Team Notes: Cornell Kicks Off Regular Season Against Niagara

The following article appeared October 29 on the Cornell Web site.

ITHACA, N.Y. -- The 2009-10 Cornell men’s hockey season gets underway on Friday night as the Big Red takes on Niagara in a non-league game at Lynah Rink. The game can be heard on the radio on WHCU 870 AM in the Ithaca area with Jason Weinstein providing the call. Additionally, live video of the game will be available through the Cornell RedCast subscription service.

ABOUT THE BIG RED
Cornell enters the 2009-10 season as both a veteran club and one with plenty of talented newcomers, with all of the pieces seemingly in place for a run at the ECAC Hockey championship. Cornell returns 15 lettermen from last year’s team that finished as the league runner-up and advanced to the NCAA Midwest Regional Final. Added to that number are nine freshmen who will help to provide added depth at every position on the ice. Leading the way offensively is the Big Red’s top three scorers from last year in Riley Nash, Colin Greening and Blake Gallagher. Nash finished the year with 13 goals and 22 assists for 35 points a year ago, while Greening paced all players with 15 goals to go along with 16 assists for 31 points. Gallagher, meanwhile, tallied seven goals and 21 assists for 28 points. While the Big Red will rely on those three to repeat their offensive production, key to the season will be other players stepping up and contributing more offensively. In goal, Cornell returns one of the nation’s best in senior Ben Scrivens. Scrivens finished last season with a .931 save percentage and a 1.81 goals-against average. Cornell converted on 15.3 percent of its power play chances (31-of-203) while killing off 87.0 percent of its opponents’ power plays (161-of-185).

ABOUT NIAGARA
The Purple Eagles enter this weekend’s action winless on the year, opening with a 0-3-1 mark on the early season. Niagara scored a tie against Colgate to open the season, but has since lost three straight to Clarkson, St. Lawrence and Michigan, though all three defeats were by one goal. Tyler Gotto leads the Niagara offense with five points on two goals and three assists, while three players have chipped in three points each. The goaltending tandem of Adam Avramenko and Chris Noonan have combined for a .884 save percentage and a 3.61 goals-against average. Niagara has struggled on the power play this year, going scoreless in 15 man-advantage opportunities, while the Purple Eagles have allowed four power play goals in 21 chances (81.0 percent).

Complete article can be accessed via the Cornell Web site by clicking here.