2006-7 Schedule

All I have is the ECAC part of the schedule. You can guess much of the rest, but I'll try this evening to see if Sue Detzer has an update. None as of 1/7.

The ?'s are open slots where we normally could have games.

?
Fri 11/3  @Brown
Sat 11/4  @Yale
Fri 11/10 Harvard
Sat 11/11 Dartmouth
Fri 11/17 @Princeton
Sat 11/18 @Quinnipiac
?
Fri 12/1  RPI
Sat 12/2  Union
?         Florida
?
Fri 1/12  @St. Lawrence
Sat 1/13  @Clarkson
Fri 1/19  Yale
Sat 1/20  Brown
?
Fri 2/2   Clarkson
Sat 2/3   St. Lawrence
Fri 2/9   @Union
Sat 2/10  @RPI
Fri 2/16  Quinnipiac
Sat 2/17  Princeton
Fri 2/23  @Dartmouth
Sat 2/24  @Harvard

What a way to end the season! Those @ Harvard tickets will be tough to get.

So much for preformatting.

looking at the previous year and this year...
we should(?) have this game as part of home and home swaps as well.

@ RIT

teams we played this season whose home and home are done.
niagara (rochester was a niagara home game)
mich state

I wonder if a game at RIT is in the works for next year. Also of note, we never played at Canisius after the home game last year. I would like a game in buffalo

LGR!

Yeah, but do you want that enough to take up one of our valuable NC games with Canisius?

I suppose Colgate home-and-home will be 1/26-27 (or some such 2-day combination that week)?

I find it interesting that Harvard will be the first home game. First home game is normally big enough anyway; seems like it'd be better to have it with a team that otherwise wouldn't draw the fans. Whereas - Harvard will always be full.

Also - only one weekend of home games the entire fall semester???

las224
I find it interesting that Harvard will be the first home game. First home game is normally big enough anyway; seems like it'd be better to have it with a team that otherwise wouldn't draw the fans. Whereas - Harvard will always be full.

Also - only one weekend of home games the entire fall semester???

It's not unusual to have only one home ECAC weekend in the fall semester. That being said, I'm guessing we'll get at least two home nonconference games as well in the fall, probably in late October and/or over Thanksgiving weekend.

Sorry about the preformatting. I'll get to that soon.

An NC pair against a decent western team would make that schedule look a lot better (in addition to what I'm guessing will be two in Florida, one return game at RIT, and two against AH teams early on).

las224

Also - only one weekend of home games the entire fall semester???

Unless the semester ends at Thanksgiving these days or the league is kicking out RPI and Union, I see two weekeds of home conference games in Jim's schedule...

It is worth noting however that in years past the home/away ECAC weekends have sometimes flipped when the schedule is finalized as have the order of games (i.e. fri/sat). This schedule looks a little more polished than in the past though when it would just list travel partners in alphabetical order, so it may be more reliable.

This schedule is from the ECAC office, through Sue Detzer. So I'd guess it's reasonably firm. Sue had no updates as of Sat..

Jim Hyla
Fri 2/9 @Union
Sat 2/10 @RPI
Fri 2/16 Quinnipiac
Sat 2/17 Princeton
Fri 2/23 @Dartmouth
Sat 2/24 @Harvard .

If RPI can hold off Brown this year, it looks like they'll be putting a 16 year Big Red Freakout undefeated streak on the line against the Big Red next spring. I had heard that Cornell was going to be the opponent next year and this schedule would seem to confirm that as it's been the penultimate home Saturday for a few years running (though the opponents may have played a role). The last (and only) time Cornell was the Freakout guest was in 1982- a 7-4 Cornell win.

jmh30
An NC pair against a decent western team would make that schedule look a lot better (in addition to what I'm guessing will be two in Florida, one return game at RIT, and two against AH teams early on).

Remember that we're due to play Maine in the first round in Florida next season, and UNH is also in the field.

Chris '03
If RPI can hold off Brown this year, it looks like they'll be putting a 16 year Big Red Freakout undefeated streak on the line against the Big Red next spring. I had heard that Cornell was going to be the opponent next year and this schedule would seem to confirm that as it's been the penultimate home Saturday for a few years running (though the opponents may have played a role). The last (and only) time Cornell was the Freakout guest was in 1982- a 7-4 Cornell win.

I've been told by an RPI fan that Cornell will be RPI's opponent in Official Cheer Loudly For Your Team Just This Once Each Season Day in the spring of 2007.

jmh30
I've been told by an RPI fan that Cornell will be RPI's opponent in Official Cheer Loudly For Your Team Just This Once Each Season Day in the spring of 2007.

That's still more than one can say about a lot of teams' fanbases.

jtwcornell91
Remember that we're due to play Maine in the first round in Florida next season, and UNH is also in the field.

Maine fans on USCHO are reporting the games as:
Cornell vs. UNH
Maine vs. Western Michigan

Will

jmh30
I've been told by an RPI fan that Cornell will be RPI's opponent in Official Cheer Loudly For Your Team Just This Once Each Season Day in the spring of 2007.

That's still more than one can say about a lot of teams' fanbases.

That's true, I suppose cheering loudly one day a year is better than cheering loudly never. (I"m looking at you, Harvard.)

jmh30

Chris '03
If RPI can hold off Brown this year, it looks like they'll be putting a 16 year Big Red Freakout undefeated streak on the line against the Big Red next spring. I had heard that Cornell was going to be the opponent next year and this schedule would seem to confirm that as it's been the penultimate home Saturday for a few years running (though the opponents may have played a role). The last (and only) time Cornell was the Freakout guest was in 1982- a 7-4 Cornell win.

I've been told by an RPI fan that Cornell will be RPI's opponent in Official Cheer Loudly For Your Team Just This Once Each Season Day in the spring of 2007.

I suspect that RPI picked Cornell for next year's BRF! in order to increase the odds of the game getting televised. The 'Tute was probably hoping that this year's game against Brown would be televised. IMO this was a reasonable assumption considering last year's game was quite good. It looks like we RPI fans will have to settle for next Saturday's webcast vs. Clarkson. [www.alumni.rpi.edu] At least it is free.

jmh30
That's true, I suppose cheering loudly one day a year is better than cheering loudly never. (I"m looking at you, Harvard.)

Have you not been at Lynah East in the last couple of years?

Beeeej

one more thing, I assume that the interior construction on the rink will be done in time for the home games next year...

woowoo revenge

Jim Hyla

Fri 1/19  Yale
Sat 1/20  Brown
?
Fri 2/2   Clarkson
Sat 2/3   St. Lawrence

This question mark is where the Colgate home-and-home should go, no? I further assume that the Friday game is in Hamilton and the Saturday game is at home.

pat

Jim Hyla

Fri 1/19  Yale
Sat 1/20  Brown
?
Fri 2/2   Clarkson
Sat 2/3   St. Lawrence

This question mark is where the Colgate home-and-home should go, no? I further assume that the Friday game is in Hamilton and the Saturday game is at home.

THat's a likely spot, but the games have not always been on the same weekend, so? I suspect that both schools are keeping it open to look at out of conference choices.

[q]THat's a likely spot, but the games have not always been on the same weekend, so? I suspect that both schools are keeping it open to look at out of conference choices.[/q]While I'm sure the coaches would prefer to play the games as a home and home weekend set (pretty sure Schafer has been quoted saying that in the past), I'm also confident that if Red Berenson got really drunk and agreed to bring the Wolverines to Lynah that weekend (or to Lynah one night and then Starr) I guarantee thay'd move the Cornell-Colgate games. To Tuesday nights if necessary.

KeithK
I'm also confident that if Red Berenson got really drunk and agreed to bring the Wolverines to Lynah that weekend (or to Lynah one night and then Starr) I guarantee thay'd move the Cornell-Colgate games. To Tuesday nights if necessary.

Roger. I'll keep an eye on the dumpsters around Ann Arbor...

Robb

KeithK
I'm also confident that if Red Berenson got really drunk and agreed to bring the Wolverines to Lynah that weekend (or to Lynah one night and then Starr) I guarantee thay'd move the Cornell-Colgate games. To Tuesday nights if necessary.

Roger. I'll keep an eye on the dumpsters around Ann Arbor...

Where's your sense of duty? Head to AA and bring bottles of Red's favorite drink...

Jim Hyla
Fri 2/9 @Union
Sat 2/10 @RPI
Fri 2/16 Quinnipiac
Sat 2/17 Princeton
Fri 2/23 @Dartmouth
Sat 2/24 @Harvard

If RPI can hold off Brown this year, it looks like they'll be putting a 16 year Big Red Freakout undefeated streak on the line against the Big Red next spring. I had heard that Cornell was going to be the opponent next year and this schedule would seem to confirm that as it's been the penultimate home Saturday for a few years running (though the opponents may have played a role). The last (and only) time Cornell was the Freakout guest was in 1982- a 7-4 Cornell win.

chris that yellow text is horrible on the eyes with the new software...

jy3
chris that yellow text is horrible on the eyes with the new software...

It doesn't look yellow in Firefox.

Will
It doesn't look yellow in Firefox.

Is it in Russian?

wait so coaches get to pretty much pick who their non-conference games are against (assuming the other coach agrees as well?)

If this is the case, I wish Cornell would pick higher ranked teams, because our strength of schedule just kills us in the PWR rankings

mikee293
wait so coaches get to pretty much pick who their non-conference games are against (assuming the other coach agrees as well?)

If this is the case, I wish Cornell would pick higher ranked teams, because our strength of schedule just kills us in the PWR rankings

So say we all. Most of us, anyway.

mikee293
wait so coaches get to pretty much pick who their non-conference games are against (assuming the other coach agrees as well?)

If this is the case, I wish Cornell would pick higher ranked teams, because our strength of schedule just kills us in the PWR rankings

Yes, Mike Schafer can just say "I want CC, Minnesota, Michigan, BC, Maine, North Dakota, and BU to play at Lynah this year." Those teams are then legally bound to show up...

All snarkiness aside, I'll give a real answer on the assumption that your comment is sincere (and not snarky). The schools do decide non-conference games on their own. There is no NCAA scheduling body to organize non-conference games. Scheduling non-conference games is a balancing act which has to take into account willingness of the opponents to play you, venue (everyone wants to play at home when possible) and available dates. Cornell has disadvantages due to the late start (a lot of non-conf games are played in October when Cornell can't), limited games (Cornell plays 29 according to Ivy rules as opposed to the NCAA limit of 34) and small rink capacity (Lynah is 1/3 or 1/4 of the size of some of the biggest western arenas and those teams would rather get the big gate at home).

Well, Harvard managed to get a home and home with UND, UNH, and Maine in recent years....they haven't been scheduling the likes of RIT and Canisius

This is spot on.

This year's Michigan St. set was reasonable. I can even understand a game with RIT to help RIT fill out their D-I schedule. But Niagara and such?

There was a time where we scheduled BU every other year or so. We should be playing top tier non-conference opponents. BU/BC/UNH in the east, Mich/Minn/CC/UND in the west.

I understood when we had Western Mich because the coaching staff had solid ties to that program. But even then I thought that was pretty marginal.

It's reached the point of being silly.

Karl B. '77

heykb
There was a time where we scheduled BU every other year or so. We should be playing top tier non-conference opponents. BU/BC/UNH in the east, Mich/Minn/CC/UND in the west.

Um, no there wasn't. We've only played BU 8 times since the Great Divorce, 4 @ Lynah, 1 neutral site at the Syracuse Invitational, and 3 @ BU. 2 of those games were in 1989, 2 in 2002, and 2 in 2003. So there have only been 5 seasons since 1984 that we've played BU - more like every 4 years. We've played BU far more frequently in the last 4 years than in the 20 years before that.

Robb

heykb
There was a time where we scheduled BU every other year or so. We should be playing top tier non-conference opponents. BU/BC/UNH in the east, Mich/Minn/CC/UND in the west.

Um, no there wasn't. We've only played BU 8 times since the Great Divorce, 4 @ Lynah, 1 neutral site at the Syracuse Invitational, and 3 @ BU. 2 of those games were in 1989, 2 in 2002, and 2 in 2003. So there have only been 5 seasons since 1984 that we've played BU - more like every 4 years. We've played BU far more frequently in the last 4 years than in the 20 years before that.

And they won't play us anymore after they got embarassed in the 02-03 season.

bothman
Well, Harvard managed to get a home and home with UND, UNH, and Maine in recent years....they haven't been scheduling the likes of RIT and Canisius

To be fair, you have to look at geography. Harvard has the advantage of playing in the middle of HEA country. Cornell's closest non-conference opponents are RIT, Canisius, Niagara, Mercyhurst, RMU, and Army probably. It's a far cry from BU, BC, UNH, Maine, etc.

The economics do play a role. It's easier financially to take a hit and play in a small barn on the road when it's near by than when it's cross country.

The UND series is a good pick up. They've shown a surprising willingness to play in ECAC rinks (see, Princeton & Yale a few years back. That was the series that included the ND radio guy having a fight with the fan on the air and Chris Higgins getting the gate for fighting).

Robb

heykb
There was a time where we scheduled BU every other year or so. We should be playing top tier non-conference opponents. BU/BC/UNH in the east, Mich/Minn/CC/UND in the west.

Um, no there wasn't. We've only played BU 8 times since the Great Divorce, 4 @ Lynah, 1 neutral site at the Syracuse Invitational, and 3 @ BU. 2 of those games were in 1989, 2 in 2002, and 2 in 2003. So there have only been 5 seasons since 1984 that we've played BU - more like every 4 years. We've played BU far more frequently in the last 4 years than in the 20 years before that.

We did play them at Lynah in 1993 and WBA in 1995, so some of us optimistically extrapolated and were disappointed when they didn't come back in 1997.

I don't think we can dictate our non-conference slate like some seem to assume we can, but I wish we could get the BU rivalry restarted on a more regular basis, and I'm hoping Schafer and Sandelin came away from the Florida tournament with a good enough vibe to get something started with tUMD.

ANd on the flip side, the chances of restarting something with Michigan State seem long as I can imagine Schaefer's repore with their coaching staff is not so hot.

but awesome win percentage has gotten us in in past years.....

"I'll give a real answer on the assumption that your comment is sincere (and not snarky)"


it was sincere.....but i guess poorly worded haha

Prepare to be really depressed...

Since 1985 (when there were reasonable Eastern non-conference opponents to play), Cornell has only played 26 non-conference games against teams that made the NCAA tournament, my arbitrary criteria for what is a "good" team. That's 26 in 21 seasons, for 1.24 per season. That's pretty sad, but not depressing.

The depressing part is that in those 26 games, we've gone 4-20-2. Yep. For those of you scoring at home, that's 0.192. Our wins were BU twice in 2003, BU in 2002, and OSU in 2003. We managed ties against Maine in 2000 and Michigan in 1997. The only years that we've had more than 2 NC games against tourney teams were 2003 (3-2-0) and 1996 (0-3-0).

Ugh. Ugh. Ugh.

Wow is all I have to say. Someone should send that stat to Schafer. Almost unbelievable. Maybe that starts to give the EZAC chants a little more credence and provides a solid backdrop for an ECAC team not winning it all since Harvard did in 1989.

jtwcornell91
{BU stuff snipped}

I don't think we can dictate our non-conference slate like some seem to assume we can, but I wish we could get the BU rivalry restarted on a more regular basis, and I'm hoping Schafer and Sandelin came away from the Florida tournament with a good enough vibe to get something started with tUMD.

I think this gets to the heart of the matter. A sustained non-conference rivalry would be very good for the program. But it needs to be a suitable opponent. It doesn't make sense for it to be a doormat; that's not a rivalry. Having Maine show up at the Fla tourney every year is a good start, and I thought tOSU might have been on that track as well.

We could use a BU or UND or UMich weekend every year, alternating locations. I'm sure it's not a slam dunk to arrange but somehow there's gotta be a way.

Karl B. '77

heykb
This is spot on.

This year's Michigan St. set was reasonable. I can even understand a game with RIT to help RIT fill out their D-I schedule. But Niagara and such?

There was a time where we scheduled BU every other year or so. We should be playing top tier non-conference opponents. BU/BC/UNH in the east, Mich/Minn/CC/UND in the west.

I understood when we had Western Mich because the coaching staff had solid ties to that program. But even then I thought that was pretty marginal.

It's reached the point of being silly.

Karl B. '77

Well put.

Even with WMU, at least it was against a Big 4 team, who thus has a better chance (than AH/CHA) of having a NCAA season, and gives us a CO-OP for the PWR. An Army/SHU/Niagara/etc weekend does nothing along those lines.

Robb
Prepare to be really depressed...

Since 1985 (when there were reasonable Eastern non-conference opponents to play), Cornell has only played 26 non-conference games against teams that made the NCAA tournament, my arbitrary criteria for what is a "good" team. That's 26 in 21 seasons, for 1.24 per season. That's pretty sad, but not depressing.

The depressing part is that in those 26 games, we've gone 4-20-2. Yep. For those of you scoring at home, that's 0.192. Our wins were BU twice in 2003, BU in 2002, and OSU in 2003. We managed ties against Maine in 2000 and Michigan in 1997. The only years that we've had more than 2 NC games against tourney teams were 2003 (3-2-0) and 1996 (0-3-0).

Ugh. Ugh. Ugh.

Is it really fair to go all the way back to 1985? Why not limit attention to the Schafer era (which is also the last 10 seasons), which includes all the non-losses?

It may not be fair, but I've got the data: [www.tbrw.info]

heykb

We could use a BU or UND or UMich weekend every year, alternating locations. I'm sure it's not a slam dunk to arrange but somehow there's gotta be a way.

Karl B. '77

Agreed. Granted, Cornell's not dealing from a position of strength but it should be an attractive rivalry candidate, nonetheless.

I'd love to see an annual weekend with Michigan. Give those NTDP kids every chance possible to see Cornell play, plus it's driveable. Otherwise, either Wisconsin or BU (the red rivalry) would be great. Though I'd be thrilled with any of the following: Denver, CC, Minny, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Michigan, BU, BC, or New Hamphsire.

Ah, to dream...

mikee293
"I'll give a real answer on the assumption that your comment is sincere (and not snarky)"


it was sincere.....but i guess poorly worded haha

Not necessarily...I'm just used to me being snarky that I see it everywhere.

Chris '03

bothman
Well, Harvard managed to get a home and home with UND, UNH, and Maine in recent years....they haven't been scheduling the likes of RIT and Canisius

To be fair, you have to look at geography. Harvard has the advantage of playing in the middle of HEA country. Cornell's closest non-conference opponents are RIT, Canisius, Niagara, Mercyhurst, RMU, and Army probably. It's a far cry from BU, BC, UNH, Maine, etc.

The economics do play a role. It's easier financially to take a hit and play in a small barn on the road when it's near by than when it's cross country.

The UND series is a good pick up. They've shown a surprising willingness to play in ECAC rinks (see, Princeton & Yale a few years back. That was the series that included the ND radio guy having a fight with the fan on the air and Chris Higgins getting the gate for fighting).

And also with the geography - Boston is a more attractive road trip for teams then Ithaca. I have no idea how Clarkson/SLU gets some of those programs to go into the North Country though.

I don't think we should go on the road though to play top teams if they're not willing to return the trip. It's not like we're a mid-major team in hoops. We're nationally ranked year-in, year-out, help out another team's strength of schedule, etc. I would love to see us play Wisconsin or Michigan or such - but we shouldn't have to always go out there. tOSU may be one of the better options out there for us.

I would settle for a home and home series with a rotating Hockey East team each season. I don't see why that's not doable - even if it's UMass or UML to start with. Actually maybe some scheduling lessons could be learned from our lacrosse team which I think does a reasonable job in getting some top tier teams and some 'easier' games.

I think the problem of scheduling HE teams lies within most HE teams usually already have ECAC teams that they play year in-year out.
Harvard plays in the Beanpot which takes up 2 games of BC, BU, and NE. This leaves each team with up to 8 NC games left of which 2 are usually taken up by holiday tournament leaving 6 games. Of those 6 games BC and BU usually have a series against a WCHA team being top conference in east versus top in west. This leaves only 4 games left for us to schedule a game against them. Of those 4 games, BC and BU are best of getting teams from CHA, CCHA, and AHA to gain the most in the COP category. As you can see this leaves us lying on the outside in. Can we work ourselves into one of those NC games probably but it will be hard and you cant expect it every year.
Out of the other HE teams that will help our RPI and PWR rankings are probably just Maine and UNH. Maine is in our holiday tournament so we can through them out since playing the same team 3 times will not help you gain COPs. So this leaves UNH. UNH, I believe is going to play Dartmouth every year so there is one ECAC team for them. This is our best shot I think of getting an good HE to play us during the regular season. The only problem with UNH is I can see them more inclined to play against SLU since the travel is easier.

Out of the top 4 teams in the HE, you can see already have ECAC foes to play against every year so I think it is unlikely that we get one of these teams to play us outside the Florida tourney. I think we should play more HE opponents but I think it will be likely UMass or UML. I would like to have us play Vermont as our HE opponent but I think UMass and UML would be easier to schedule.

The other conferences I dont nearly as much as who usually plays against whom in the ECAC. I think we can easily rule out the two Alaskan teams. I think this year, we should of tried to take one of SCSU against Colgate games to play us and remove one of the weaker games. This would of helped considerably. Also I wonder why we never team up with Colgate to play a larger variety of OOC opponents since we could play 2 different ones a weekend here.

bothman
Wow is all I have to say. Someone should send that stat to Schafer. Almost unbelievable. Maybe that starts to give the EZAC chants a little more credence and provides a solid backdrop for an ECAC team not winning it all since Harvard did in 1989.

So how does Harvard's record look in this analysis? You must know, because surely you wouldn't come in here ripping on Cornell's record unless you already knew Harvard's was significantly better, right?

Robb
So how does Harvard's record look in this analysis? You must know, because surely you wouldn't come in here ripping on Cornell's record unless you already knew Harvard's was significantly better, right?

I'm sure bothman will point with pride to Harvard's superb NCAA tournament record over the past four years as evidence of how well their difficult out-of-conference schedule has served them.

TCHL8842
Also I wonder why we never team up with Colgate to play a larger variety of OOC opponents since we could play 2 different ones a weekend here.

We did that in 2003-2004 (and presumably the year before) with Ohio State and Bowling Green. Not sure if it helps or hinders us to play a team twice - on one hand, we're better in the second half of the season when we see all the ECAC teams for the second time, but on the other, recent evidence in weekend series with, oh, Michigan State has us doing worse in the second game.

Harvard has not performed as well in the NCAAs as Cornell, but that is because Cornell has been better than Harvard. I think Cornell had the talent and the coaching to weld that talent to win the NCAAs in prior years, but I honestly believe that Cornell's non-conference schedule hindered them...if nothing else, but to see the quality out West as a motivating factor at an early point in the season.

Harvard has continually been able to schedule non-conference teams. Yes, being in Boston helps with the scheduling of BU and BC, but getting games with Maine, North Dakota, and Michigan in recent years is something Cornell should be able to achieve as well. Hearing Big Mike and Cornell fans say that they want to help promote hockey by scheduling RIT and Canisius is such a joke and laughable.

Why do guys like Al Deflorio get so defensive (1989 maybe?) I have nothing but respect for Cornell's program. I just think their non-conference schedule reflects a team from Atlantic Hockey as opposed to one of the best programs in the East. The sad thing is that now that Cornell is experiencing a little more parity, an early exit from the ECAC tourney or some stumbles down the home stretch in the regular season, may cause the Big Red to miss the dance. That would be a shame.....

I also think that Harvard's ability to get teams like north dakato to come east is influenced by the amount of high school-prep school hockey talent. The coaches get to do some recruiting and the high school kids get an opportunity to see a team that is interested in them play live. Granted there is good hockey talent in central new york, it is just much more concentrated in boston. Teams can schedule 2 games, versus two different teams (and leagues) without changing hotels and driving more than 30 miles.

I would like to see cornell and colgate (maybe even niagara?) work together and try and bring teams from the in for a 2 game set, one at each barn. Colgate usually has a good record, and niagara is at the top of the cha (thus would be a game with a potential TUC team). However, i do agree with coach in that if our team travels out west, they should return the visit.

Robb

heykb
There was a time where we scheduled BU every other year or so. We should be playing top tier non-conference opponents. BU/BC/UNH in the east, Mich/Minn/CC/UND in the west.

Um, no there wasn't. We've only played BU 8 times since the Great Divorce, 4 @ Lynah, 1 neutral site at the Syracuse Invitational, and 3 @ BU. 2 of those games were in 1989, 2 in 2002, and 2 in 2003. So there have only been 5 seasons since 1984 that we've played BU - more like every 4 years. We've played BU far more frequently in the last 4 years than in the 20 years before that.

Some of us have memories that go back more than 20 years to before "the Great Divorce." The WAS a time when we scheduled them every year and met them in the post season once, or even twice, in many of those years, but they weren't non-conference games then.

bothman
Harvard has continually been able to schedule non-conference teams. Yes, being in Boston helps with the scheduling of BU and BC, but getting games with Maine, North Dakota, and Michigan in recent years is something Cornell should be able to achieve as well.

Well, as written, that sentence is correct. But if you meant to say "good" non-conference teams, I have to disagree. Since '99 (the earliest year I have available from USCHO), Harvard has gone 4-14-2 vs non-conference teams that made the NCAA tournament. However, precisely *4* of those games were vs teams not named BU or BC: 2 at CC in '01, 1 at Michigan in '02, and 1 vs Maine in '05. I can't count the NoDak games just yet, because we don't know if they'll make the tourney this year or not. But even counting them, that means that Harvard's been able to schedule good non-conference teams not in their back yard 4 times in the last 7 seasons (and you're about the closest decent non-conference team to Maine, so that one's a little iffy). Whoop-de-do. Way to go Harvard - really pulling your weight there.

Gosh, let's all bow down to the scheduling capabilities of the Harvard athletics office. Let's all strive to be as wonderful as they are. Thank goodness they've been around to improve the image of the ECAC, or we really would be the EZAC.

David Harding
Some of us have memories that go back more than 20 years to before "the Great Divorce." The WAS a time when we scheduled them every year and met them in the post season once, or even twice, in many of those years, but they weren't non-conference games then.

Yes, but that's irrelevant to the discussion about the non-conference teams that we're able to schedule in today's environment. Today's environment has only existed since 1985, so that's the logical cutoff.

Robb

David Harding
Some of us have memories that go back more than 20 years to before "the Great Divorce." The WAS a time when we scheduled them every year and met them in the post season once, or even twice, in many of those years, but they weren't non-conference games then.

Yes, but that's irrelevant to the discussion about the non-conference teams that we're able to schedule in today's environment. Today's environment has only existed since 1985, so that's the logical cutoff.

I agree, and I tried to point that that out in my comment that weren't non-conference games. But Karl B. '77 and I ('72) do remember a time when the games with BU were regular, however irrelevant that fact may be.

David Harding
But Karl B. '77 and I ('72) do remember a time when the games with BU were regular, however irrelevant that fact may be.

And some of us pre-date the 3/11/66 ECAC semi-final when Cornell and BU resumed (more accurate to say really "started" their rivalry after a 40-year hiatus.

[Greg, the first two games with BU were in the 1924-25 and 1925-26 seasons, both apparently in Ithaca, according to the media guide.]

Robb's 4-20-2 statistic omits two wins over future tournament teams in 2003-04. At the Everblades College Classic, Cornell beat tournament-bound Notre Dame and Ohio State.

6 wins is a little better than 4.

My memories of Cornell hockey actually go back earlier than my class suggests. As a townie, I attended occasional games from about the second season in Lynah and listened to Sam Woodside and Don Martin broadcast the games on WHCU-FM.

Craig,

I assume you're right - the spreadsheet where I tabulated it is at work, however, so I'm not sure how I missed those.

Thanks,

Robb

The following is extracted from a message from the RPI Alumni Cooordinator a while back. It shows that Cornell will indeed by the BRF! opponent next year. I don't know how likely it is that the game will actually be on ESPN-U, but at least it's being looked into.[q]We are working with ESPN-U, the new university sports channel from ESPN, to carrying the 30th Anniversary of the Big Red Freakout game against Cornell in February 2007. We have also asked ESPN-U to hold the RPI vs. Clarkson game on Friday, January 19, 2007.[/q]

when do we find out who are Non Conference games are against?

any new info?

This is speculation, not information, but if the first scheduled conference game is Friday 11/3, and there's typically a game or two (nonconference or exhibition) the weekend before that, I'm guessing we're looking at Red/White on Saturday, 10/21. (It can't be before the 10/15 official start date, right? Because Saturday, 10/14 is Homecoming and football against Toothpaste, which would be good for R/W attendance; 10/21 the football team is at Brown.)

Anyway, assuming Red/White is Saturday, 10/21, that's only 209 days away. *sigh*

The other big question - Where will this take place?

miniteam8s
The other big question - Where will this take place?

The building may be ready by season's start, but I wouldn't think that's likely. Lynah should be ready by January. The fall semester games will probably be played in a "nearby" rink, like Elmira, Binghamton or Syracuse.

I wonder if some of the second tier Hockey East teams (no disrespect intended) would be reasonable candidates to beef up schedule strength at least somewhat. Vermont? Mass-Lowell (most years, not always)? Providence? Schafer worked with Colgate's coach, right? I think it's more exciting when you play different teams each night, so maybe partnering with them is a possibility down the line. That said, Schafer has done a pretty good job of preparing the team for the tourney (and getting into the tourney) so although I've been an advocate of moving towards a tougher OOC schedule where possible, it's hard to argue with the results.

I think that's a good idea. If nothing else just to be interesting. If we can't get a schedule with the western powerhouses (ND, Minn, Wisc, Mich, MSU, etc) or the eastern ones (BU, BC, UNH, Maine, etc) in some years, then I certainly wouldn't object to a home and home agreement with a 'mid-level' team. Heck, we may even catch a Providence, UVM, Ferris, UNO, etc on an up year or two. We've done it before (Western Mich, although I realize there were deeper connections there).

You're right, we can't argue with the results. But it'd be fun to see the different matchups. Especially if it was PC or some away series I could make .

Looking forward, now would be a good time to try to angle for games against Wisconsin. After that NCAA game, we would be a great draw out there, and it would be a much-anticipated rematch. A pair there for a pair here would be best, but I'd even take just a pair there. Cornell's proven themselves to be tier one. The more tier one teams they can get on the schedule, the better.

Trotsky
Looking forward, now would be a good time to try to angle for games against Wisconsin. After that NCAA game, we would be a great draw out there, and it would be a much-anticipated rematch. A pair there for a pair here would be best, but I'd even take just a pair there. Cornell's proven themselves to be tier one. The more tier one teams they can get on the schedule, the better.

I think we should suck it up and go west without reciprocity at least once even if only to have ammunition with other fans. Hell, we might just get the road bonus in RPI. With Lynah under construction we have to hit the road anyway although it's too late to do much scheduling now.

nyc94
I think we should suck it up and go west without reciprocity at least once even if only to have ammunition with other fans. Hell, we might just get the road bonus in RPI. With Lynah under construction we have to hit the road anyway although it's too late to do much scheduling now.

Yep, it's almost certainly too late to get on any tier one schedule for 06-07, and maybe even for 07-08. I'd love to see Cornell and Colgate do a traveling pair to Denver/CC, for example. If there's any way of making any of this happen within budget, Schafer will work it.

Trotsky
Yep, it's almost certainly too late to get on any tier one schedule for 06-07, and maybe even for 07-08. I'd love to see Cornell and Colgate do a traveling pair to Denver/CC, for example. If there's any way of making any of this happen within budget, Schafer will work it.

Get SC Johnson to donate the corporate jet again (I think it was '02 that they used the jet to ferry recruiters to the Johnson school).

nyc94
Get SC Johnson to donate the corporate jet again (I think it was '02 that they used the jet to ferry recruiters to the Johnson school).

Hey, Ned flew his team in a jet called "Above it All."

I suppose a home-and-home with MTU wouldn't do much for our schedule strength, but at least we have connections there.

Trotsky
Yep, it's almost certainly too late to get on any tier one schedule for 06-07, and maybe even for 07-08. I'd love to see Cornell and Colgate do a traveling pair to Denver/CC, for example. If there's any way of making any of this happen within budget, Schafer will work it.

Is travel budget much of an issue? Serious question as I have no idea. It seems just about every other Cornell team finds money to hit the road. What is it costing for the baseball and softball teams to spend a week on the road during Spring Break? Or the basketball team to go to west coast over winter break? Does hockey have to budget for possible NCAA travel costs?

nyc94

Trotsky
Yep, it's almost certainly too late to get on any tier one schedule for 06-07, and maybe even for 07-08. I'd love to see Cornell and Colgate do a traveling pair to Denver/CC, for example. If there's any way of making any of this happen within budget, Schafer will work it.

Is travel budget much of an issue? Serious question as I have no idea. It seems just about every other Cornell team finds money to hit the road. What is it costing for the baseball and softball teams to spend a week on the road during Spring Break? Or the basketball team to go to west coast over winter break? Does hockey have to budget for possible NCAA travel costs?

Hockey does go to Florida over winter break. And it's one of the few teams that has to at least consider the possibility of multiple post-season games.

I don't think NCAAs are really an issue. Teams get a cut for making the NCAAs, which probably more than makes up for travel. At least it works that way in basketball.

Robb
Prepare to be really depressed...

The depressing part is that in those 26 games, we've gone 4-20-2. Yep. For those of you scoring at home, that's 0.192. Our wins were BU twice in 2003, BU in 2002, and OSU in 2003. We managed ties against Maine in 2000 and Michigan in 1997. The only years that we've had more than 2 NC games against tourney teams were 2003 (3-2-0) and 1996 (0-3-0).

Ugh. Ugh. Ugh.

Didn't we beat Mich St and Maine this past year?

MCH '94

Robb
Prepare to be really depressed...

The depressing part is that in those 26 games, we've gone 4-20-2. Yep. For those of you scoring at home, that's 0.192. Our wins were BU twice in 2003, BU in 2002, and OSU in 2003. We managed ties against Maine in 2000 and Michigan in 1997. The only years that we've had more than 2 NC games against tourney teams were 2003 (3-2-0) and 1996 (0-3-0).

Ugh. Ugh. Ugh.

Didn't we beat Mich St and Maine this past year?

I believe we split w/MSU and didn't play Maine in Estero.

Townie

MCH '94

Robb
Prepare to be really depressed...

The depressing part is that in those 26 games, we've gone 4-20-2. Yep. For those of you scoring at home, that's 0.192. Our wins were BU twice in 2003, BU in 2002, and OSU in 2003. We managed ties against Maine in 2000 and Michigan in 1997. The only years that we've had more than 2 NC games against tourney teams were 2003 (3-2-0) and 1996 (0-3-0).

Ugh. Ugh. Ugh.

Didn't we beat Mich St and Maine this past year?

I believe we split w/MSU and didn't play Maine in Estero.

Also, Robb made that list before the NCAA field was set.

David Harding
Hockey does go to Florida over winter break. And it's one of the few teams that has to at least consider the possibility of multiple post-season games.

For some reason I had temporarily forgotten about Florida. Probably because we go every year it doesn't stand out. Are we locked into this thing in perpetuity?

nyc94

David Harding
Hockey does go to Florida over winter break. And it's one of the few teams that has to at least consider the possibility of multiple post-season games.

For some reason I had temporarily forgotten about Florida. Probably because we go every year it doesn't stand out. Are we locked into this thing in perpetuity?

We are the co-host, so yes we're "locked" into it. I don't know if there's a contract or anything but I suspect we will continue as long as it's somewhat successful and continues to attract good teams.

KeithK

nyc94

David Harding
Hockey does go to Florida over winter break. And it's one of the few teams that has to at least consider the possibility of multiple post-season games.

For some reason I had temporarily forgotten about Florida. Probably because we go every year it doesn't stand out. Are we locked into this thing in perpetuity?

We are the co-host, so yes we're "locked" into it. I don't know if there's a contract or anything but I suspect we will continue as long as it's somewhat successful and continues to attract good teams.

I heard a rumor about two years ago that RPI will be at the Florida tourney in 07-08, however these things have a habit of changing over a period of several years. If RPI is going, there goes the run of "good teams".

ursaminor
I heard a rumor about two years ago that RPI will be at the Florida tourney in 07-08, however these things have a habit of changing over a period of several years. If RPI is going, there goes the run of "good teams".

By then, who knows -- RPI may be having a renaissance under a new coach.

The budget issue isn't so much about the cost of travel, but the opportunity cost of forgoing home games. Schafer has said flat out that we need as many home games as possible to make ends meet.

My answer to which is, 32-29=3. 3 more free dates, if someone can shoehorn apart the Ivy presidents' asscheeks and remove the stick from their collective butts.

Trotsky

ursaminor
I heard a rumor about two years ago that RPI will be at the Florida tourney in 07-08, however these things have a habit of changing over a period of several years. If RPI is going, there goes the run of "good teams".

By then, who knows -- RPI may be having a renaissance under a new coach.

Well, I hope that is the case, but if I said so it would arouse the woofing Gods.

Trotsky
My answer to which is, 32-29=3. 3 more free dates, if someone can shoehorn apart the Ivy presidents' asscheeks and remove the stick from their collective butts.

The problem about OOC games is that you have to find opponents. With the other conferences having fewer OOC dates available, you might have trouble filling the slots even if you were allowed to have them. Note that RPI, UC, QU, and 'Gate had to schedule a tourney among themselves for next season. I suspect that this is because both the HEA and the AHA are playing more league games. IMO, besides for allowing RPI to play at the Pepsi, which they haven't been able to do since the ECAC tourney moved from LP, it doesn't serve much of a useful purpose.

ursaminor
The problem about OOC games is that you have to find opponents. With the other conferences having fewer OOC dates available, you might have trouble filling the slots even if you were allowed to have them. Note that RPI, UC, QU, and 'Gate had to schedule a tourney among themselves for next season. I suspect that this is because both the HEA and the AHA are playing more league games. IMO, besides for allowing RPI to play at the Pepsi, which they haven't been able to do since the ECAC tourney moved from LP, it doesn't serve much of a useful purpose.

I was going to suggest start by adding one game (30) plus allow the season to start one week earlier for scheduling flexibility.

nyc94
I was going to suggest start by adding one game (30) plus allow the season to start one week earlier for scheduling flexibility.

The early start would actually be more of a boon than adding games. Our problem is that the other conferences have a big chunk of their NC games in October, because their regular seasons run so long. Moving the season up two weeks would give us more of a shot at major conference opponents than adding two games.

Being greedy, I want both. I like the idea of helping out the mino conferences, but it hurts in PWR, and from everything I gather it will hurt more when they finally adopt a modified KRACH.

nyc94
Get SC Johnson to donate the corporate jet again (I think it was '02 that they used the jet to ferry recruiters to the Johnson school).

I've actually been on one of their planes (as a Michigan MBA)! Weird feeling, it was me and maybe three other kids. I didn't take the job. The jack in i-banking is too hard to turn down. Racine is kind of an interesting town, though.

jtwcornell91
I suppose a home-and-home with MTU wouldn't do much for our schedule strength, but at least we have connections there.

And if we don't screw it up, it would be good for COpp.

So when is the OOC schedule announced? If the teams are already set for 06-07 and 07-08, then what's the big secret?

ugarte
And if we don't screw it (game against MTU) up, it would be good for COpp.

Exactly. If we go 1-0 vs MTU, then every time their skating blind squirrels find a WCHA nut, bully for us.

Robb

ugarte
And if we don't screw it (game against MTU) up, it would be good for COpp.

Exactly. If we go 1-0 vs MTU, then every time their skating blind squirrels find a WCHA nut, bully for us.

OTOH, if we go 1-0, we only get one win on our ComOpp and every WZHA team that doesn't screw it up gets four.

jtwcornell91

Robb

ugarte
And if we don't screw it (game against MTU) up, it would be good for COpp.

Exactly. If we go 1-0 vs MTU, then every time their skating blind squirrels find a WCHA nut, bully for us.

OTOH, if we go 1-0, we only get one win on our ComOpp and every WZHA team that doesn't screw it up gets four.

Damn you and your blasted mathematics!

jtwcornell91

Robb

ugarte
And if we don't screw it (game against MTU) up, it would be good for COpp.

Exactly. If we go 1-0 vs MTU, then every time their skating blind squirrels find a WCHA nut, bully for us.

OTOH, if we go 1-0, we only get one win on our ComOpp and every WZHA team that doesn't screw it up gets four.

But we tie with a 1.000 winning percentage

Jacob '06

jtwcornell91

Robb

ugarte
And if we don't screw it (game against MTU) up, it would be good for COpp.

Exactly. If we go 1-0 vs MTU, then every time their skating blind squirrels find a WCHA nut, bully for us.

OTOH, if we go 1-0, we only get one win on our ComOpp and every WZHA team that doesn't screw it up gets four.

But we tie with a 1.000 winning percentage

JTW's point was that if the two teams have only one other COpp, and each lose that lone game, we will be at .500 but the WZHA teams will be .800.

RPI has released its schedule [www.rpiathletics.com] RPI is playing SLU, not Cornell, in the Freakout!

ursaminor
RPI has released its schedule [www.rpiathletics.com] RPI is playing SLU, not Cornell, in the Freakout!

Well we *are* there the second to last Saturday, which was the basis for the speculation. Whats the reason for changing the Freakout timing?!? I know... they're just chicken