Friday, September 20, 2019

60 Days. 60 Teams. 600 Words (or Less): Cornell

Cornell


2018-19 Record: 21-11-4 (13-5-4, T-1st in ECAC)
Head Coach: Mike Schafer, 25th Year
Top returning scorer: Morgan Barron (15G-19A)
Top returning goaltenders: Matthew Galajda (Jr.) and Austin McGrath (Jr.)

What's a bigger question mark than one goaltender returning after an injury ended his outstanding season? How about two goaltenders in the same situation.

That's the blessing and cursed predicament Cornell finds itself in 2019-20. Starter Matthew Galajda missed the 2019 NCAA Tournament due to an injury. Backup Austin McGrath, already scheduled to undergo surgery at the end of the season, came in and helped the Big Red defeat Northeastern before losing to Providence.

Both return, as do 7 of Cornell's top 10 scorers. The Big Red once again aims to be a beacon of defense, a year after tying with Quinnipiac for both the ECAC regular-season title and allowing the fewest goals (73) all season nationally. (Up from an insanely-low 52 in 2017-18.) To do so will require replacing half the blue line and getting back a healthy 2017-18 first-team All-American in Galajda (.939 and .921 save percentages his first two years).

What's New: A video scoreboard at Lynah Rink.

Fans will be able to see replays and all the modern amenities that come with video. No longer will newspapers be forced to be the only source of media during introductions. (Kidding. Seriously, please keep buying newspapers! Reading is important!)


Cornell's 2019-20 roster features nine first-year players. Forward Matt Stienburg, a 2019 third-round pick by the Colorado Avalanche, is the highest Big Red draft pick since Riley Nash after 59 points (19G-40A) in 57 games for Youngstown (USHL). Jack Malone, meanwhile, was selected in the sixth round by Vancouver. Other incoming players among the five forwards and four defenders include Lakeville native Sam Malinski and Schafer's fourth set of twins.

This season sees Cornell traveling to New York and next to New York, New York with November's Red Hot Hockey versus Boston University at MSG and January's Fortress Invitational in Las Vegas. The Big Red also head to East Lansing to take on a Michigan State team who swept CU last October.

Closing Thoughts: Of the teams who came within a game of the 2019 Frozen Four, Cornell could consider itself both the most disappointed and happy. 2017-18 was a nice surprise. The expectations were next season was the year built for a run. Instead, finishing 2018-19 with injuries throughout the lineup is a reminder that nothing is given or goes the way it should on paper. Making Frozen Fours is a difficult task where things need to go right at the right time of year.

It's a lesson most teams in this area of the series know all too well.

A healthy Galadja gives the Big Red a brick wall in net while young two-way blueliners find their footing (and if not, a healthy McGrath isn't a bad option). Travis Mitchell led all Omaha defenders in points. All except Malinksi are 6'3, nearly 200 lbs. Up front, Morgan Barron and Cam Donaldson returning along with incoming players like Stienburg and Malone add another element.

Cornell should be happy with its run, which looks to continue with a chance for a third straight ECAC title. Schafer's had the first stretch of three straight NCAA Tournaments since Ned Harkness coached. And yet there's always the curse of wanting more.

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Every Team So Far

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