Cornell Class of 2007

I can't help but bring up the subject of Cornell's incoming recruiting class for next year, considering the large shoes they are going to have to fill once the senior class leaves.

I've checked www.ushr.com on occasion and it seems as if Harvard/Yale/BC/Michigan/BU/Minnesota are snapping up all the top recruits, a plethora of which have been recruited by Cornell heavily.

I don't know anything about these new Cornell recruits, but does any one have any clue of how our recruiting class my compare to others, and what chance that gives us at contending with the top 10 next year?

One thing to remember is it isn't over yet. Cornell traditionally closes half to a majority of their recruits after New Years Day.

Why is it that Cornell has come to rely so heavily on Canadian recruits in general and the BCHL in particular? That's relatively new -- when Schafer came here he recruited preppies and the USHL fairly effectively. I think it's too bad because we don't really get much of a recruiting boost from our good season last year and being so highly-ranked this year. We really are, for one season at least, one of the big boys. But the fact is most Canadian players have never heard of Cornell before we recruit them, let alone where we might be ranked.

Largely because western Canada is fairly untapped. Most colleges look to Americans first, then Canadians in nearby (eastern) Canada. Cornell seems to recruit western Canada more than anyone else, and often comes up with top-notch players like Lenny, who often go unnoticed by other schools.

CowbellGuy wrote:

Cornell seems to recruit western Canada more than anyone else, and often comes up with top-notch players like Lenny...

And Knopp... and Burgoyne... and Stienstra... and Powell... and Ladouceur... and McMeekin... and Underhill... and Palahicky... and Bell... and Hornby... and Hynes...

You know what they say, if it ain't broke...

I said "like". As in "including, but not limited to".

CowbellGuy wrote:

I said "like". As in "including, but not limited to".

I know. I was just agreeing with you and expounding on your point.

The Mid-term Central Scouting rankings are out, and quite honestly this looks like one of Cornell's strongest recruiting classes *ever*.

First, the entering players who are rated:

SCOUTING SERVICE - MID- TERM RANKING -- JANUARY, 2003
PLAYER TEAM BIRTHDATE HEIGHT WEIGHT POSITION SHOT
68 MCCUTCHEON, MARK NEW ENGLAND 21- May- 84 6' 1" 185 C R
137 BITZ, BYRON NANAIMO 21- Jul- 84 6' 4" 200 RW R
154 CAREFOOT, MITCH SALMON ARM 02- Jan- 85 6' 1" 200 C R

(And as a by the way, the current players who are rated):

SCOUTING SERVICE - MID- TERM RANKING -- JANUARY, 2003
PLAYER TEAM BIRTHDATE HEIGHT WEIGHT POSITION SHOT
46 HYNES, SHANE CORNELL UNIVERSITY 07- Nov- 83 6' 3" 210 RW R
78 MOULSON, MATT CORNELL UNIVERSITY 01- Nov- 83 6' 1" 195 LW L

Add to these the entering player who has already been drafted,

GLOVER, DANNY CAMROSE 05-May-83 6- 2" 175 D

And as a teaser, one more very highly sought after recruit, who will visit Cornell this month and reportedly is deciding between just Cornell and Maine:

SCOUTING SERVICE - MID- TERM RANKING -- JANUARY, 2003
PLAYER TEAM BIRTHDATE HEIGHT WEIGHT POSITION SHOT
109 O'BYRNE, RYAN NANAIMO 19- Jul- 84 6' 5" 210 D R

Especially if Mike lands O'Byrne, the entering class might be -- gulp -- even better than the graduating one.

Hopefully he visits for a game, or else looks like Maine might have an edge considering they beat us in December and they are the perenially stronger program...but let's hope Mike reels him in.

Even if he does visit, Maine might still have the edge. Have you ever been to a game there?? Pretty crazy

Lot of home games over the next month...

I seem to remember that maybe Cam Abbott was also in the midterm CSS rankings last year, and apparently now he's dropped out completely. It does look like a good class, but just like my stock portfolio, its just on paper. Lets wait until they get to Ithaca...

Regarding O'Byrne, we've gotten 3 Nanaimo players in the last two years - Lenny, Hornby and Hynes and apparently have another coming next year. Also, even though we lost to Maine by one goal, the value of a Cornell education and degree should be a factor also. Advantage: Big Red (hopefully). Ryan, we'd love to see you in Red.

I don't have time to do the all research, but how many Nanaimo players does Maine have on their roster? We've got LeNeveu, Hornby and Hynes. (I may be forgetting someone.) Positive feedback from former teammates can be a huge boost.

It may depend on the kid's priorities.

The Drydens and LeNeveus wanted strong academics--as a fall-back--as well as a strong hockey program, and as a result apparently chose among Cornell, Princeton (strong hockey? ) and Harvard. A Paul Kariya, on the other hand, wanted to make a big, successful hockey splash and then move on to the big bucks--which for him was pretty close to a certainty when he entered college.

We shall see what O'Byrne values. I do agree that a Lynah visit would be very beneficial, especially if he's been to Orono.

While one never can tell how good a recruiting class is until it starts to play, on paper this one does look pretty strong. And the team that's returning next year should be much stronger than what was awaiting Bâby, Murray, the McRaes, et al, when they arrived in Ithaca--presuming LeNeveu sticks around.

Christine Quinn '94 wrote:

I don't have time to do the all research, but how many Nanaimo players does Maine have on their roster? We've got LeNeveu, Hornby and Hynes. (I may be forgetting someone.) Positive feedback from former teammates can be a huge boost.

In addition to LeNeveu, Hornby, and Hynes, '07 recruit Byron Bitz is coming to CU from the Nanaimo Clippers. Maine has one player from the Clippers... defenseman Francis Nault, formerly of the Connecticut Clippers. No current Maine player previously played for Nanaimo, but they do count winger Brent Shepheard among their '07 recruits.