthony Corrales / Sun File Photo

Courtesy of Cornell University

Leilani Burke / Sun Senior Editor

Ming DeMers / Sun File Photo

Eli Fasti / Hockey Editor

Ming DeMers / Sun File Photo

Now An Upperclassman, Bergmann is Back for More

ELI FASTIFF Hockey Beat Editor

With 6:30 standing between women’s hockey and a trip to the program’s ﬁrst Frozen Four since 2019, Cornell’s goaltender sat up in front of her crease. After making her 22nd save of the night to preserve a 1-0 lead over Minnesota Duluth, she began to hear a chant that was quick ly becoming a mainstay of the Lynah Faithfull.

“Brick wall Bergmann,” echoed around the walls of the 68-year old Lynah Rink, from behind the Cornell net where members of the Cornell football team were holding a sign equating Cornell’s goaltender to a goat (an acronym for Greatest Of All Time), to the boisterous and tightly packed student sec responsible record-break crowd.

In the 124-year history of ice hockey at Cornell, never before had this many people chanted the name of a single player on a women’s team. It’s no surprise that seven months later, the 2025 regional ﬁnal win still gives the now-junior goaltender chills.

Junior goaltender Annelies Bergmann came to Cornell because she wanted to play in games and atmospheres like the one last spring against the Bulldogs.

“To have the support from the football team and all the other athletic teams… I think it hon estly helped us win the game,” Bergmann recalled. “I don’t know if it would have happened with out them, it gives you such an energy, such a boost of conﬁdence knowing that you have this whole school behind you, this whole community behind you and they all love you.”

Yet, when she ﬁrst touched the ice at Lynah Rink her freshman

year, it was the ﬁrst time she was playing for any girls or women’s team that didn’t have USA on the front of its jersey. In high school, the 6’1’’ goaltender backstopped an under-18 AAA boys team and became the ﬁrst woman to play in the North American Hockey League. Until Cornell, her only women’s experience was in inter-

they play the game,” Derraugh said. “Her timing was just a little off, that took a little bit of adjustment.”

Luckily for Bergmann, in her rookie season she had plenty of opportunities to make adjustments. She was in the starting lineup on opening night and quickly established herself as an

game in the team’s first five contests, Bergmann and Cornell didn’t allow an opponent to score more than a goal over the Red’s next five games. The team ended the season with the nation’s third-best defense — surrendering under 1.4 goals per game — with Bergmann playing a leading role.

In fact, her sophomore year was one of the best goaltending seasons in Cornell history. Starting all but one game, Bergmann claimed ECAC Goaltender of the Year and American College Hockey Association second team AllAmerican honors. Her 794 saves and 25 wins in a single season are each the second-most in program history, and her nation-leading ten shutouts last year rank third all time.

start-studded skating cast that has helped deﬁne the Red’s successful post-pandemic era, the experienced upperclassmen of past seasons helped take some of the load off Bergmann’s shoulders.

Now, as an upperclassman and the oldest goalie on the roster, it’s Bergmann’s turn to be a leader.

“I was able to rely on a lot of seniors and a lot of star power up front, and it was easy to play behind them,” she said. “I think going into this season, being a veteran and being a player that is out there hopefully backstopping our team is going to be important this year. So I am excited to bring that experience.”

Derraugh agreed.

For fans of Cornell, it felt like Bergmann was at her best when it mattered most. In the Red’s four ECAC tournament games she allowed just four goals, including a staggering 54-save performance in a triple-overtime win over Clarkson.

Then came the matchup with Minnesota Duluth in the NCAA tournament. 3,135 fans — a record for women’s hockey at Lynah Rink — helped boost Cornell as it clung to a one-goal lead throughout a desperate third

“A huge thank you to [the fans], they make it really fun to play out there,” Bergmann said after the game. “I think it makes it tough for our opponents too, and we just want them to know they are a part of the win with us.”

Even after the season ended, fans around Ithaca continued to come up to Bergmann around town to offer their support.

“It’s such a community of people, just truly like no other place,” Bergmann said.

A New Role

When asked how she and the team were so successful, Bergmann is quick to credit others. From older goalies and teammates who helped guide her through her ﬁrst seasons at Cornell, to the

“I think that she had some great mentors in front of her in Deanna Fraser ’24, Belle Mende ’25 and Brynn DuLac ’25 — they were all great character people and leaders, and I think that she learned a lot from being here while they were here.” Derraugh said. “Now I believe she is ready to carry that mantle and lead the goaltending team into the next phase.”

After coming a period away from the NCAA championship game last March, Bergmann is excited to kick-off her junior season. However, the memories of Cornell’s slow start still linger in her mind.

“I think the main difference this year that we’re looking at is getting off on the right foot,” Bergmann said. “It’s been a tough few weeks of practice.”

It’s these types of memories, lessons, and experiences from the past two seasons which should make Bergmann an even more impressive goaltender in her junior year. And with the loss of 12 players in the offseason — including two elite defenders — Cornell will need Bergmann to be better than ever.

Men’s Hockey Newcomers to Watch

In all, the Red brings in 14 new players, including 12 freshmen and two transfers

ELI KWAIT Hockey Beat Reporter

Gio DiGiulian / South Burlington, VT / Lincoln Stars (USHL) / Freshman Forward

Coming off a near point-per-game season with Lincoln (22 goals, 29 assists in 58 games), the Vermont native hopes to build on last season’s success with the Red. Ranked No. 132 among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting for the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, the sharpshooting DiGiulian was passed on in last summer’s selection. Look for DiGiulian’s motor and quickness to spark the Red’s offense.

Aiden Long / Mono, ON / Madison Capitols (USHL) / Freshman Forward Long adds height and size to the Red’s attack and is coming off of a big season with Madison in which he put up 59 points (22 goals, 37 assists) in 62 games. In six USHL playoff games last season, he added three assists. Long was also a ﬁnalist for the USHL’s inaugural Gaudreau

Award in 2025, which is awarded to “recognize the player who best embodies the traits and attributes of Matthew and Johnny [Gaudreau].”

Caton Ryan / Ottawa, ON / Penticton Vees (BCHL) / Freshman Forward

Spent three years with the Carleton Place Canadians of the CCHL before transitioning to Penticton in the BCHL, in which he played the 2024-2025 season alongside incoming sophomore defenseman Michael Fisher. Ryan notched 42 points (13 goals, 29 assists) in 44 games last season with the Vees, adding 10 more points (6 goals, 4 assists) in 14 playoff games. The 6’ 1” pivot plays a strong twoway game and is a skillful playmaker.

Xavier Veilleux / L’AncienneLorette, QC / Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL) / Freshman Defenseman

Veilleux played youth hockey in Québec before heading south to play for the USHL’s Muskegon Lumberjacks. Over the past two seasons in Muskegon, Veilleux put up 73 points (11 goals, 62 assists) in 123 games and added 13 points (four goals, nine assists) in 21 USHL

playoff games. The New York Islanders sixth-round pick is heralded as a complete two-way defenseman that uses his patience and hockey IQ to lock down the opposition and open up offensive chances.

Luke Ashton / North Vancouver, BC / Minnesota State Mavericks (CCHA) / Sophomore Defenseman

The 6’ 6” transfer from Minnesota State will loom over opponents as he paroles the Big Red’s backend. Ashton, drafted 165th overall in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft by the Columbus Blue Jackets, plays a defense-oriented game — however, in addition to being a shutdown defender, Ashton provided 13 points (ﬁve goals, eight assists) in the regular season to a Mavericks squad that lost to the eventual national champion, Western Michigan, in the NCAA regional semiﬁnals.

Michael Fisher / Westborough, MA / Penticton Vees (BCHL) / Sophomore Defenseman

Fisher brings winning experience to a young Cornell squad. Fisher won the USHL’s Clark Cup with the Youngstown Phantoms (2022-2023), won the Beanpot with Northeastern (2023-2024), and

played with Penticton for the 2024-2025 season. With the Vees, he totaled 16 points (two goals, 14 assists) in 35 regular season games and added four more (one goal, three assists) in seven playoff games. Drafted in the third round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft by the San Jose Sharks, Fisher will look to ignite his offensive upside with a fresh change of scenery

Alexis Cournoyer / Trois-Rivières, QC / Cape Breton Eagles (QMJHL) / Freshman

The Québec native was drafted by his childhood team the Montréal Canadiens in the ﬁfth round of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. Cournoyer split time last season between the Truro Bearcats in the Maritime Junior A Hockey League and the Quebec Maritime Junior Hockey League’s Cape Breton Eagles. Over 21 games in the ‘Q’, the 6’ 4” netminder posted a .942 save percentage and a 1.82 goals against average, winning 13 games. Cournoyer takes up a lot of net and seals gaps well. He could be a candidate to push returning senior goaltender Remington Keopple and ﬁll the gap left by graduate Ian Shane ’25.

Leilani Burke/Sun Senior Editor

The Hockey Beat’s Season Forecast

Jane McNally M: 20 W: 22 M: 3 W: 1 M: Walsh W: Bergmann

Eli Fastiff M: 19 W: 22 M: 3 W: 1 M: Castagna W: Bergmann

Alexis Rogers M: 16 W: 23 M: 3 W: 1

M: Castagna W: Bergmann

Tyler Goldberg M: 17 W: 24 M: 4 W: 1 M: Castagna W: Bergmann

Eli Kwait M: 15 W: 20

A Guide to

Before the Game

Boring: When the opposing team is introduced, yell: Boooriiing, Boooriiing and shake your newspaper. When the public address announcer says “And now the starting line up for the Big Red”, crumple up your newspaper and throw it on the ice. (We’d prefer if you didn’t throw this specific paper, though...)

American National Anthem: Yell ‘Red!’

General Purpose Cheers

Let’s Go Red!: Always!

Cowbell: Halfway through the 2nd and again halfway through the 3rd, the cowbell is played and the crowd yells Fight! at the appropriate points.

Hey, Bâby!: The band plays Hey Baby as the fans chant along “Hey, Hey Bâby… I want to know …. Will you kill someone” for two verses. The crowd repeats the two verses after the band stops playing.

Goalie Cheers/Taunts

Goalie | Sieve: Faithful must remind the opposing goaltender of this. Point to the Cornell goalie and yell “Goalie!” then point to the opposing one and yell “Sieve!” and repeat. “Lucky sieve!”: Used when the opposing goalie gets lucky and the puck dings off a post.

It’s All Your Fault: After the opposing goalie allows a goal, the crowd counts up to the number of goals that have been allowed, and announces that ‘We Want More’. Finally, the goalie is repeatedly reminded that, in fact, he is merely a Sieve.

Telephone Cheer: At an appropriate time, one member of the Faithful announces, “Hey [GOALIE’s FIRST NAME], your Mom called. She said, “…” At this point, the crowd finishes with, “YOU SUCK!” This is usually followed by additional improvised ‘calls’ “Hey [GOALIE’s FIRST NAME], so-and-so called, and s/he said...

Remote Control Goalie: During stoppages in play, some visiting goalies like to venture out of the crease to stretch a bit. The Faithful treat the visiting goalie as their own video game character, describing the actions the visiting goalie is taking. I.e.: “Skate, skate, skate, tuuuuuurrrnn, skate, skate, glide, stop etc.” When the goaltender returns to their crease, chant “bend over” until they obey.

Gimme!: Spell out the goaltender’s name. For example, ‘Lang’: Gimme an L. L! Gimme an A. A! Gimme an I. I! Gimme an N. N! Gimme a G. G! What’s that spell? SIEVE! What’s that spell? SIEVE! What’s that spell? SIEVE! SIEVE! SIEVE!

Other Taunts/Self-explanatory

Welcome to the Penalty Box: Used to welcome an opposing player to the penalty box, this cheer is immediately followed by a “Let’s Go Red” chant.

“Ahhhhhh!” [Player enters penalty box]. “See ya! … You Goon!”

{SCHOO-OOL} Sucks!: At the beginning of the game, a

M: Major W: Fleming M: Walsh W: Van Gelder M: Veilleux W: Curtis Yes

M: Major W: Schiff M: Castagna W: Adam M: Cournoyer W: McDavid Yes

M: Keopple W: Fleming M: Walsh W: Avar M: Cournoyer W: Pachl Yes

M: Devlin W: R. Dwyer M: Walsh W: Prefontaine M: Veilleux W: Pearson

M: Major W: R. Dwyer M: Walsh W: Avar M: Cournoyer W: Pachl

the Lynah Faithful Cheers

Based on a guide by the Cornell Hockey Association

leader in Section B yells that one particular school “SUCKS!” This is repeated 3 times. Upon completion, the brave individual then yells “Let’s Go Red!”

Safety school: Chant repeatedly.

Scoreboard: Chant when Cornell has a big lead and the away team appears to be frustrated.

I’m blind. I’m deaf. I wanna be a ref!: Chanted repeatedly when an official misses a blatant call.

Tuba Section Serenade: In the middle of the third period, the tuba section of the Cornell Pep Band play:”OVER THERE”. At the first pause, the crowd yells, “Hey [SCHOOL]!” At the second pause, “Die!” At the third, yell “Drop Dead!” And at the end, “*Go home!”

Hey Song: At the end of the second intermission, the Pep Band plays Gonna Fly Now (from Rocky), then switches to Gary Glitter (Hey Song). Start clapping along. At the appropriate points in the music, where the crowd traditionally chants “Hey!” instead point to the opposing goalie and yell “Sieve!” This is done three times, then sing: “We’re gonna beat the hell outta you! Rough ’em up! Toughen up! Go CU!”

Screw BU, [SCHOOL] too: When the band plays the appropriate song, the crowd follows it with “Screw BU! [SCHOOL] too!” This is done twice.

Double Digits: When Cornell scores 10 or more goals: “Dou-ble Dig-its! (clap. clap. clapclap-clap).”

End of the Game/After the Game

Warm Up the Bus: In the final minutes of a blowout, the Faithful will begin to jingle their keys. After 45 seconds or so of key jingling, the crowd will then begin to chant ‘Warm Up the Bus.’ When you start jingling your keys is as follows: you start when there are X minutes left in the game where X is a goal differential greater than two.

Which Team is the Winning Team?: Initiated by a member of the Faithful after a Cornell win. Point at each team accordingly.

“Which team is the Winning Team? This team is the winning team! Which team is the losing team? This team is the losing team! Winning Team! Winning Team! Losing Team! Losing Team! Winning Team! Winning Team! Losing Team! Losing Team!”

Alma Mater: Far Above Cayuga’s Waters

Far above Cayuga’s waters

With its waves of blue

Stands our noble Alma Mater

Glorious to view

Lift the chorus

Speed it onward

Loud her praises tell

Hail to thee our Alma Mater

Hail, all hail, Cornell!

Far above the busy humming

Of the bustling town

Reared against the arch of heaven

Looks she proudly down

Lift the chorus

Speed it onward

Loud her praises tell

Hail to thee our Alma Mater

Hail, all hail, Cornell!

“The New Cornell Fight Song”

C-O-R-N-E double L

Win the game and then ring the bell

What’s the big intrigue?

We’re the best in the Ivy League

Rah! Rah! Rah!

Score the point that puts us ahead

Knock ’em dead Big Red.

One! Two! Three! Four!

Who are we for?

Can’t you tell?

Ooooo-oooold Cornell!

In Memoriam

Ken Dryden ‘69 leaves behind an undeniable legacy both on and off the ice

In the rafters | Cornell retired Dryden’s No. 1 jersey in 2010 after a historic career. Dryden was nearly impenetrable at Cornell, posting a 76-4-1

JANE McNALLY Hockey Beat Editor

Ken Dryden ’69, regarded as one of the greatest goaltenders in NHL history and a Cornell alum, died at age 78, the Montreal Canadiens announced in the early hours of Sept. 6. Dryden was battling cancer.

“We mourn today not only the loss of the cornerstone of one of hockey’s greatest dynasties, but also a family man, a thoughtful citizen, and a gentleman who deeply impacted our lives and communities across generations. He was one of the true legends that helped shape this Club into what it is today”, said Geoff Molson, owner and president of the Montreal Canadiens. “Ken embodied the best of everything the Montreal Canadiens are about, and his legacy within our society transcends our sport.”

Dryden’s NHL career was nothing short of extraordinary despite playing just seven full seasons and

retiring at the pinnacle of his prime. Bolstering the defense of one of the NHL’s most proliﬁc dynasties, Dryden won six Stanley Cup championships with the Montreal Canadiens, tying him for the most among all goaltenders in NHL history.

Dryden is a ﬁve-time recipient of the Vezina Trophy — awarded to the top goaltender in the NHL — and collected 258 wins in his career, losing just 77 games in that span. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy (given to the most valuable player in the Stanley Cup playoffs) in 1971, and the Calder Trophy (the NHL’s top rookie) in 1972.

Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1983 and tabbed as one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players, Dryden is widely known for his character off the ice. Retiring at age 31, Dryden opted to pursue a career in law and politics following his professional hockey career. He served as the Minister of Social Development in the Cabinet of Canada from 20042006 and also holds a LLB from McGill University.

“Ken Dryden was an exceptional athlete, but he

was also an exceptional man. Behind the mask he was larger than life,” Molson said.

After being drafted by the Boston Bruins — and promptly traded to the Canadiens — in 1964, Dryden ﬁrst decided to attend Cornell and represent the Red. Dryden played an integral role in Cornell’s 1967 national championship, and his 77 wins place him atop all Cornellian goaltenders.

Dryden backstopped the Red to three ECAC championships and lost just four games in his four seasons at Cornell. He is one of two players to have his number retired by Cornell — his ‘1’ sweater hangs in the rafters at Lynah Rink, as does his ‘29’ jersey in Montreal.

Dryden obtained a B.A. in History and was a member of the Quill & Dagger senior honor society. He is a native of Hamilton, Ontario, born to Margaret and Murray in 1947. Dryden is survived by his wife, Lynda, as well as their two children.

Kenneth W. Dryden

August 8, 1947 – September, 5 2025

Cornell Men’s Hockey: 1965-1969

Montreal Canadiens: 1971-1979

MEN’S HOCKEY ROSTER

Forwards

#8 Luke Devlin, Jr. #9 Charlie Major, So. #10 Jake Kraft, Jr. #11 Sean Donaldson, Sr. #12 Caton Ryan, Fr. #14 Ryan Walsh, Jr. Captain #15 Tyler Catalano, Jr. #17 Aiden Long, Fr. #18 Gio DiGiulian, Fr. #19 Connor Arseneault, Fr. #21 Reegan Hiscock, Fr. #22 Chase Pirtle, Fr. #23 Winter Wallace, Sr. #28 Nick DeSantis, Sr. #29 Parker Murray, So. #38 Jonathan Castagna, So. Alternate

Defensemen

#2 Hudson Gorski, Fr. #3 Jack O’Brien, Sr. Alternate #4 Xavier Veilleux, Fr. #5 Hoyt Stanley, Jr. #6 George Fegaras, Jr. #7 Luke McCrady, Fr. #13 Marian Mosko, Jr. #16 Michael Fisher, So. #24 Nicholas Wolfenberg, So. #26 Donovan Hamilton, Fr. #27 Luke Ashton, So.

Goaltenders

#30 Alexis Cournoyer, Fr. #33 Remington Keopple, Sr. #37 Justin Katz, So. #40 Erick Roest, Fr.

Staff

Head coach Casey Jones ’90

Associate head coach Sean Flanagan

Assistant Coach Chris Brown

Assistant Coach Cam Clarke

Director of hockey operations Josh Robinson

WOMEN’S HOCKEY ROSTER

Forwards

#2 Georgia Schiff, Sr. #9 Lindzi Avar, So. #10 Beatrice Perron-Roy, Jr. #12 Riley Scorgie, Fr. #15 Avi Adam, Sr. #17 Mckenna Van Gelder, Sr. Captain #18 Delaney Fleming, Jr. #19 Karel Prefontaine, Jr. #24 Nora Curtis, Fr. #47 Shannon Pearson, Fr. #79 London McDavid, Fr.

Defenders

#3 Piper Grober, Jr.

#4 Grace Dwyer, Sr. Captain #5 Lily Pachl, Fr. #6 Alyssa Regalado, Sr. #7 Abby Thibodeau, Jr. #13 Sarah MacEachern, Captain #16 Rose Dwyer, So.

Goaltenders

#1 Jeanne Lortie, So. #31 Liv Ferebee, Fr. #43 Annelies Bergmann, Jr.

Staff

Head coach Doug Derraugh ‘91

Associate head coach Edith Racine

Assistant coach Tim Crowley

Director of hockey operations Louise Derraugh

WHCU No Longer Broadcasting CU Hockey, Weinstein Promoted

JANE MCNALLY Hockey Beat Editor

SEPT. 22 – After more than 80 years, WHCU will no longer be the ofﬁcial radio broadcast of Cornell men’s hockey.

Cornell Athletics has parted ways with News-Talk WHCU (870 AM / 97.7 FM) — owned and operated by Cayuga Media Group — for men’s hockey broadcasts beginning this upcoming 2025-26 season. WHCU was the only radio broadcast available for all Cornell men’s hockey games.

The most recent WHCU broadcast team included Jason Weinstein on play-by-play and Tony Eisenhut ’88 on color commentary. Weinstein began broadcasting Cornell men’s hockey in 2004 and has been a steady voice for the team ever since.

With the sudden change, Cornell Athletics has promoted Weinstein to take on play-by-play for both Cornell men’s and women’s hockey broadcasts on ESPN+. The transition was conﬁrmed by a Cornell Athletics spokesperson in a text to The Sun.

“I’m grateful to continue doing something I’ve done for the past 20 seasons,” Weinstein told The Sun. “Cornell hockey has come to mean a lot more to me than just a gig.”

Though Weinstein has not regularly called Cornell women’s hockey games, he called a handful of play-

off games across the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 seasons.

Tony Eisenhut ’88 will continue to provide color commentary for men’s hockey broadcasts. A color commentator for the women’s broadcasts has yet to be named, a Cornell Athletics spokesperson conﬁrmed to The Sun.

“Tony and I have become good friends [and] I’ve become friends with a lot of the staff and coaches I’ve worked with over the years. You know, my son goes to Cornell now,” Weinstein said. “It’s gonna be great to work with Tony again. [He is] a big reason why I’ve enjoyed doing the games as much as I have.”

Since 1940, WHCU has provided radio coverage of Cornell men’s hockey. WHCU’s free broadcast included pre and postgame shows that regularly featured coaches and players as well as instant analysis and commentary, and Weinstein regularly traveled to broadcast away hockey games. WHCU, on the other hand, did not broadcast any Cornell women’s hockey games.

Weinstein conﬁrmed that he will not travel to away games, something he has done with radio since he began calling Cornell hockey in 2004.

“As each year went by, it became more and more apparent that Cornell was more and more of an outlier to do radio and to travel radio,” Weinstein said. “It wasn’t great to

hear [that there would be no more radio] but it just seems to be the trend.”

The change, initially reported on July 30, was driven by a Cornell Athletics decision to “move in a new direction with its multimedia rights,” according to 607 News Now. When asked to provide clariﬁcation about the “new direction” and more information about the switch, a Cornell Athletics spokesperson provided a statement on behalf of the department in a text message sent to The Sun.

“Beginning with the 2025-26 school year, Cornell Athletics will no longer be airing games on commercial radio. This decision has been made after careful evaluation of how our fans consume content, technology trends, budget priorities, equity concerns, and the need to cut costs due to the changing ﬁnancial landscape of higher education and collegiate athletics,” wrote the spokesperson Weinstein told The Sun he was informed about the change not long before it went public.

“I heard the end result. I wasn’t involved in the discussions or anything, so I don’t know when the [administrators] made the decision,” Weinstein said. “When I heard (the news) wasn’t super long before [the public] did.

To continue reading this article, plese visit www.cornellsun.com.

London McDavid is Making a Name for Herself at Cornell

ELI FASTIFF & JANE McNALLY Hockey Beat Editors

At the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, women’s hockey freshman London McDavid met a Canadian hockey star who would go on to be an NHL all-star and accumulate over 700 points. Her cousin Connor was also there.

“I met Mitch Marner, and I hadn’t heard of the sport before,” McDavid said. “So then I was like, ‘Dad, what is Connor doing?’ And then he told me about hockey and we were all talking about it. I was like, ‘Oh, I want to try doing that, [it] looks pretty fun.’”

A week after the draft, McDavid’s parents signed her up for skating lessons.

Turns out, Marner wasn’t the only future NHL all-star at the rink that day. Connor would go on to become one of the best hockey players in the world — and McDavid went from watching in the stands to suiting up for a storied NCAA hockey program.

While Connor (and Mitch Marner) may have helped inspire London McDavid’s hockey journey, Cornell’s newest forward will be playing at Lynah Rink because of her own drive and hard work. While most hockey players start skating as young as four or ﬁve years old, McDavid got off to a comparatively late start at the age of eight.

“I started skating right away and then my parents just put me in hockey and I was like, ‘Wow, there [are] other girls that have actually been playing and skating for a while now,’” McDavid said. “It took me a while to kind of understand that I wasn’t there yet.”

That didn’t stop McDavid. Every Sunday for two years, she and her father traveled to a training center with a skating treadmill, a device that allows players to practice their skating without an ice rink. The rigorous training with her

coach, Scott Elliott, allowed her to improve both her speed and stride technique.

“My skating got better. Especially at that age, your ability to get better at things is just so much faster,” McDavid said. “So, I just kept working and shooting in my backyard, and I tried out for the rep team two years later and I made it.”

By then, McDavid had caught up and even surpassed many of

she wasn’t practicing her shot or skating on the treadmill, she was watching one of the best skaters in the NHL. While London was working her way through the ranks of junior hockey, Connor was making a name for himself on the Edmonton Oilers en route to seven NHL all-star game appearances and three Hart Trophies (awarded to the top player in the NHL).

“I watched a lot of Connor, we watched so many of his games,”

coach [Doug Derraugh ’91] and all the players, and it was instantly a sense of home.”

Despite being a freshman, McDavid will have a lot asked of her in her ﬁrst season in Ithaca.

Cornell has just 11 forwards rostered, meaning that McDavid will be starting and playing heavy minutes all season. While the move from high school to college hockey is a big one, McDavid is conﬁdent she can make the adjustment.

her teammates. Going from never having played organized hockey to being among the best skaters her age in British Columbia was an impressive feat that required serious dedication.

“I think those two years were really big for my development, just working extra hard to get to the time I had lost before,” McDavid said. “I would go home and then I would work on my hands and my shot there, but then more of my skating on the treadmill and on the ice. I felt myself getting better.”

McDavid’s emphasis on her skating wasn’t by accident. When

McDavid recalled. “A lot of people say I skate like Connor now, and it was all just me watching him skate and [watching] his crossovers.”

Like her late hockey start, McDavid’s road to Cornell was also untraditional. Before the college hockey recruitment window opened, the Ivy League was not something the British Columbia native had considered.

“Coach Edith [Racine] called me and we got in contact. I didn’t know a lot about the school, I’d only ever heard of it in Gilmore Girls and The Ofﬁce,” McDavid said. “As soon as I got here, I met

“You’ve got to … let yourself make mistakes. I think that’s the hardest part,” McDavid said. “Accepting that it’s going to be a challenge and an adjustment, but not to be hard on yourself and to keep reminding yourself of who you are and who you want to be.”

For Cornell, McDavid will wear 79. It’s a switch--up from what she wore growing up — 17 — but the sentiment is all the same.

“I grew up wearing 17 because that was the number that I ﬁrst saw Connor play in Under-18 Team Canada. So when I was starting hockey, that’s when he was wearing

that number,” McDavid said.

When 17 was taken at Delta Hockey Academy — where McDavid played before heading east to Cornell — she pivoted. At the time, Connor was wearing 97 in the ﬁrst years of his stellar career with the Oilers.

“I used to wear his Team Canada number, and I didn’t want to wear 97,” McDavid said. “But 79 [is] a cool number, and it’s backwards of his.”

While the hardest part of the transition to college hockey for McDavid might be accepting mistakes, getting excited about the start of her ﬁrst season has been much easier. Two years after her commitment to Cornell, McDavid ﬁnally donned the Cornell sweater in a scrimmage against Brown and Yale that she described as “surreal.”

“Finally getting here and putting on the jersey was really special,” McDavid said. “I can’t wait for the crowds and to be ﬁnally in season and live out what I have been dreaming of for so long.”

When people watch McDavid play, they might look twice at her last name, or see shades of her cousin in her skating stride.

But McDavid is forging her own path in hockey. She doesn’t see her last name as a burden, but rather as an honor.

“When people think of me, they’re like, ‘Oh, that’s Connor McDavid’s cousin,’” McDavid said. “But I think something I’ve learned and especially through my family and their support is [how] I’m so proud of my last name and I’m so proud of how far Connor’s come and what he’s been able to do.

“But then also remembering [that] I’m my own person, and even though we share that last name, we carry it with a lot of pride,” McDavid said. “[We are] proud of our last name, and also our own journeys and who we are as people and also as players.”

Breaking Down the Men’s Hockey Leadership Group

ALEXIS ROGERS Hockey Beat Reporter

On Sept. 30, head coach Casey Jones ’90 named junior forward Ryan Walsh, senior defenseman Jack O’Brien and junior forward Jonathan Castagna as the men’s hockey’s captains for the upcoming season.

Walsh, O’Brien and Castagna will anchor a team undergoing a transition: not just at the helm, with the end of former head coach Mike Schafer ’86’s decades-long career, but on the bench. The ten-man graduating class included key pieces of the 2024-2025 roster, and Dalton Bancroft’s ’26 early departure for the NHL struck another blow to the limited lineup.

However, the depth of returning talent, potential of incoming rookies and overall program strength means Cornell can never truly be undervalued. Having steadfast student-athlete leadership during a period of turnover can only be a plus for this new era of Cornell hockey.

“Your hardest workers are wearing your letters. Boy, it goes a long way, right?” Jones said. “And I think those guys, they don’t

take any days off, so that’ll really help us. It helps our young guys too. It’ll help us a lot.”

Captain: Junior forward Ryan Walsh

Walsh is an offensive powerhouse that set the pace for Cornell last season, especially during its improbable postseason run, during which he scored in three consecutive games against Clarkson, Michigan State University and Boston University.

He led the team in goals (17) and points (31) and posted three game-deciding and three power play goals — but for Walsh, the greatest contributions aren’t reﬂected in the numbers.

“There’s deﬁnitely guys who lead vocally and by example. I’ve always been a lead by example more than a vocal kind of a leader,” Walsh said. “I feel like I’ve been a leader on the ice for a while now, but I’m really trying to focus on being a vocal leader. Being a captain, you kind of have to do some things that are uncomfortable for the betterment of the team.”

Walsh is basing his captaincy strategy on the mentorship of Kyle Penney ’25, a twoyear captain for the Red whose junior year leadership included welcoming 10 incoming freshmen to the team. This year, there are 14

incoming freshmen — a responsibility that Walsh isn’t taking lightly.

“Having [Penney] and other guys be such good leaders my ﬁrst years kind of showed me a lot on how to be a leader [and] how to grow up,” Walsh said. “How they helped me is how I want to help the new guys who are coming in.”

Alternate captains: Senior defenseman Jack O’Brien and junior forward Jonathan Castagna

O’Brien and Castagna will be Walsh’s right — or, more accurately, left — hand men. The announcement of Castagna, a dependable presence at the forefront of the team’s offense, as an alternate captain would not be much of a surprise to the outside observer. O’Brien, however, has an impact on the team unquantiﬁable on the stats sheet.

Castagna had a breakout freshman season, logging 25 points across all 35 games. Last year, he secured 15 points and had a 58.7 percent faceoff winning percentage. Prior to Cornell, he spent two seasons studying and playing at St. Andrew’s College in Ontario, where he was a captain for his second season on the team.

O’Brien played in 10 games in his ﬁrst two years with the Red before seeing action in 30 last season. The defenseman quickly became a fan favorite at Lynah Rink, inspiring a new chant among the Lynah Faithful.

“Jonny [Castagna] and Ryan are alphas on the ice,” Jones said. “They’re two highend players that work really hard and, you know, play the game the right way. But for Jack, I was excited for him to get that opportunity, with the [lack of] minutes. So that says a lot about him as a person.”

Castagna and O’Brien, like Walsh, were selected through an unrushed process, during which Jones valued the input of the returning roster. The three forerunners emerged as a clear coalescence of Jones’ observations as a coach and their peers’ opinions.

“I’ve really enjoyed working with both of them to manage this year,” Walsh said. “I think we have a great relationship, us three. We’ve had really good communication with the coaching staff. That was what was nice about having Jonesy [Casey Jones] as the associate head coach last year — we were able to build such a good relationship with him before he became the head coach.”

COURTESY OF LONDON MCDAVID

2025-2026 Matchups to Watch

TYLER GOLDBERG Hockey Beat Reporter

Men’s Hockey

At the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Oct. 31

Massachusetts will be a formidable opponent for the Red. The Minutemen are ranked No. 15 in the country in the USCHO preseason poll. In net, Massachusetts has Utah Mammoth prospect Michael Hrabal, who was drafted 38th overall in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. The 6’7” goaltender has proved his worth in net for the Minutemen, posting a .924 save percentage in 36 regular-season games last season. He also backstopped the Czech national team at the IIHF World Junior Championship.

Massachusetts nearly went the distance last year, ultimately losing in the NCAA regional ﬁnal to eventual national champion Western Michigan. While the Minutemen lost their two highest point producers from last season to pro hockey, they are returning junior Jack Musa, who had 18 goals and 17 assists last season in 40 regular-season games.

Vs. Boston University, Nov. 29

Women’s Hockey

At Colgate, Nov. 14

Colgate ﬁnished the 2024-2025 season second in the ECAC regular season standings and fell to Cornell in the conference championship game, 5-1. overall. The Raiders were one of four ECAC teams to make the NCAA tournament last season, eventually losing to the University of Minnesota in the second round.

Last season, Colgate split the regular-season home-and-home series with the Red. In the offseason, the Raiders lost the team’s top forward and starting goaltender to the PWHL draft.

However, Colgate looks poised to make another deep ECAC and NCAA run as the No. 5-ranked team in the USCHO preseason poll. The Raiders return their leading point scorer, Elyssa Bierdeman, who brings a playmaking touch to Colgate. Additionally, Emma Pais looks to continue an impressive collegiate career. Pais, the 2023 ECAC Rookie of the Year, shows an impressive goalscoring touch with a high level of IQ and playmaking ability.

The Raiders, heading into the season, have some big shoes to ﬁll, but look ready to rise to the challenge. For the Red, every game matters, and this ECAC matchup

If there’s one reason to watch this game, it can be synthesized into one word: revenge. A dish best served cold, or in this case, ‘Red Hot.’ BU has eliminated Cornell in two of the last three seasons and in three of its last ﬁve trips to the NCAA tournament. The last two came in the NCAA regional ﬁnal, which Cornell dropped in overtime at the hands of the Terriers last March.

This game marks the 10th edition of Red Hot Hockey, Cornell and Boston University’s biennial meeting at the World’s Most Famous Arena.

Cornell will hope to capture the Kelley-Harkness Cup — the trophy awarded to the winner of each edition of Red Hot Hockey — for the fourth straight rivalry game.

This game has more to look forward to than just rivalry — it also has star power. BU returns Hockey East and National Rookie of the Year, defenseman Cole Hutson. Hutson posted 43 points last season in 32 regular-season games.

Cornell will have a tough challenge against the No. 2 team in the USCHO preseason poll. This game will be a clash on a historic battleﬁeld, and one that the whole country

and upstate rivalry will deﬁnitely be important come playoff time.

Vs. Pennsylvania State University, Jan. 20

All eyes in the hockey world will be on Happy Valley. Both Penn State’s men’s and women’s teams will be playing an outdoor game this winter at Beaver Stadium. Going to Division I in the 20122013 season and never looking back, the Nittany Lions are a team on the rise. In the past three seasons, they have swept the regular and postseason CHA titles. Penn State has also been eliminated three seasons in a row by ECAC competition.

The Nittany Lions are notably returning Tessa Janecke, who led the team a season ago with 53 points in 38 games. Janecke also represented the United States at the IIHF Women’s World Championships, scoring the golden goal.

The Team USA veteran will likely miss time this season (possibly including the matchup with Cornell) playing with the national team in the Olympics. This late-season out-of-conference matchup will be a good test for the Red in what could be a postseason or even championship matchup. Vs. Union, Feb. 7

Last spring, Union did not

should have eyes on.

Vs. Quinnipiac, Jan. 17

Cornell played Quinnipiac four times last season. Of those games, only one ended in regulation—a 3-1 loss for the Red. Cornell went on to defeat Quinnipiac in overtime in the ECAC semiﬁnals.

Quinnipiac, seeking its second Whitelaw Cup in program history, experienced signiﬁcant roster changes this season, adding six players from the Canadian Hockey League. Notably, the team now features Graham Sward, a defenseman with professional experience, playing last season in the ECHL with the Norfolk Admirals. These additions have garnered Quinnipiac the No. 13 spot in the preseason rankings, four spots above Cornell.

Quinnipiac will be a good challenge for the Red before the annual rivalry game against Harvard at Lynah Rink the following weekend. This game will be the ﬁrst time the two will play in the 2025-2026 season. The matchup comes just past the halfway point in the season and may have major implications for ECAC tournament seeding and, later on, the NCAA tournament.

make the NCAA tournament thanks in large part to Cornell’s sweep of the Garnett Chargers in the ECAC quarterfinals. However, Union was responsible for one of Cornell’s two ECAC losses last season, upsetting the Red in the first weekend of conference play to claim the Garnet Chargers’ first-ever win at Lynah Rink.

In Cornell’s 3-2 win over Union in game two of the ECAC quarterﬁnals, the Red were whistled for a season-high seven penalties. The Garnet Chargers were guided by a young duo last season in Karianne Engelbert and Maddie Leaney, who led the way for the Chargers in points.

Joining them again this season is senior captain Stephanie Bourque, a strong offensive blueliner who last season set the program record for goals in a single season by a defender. Monja Wagner will hold down the fort between the pipes for the Chargers. In a limited six games last season, Wagner posted a .929 save percentage.

While Cornell was able to survive an upset to Union a season ago, this season’s ECAC title race will likely be too tight to allow for the same mistake to be made again.

607-273-3606

classifieds@cornellsun.com

1/2 VALENTINES Hockey Shout-Outs

A TRADITION of EXCELLENCE... LGR

RUMACK DISPUTE

RESOLUTION says “Good Evening Hockey Fans”

We want more from our favorite Sun Hockey reporter, Jane! #LGR #GBR

Ryan Connaghan says GO BIG RED!!

Margaret Claire says GO BIG RED!!

Cornell Field Hockey Parents say GO BIG RED!!

Ad (GBR CWIH)

Proud to support LUKE McCRADY and the entire Cornell men’s hockey team! Best of luck this season! Go BIG RED! —Scott & Penny McCrady

BY THE NUMBERS

Number of incoming players for men’s hockey this season.

3,135

Record-breaking attendance number at the NCAA women’s hockey regional ﬁnal.

Number of drafted players on men’s hockey, the third-highest total in program history.

Annelies Bergmann shutouts in 20242025, which led the natiom.

195.8

Average weight of Cornell men’s hockey in 2025-26, which ranks ﬁrst in the NCAA.