Cornell Women's Hockey

Tom Lento
RPI has only been D-I for a few years, and is probably the weakest of the teams ahead of Cornell in the standings. It's still a good win, but I would not be surprised to see Cornell finish ahead of RPI when all is said and done.

Trotsky
Another thing about watching the last game. Not to put too fine a point on it, but a decade ago watching ECAC women's hockey in general and Cornell women's hockey in particular was about as exciting as watching people shovel a driveway. Now the players are far faster, more skilled, and more creative. It looks kind of like hockey (except for the tortured maneuvers the players have to go through to avoid, you know, checking). It was fun.

Section A Banshee

Trotsky
Another thing about watching the last game. Not to put too fine a point on it, but a decade ago watching ECAC women's hockey in general and Cornell women's hockey in particular was about as exciting as watching people shovel a driveway. Now the players are far faster, more skilled, and more creative. It looks kind of like hockey (except for the tortured maneuvers the players have to go through to avoid, you know, checking). It was fun.

What is the stated reason for keeping checking out of women's college hockey? Does anyone know?

If you aren’t familiar with Brigette Lacquette, you should be.

Scouts are raving about this 16-year-old Manitoban.

Lacquette is astonishing them by thoroughly outplaying male opponents in the Western Manitoba AA Midget Hockey League. She is her league’s top talent. She was the youngest player at the recent World Under-18 women’s hockey championship in Germany and was chosen best defenceman.

“Several scouts have told me that, if Brigette continues in the direction she’s going, she’ll be the greatest female hockey player in Canadian history,” said Scott Taylor, sports editor of Grass Roots News, Manitoba’s Aboriginal newspaper. “She’s one of the few players I’ve seen who can do everything all game with her head up. She’s so fast that she flies by opponents. And she’s a great playmaker.”

Still, dozens of universities -- including Cornell, Providence, Minnesota and North Dakota -- have found Brigette and are bombarding her with expressions of interest.

[www.metronews.ca]

KeithK
What is the stated reason for keeping checking out of women's college hockey? Does anyone know?

When international Women's hockey started there WAS body checking. They quickly changed the rules after the first Women's World Hockey Championship in 1990. There is a huge gap between Canada/US and the rest of the world. Canada just ran over and other teams. Even the Swedish and Finish teams lack the size and strength. No contact doesn't help that much, 9 world championships and Canada is 8 gold and 1 silver while the US is 1 gold and 8 silver. But it is something there to try increase world wide popularity of the sport.

Trotsky

Tf men's hockey removed checking, attendance would drop to zero and the schools would take a revenue hit.

mattj711
Any word on how recruiting for 09-10 is going? Cornell is the only women's team with no posted recruits on USCHO.com.

ithacat

mattj711
Any word on how recruiting for 09-10 is going? Cornell is the only women's team with no posted recruits on USCHO.com.

[www.beyondthedashers.com] lists Katie Allen, a defensive player from Red Deer as heading to East Hill. Allen was a member of Alberta's Under-18 team. The source of that news may have come from this article: [www.albertahockey.com]

I think this was discussed on USCHO and the keeper of the list determined that Allen's commitment was unconfirmed.

The team only loses 3 players next season, still the news is pretty sparse.

mattj711
It appears that this recruiting class will be very impressive, just not very big (I would imagine). It was just posted on uscho.com that Laurian Rougeau has committed to the big red. She's definitely a gamer. Captain of the Canadian U-18 last season and played for the U-22 team this year. She may be the best D in this years recruiting field. I've also just heard rumors that another very high profile canadian has committed as well. Also played on the U-18 national team and would be considered one of the top 2 forwards coming out of canada this year by many people.

Last I heard, Katie Allen did not commit to the big red. That article was printed last season when current frosh Young and Ogilvie committed, but the portion stating Allen had committed was a misprint.

mattj711
It appears that this recruiting class will be very impressive, just not very big (I would imagine). It was just posted on uscho.com that Laurian Rougeau has committed to the big red. She's definitely a gamer. Captain of the Canadian U-18 last season and played for the U-22 team this year. She may be the best D in this years recruiting field. I've also just heard rumors that another very high profile canadian has committed as well. Also played on the U-18 national team and would be considered one of the top 2 forwards coming out of canada this year by many people.

Last I heard, Katie Allen did not commit to the big red. That article was printed last season when current frosh Young and Ogilvie committed, but the portion stating Allen had committed was a misprint.

mattj711
Would I be getting to greedy to want to see Marie-Philip Poulin commit to the Big Red next?

Trotsky
Cornell settles for a tie tonight at Q, as they let a 2-0 lead slip away in the third.

Trotsky
According to the ECAC site, Cornell and Princeton have entered overtime tied 2-2. The audio link on the Cornell site isn't working and neither is live stats, so it's a matter of trust.

Edit: now a final. According to the box, Cornell withstood a 12-2 shot differential in a scoreless third, and killed off an unfortunately named "hooking" call on Cathy White in the final 2 mins of regulation, to hold on for the tie.

Mixed weekend -- get tied by a weak team, tie a a strong team, all on their ice. The Red solidify their hold on a top 8 slot (7th place) and come home to face 2nd place Harvard and 3rd place Dartmouth in a huge weekend.

mattj711
Game ends in 3-3 tie. Overall, very good effort by Cornell this weekend. Although the final score doesn't show it, Cornell out played Harvard for a good portion of yesterday's game and the same goes for Dartmouth today.

ithacat

mattj711
Would I be getting to greedy to want to see Marie-Philip Poulin commit to the Big Red next?

Absolutely not... Rougeau and Poulin are teammates at Dawson; Jenner and Poulin were teammates on the U18 squad...hmm.

That would be an incredible class.

ithacat

ithacat

mattj711
Would I be getting to greedy to want to see Marie-Philip Poulin commit to the Big Red next?

Absolutely not... Rougeau and Poulin are teammates at Dawson; Jenner and Poulin were teammates on the U18 squad...hmm.

That would be an incredible class.

Matt, what do you think about Laura Fortino's decision to wear Red?
[www.thespec.com]

mattj711
Rebecca Johnston and incoming recruit Brianne Jenner will both be centralized with team Canada next season. While they will certainly be missed in the line up next year, this should be great PR for attracting other top recruits in coming years.

Trotsky

mattj711
Rebecca Johnston and incoming recruit Brianne Jenner will both be centralized with team Canada next season. While they will certainly be missed in the line up next year, this should be great PR for attracting other top recruits in coming years.

Does this mean they retain eligibility for the following season? Seems to me that with great talent coming in and these women spending the year with the national team, 2010 will be a fun year to mature the kids, and then 2011 Cornell could be a power.

ithacat
Anyone know what's going on with the women's team? They seem to be one of the last ECAC teams to announce their incoming class...

mattj711
..... to replace Kim Insalaco who was married over the summer.

ebilmes
Top recruit deciding between BC, Sucks, and Cornell.

[www.thetimesherald.com]

mattj711
Apparently, Cornell has received a commitment from a very solid Team Ontario Red player for next season.

mattj711
Not an Aeros player but she does play in the PWHL. But I've heard 3 Aeros players have committed to Ivy League school...just none to Cornell, at least at this point.

I'm definitely looking forward to the games this weekend. Call me crazy, but I'm feeling very good about this weekend's series.

imafrshmn

mattj711
Not an Aeros player but she does play in the PWHL. But I've heard 3 Aeros players have committed to Ivy League school...just none to Cornell, at least at this point.

I'm definitely looking forward to the games this weekend. Call me crazy, but I'm feeling very good about this weekend's series.

Call me pessimistic, but I think the team will really miss Johnston. I predict Mercyhurst will win both.

p.s. You're crazy!

Trotsky
They lost 4-1 (ENG). In no way a mismatch -- if Mercyhurst is truly a great team, the Red should be solid.

mattj711
4-1 Meryhurst again. Another good effort by Cornell. I do think this team is much better overall than last year's team. While goals will probably be a little harder to come by, based on what I saw, I think we'll give up fewer as well. Cornell skated right with Mercyhurst 90% of both games and even outplayed them for chunks. Unfortunately, we had a couple lapses and MC was very good at capitalizing on their opportunities.

Add Johnston and Jenner and TBA and this team should be extremely good next season.

Tom Lento

mattj711
4-1 Meryhurst again. Another good effort by Cornell. I do think this team is much better overall than last year's team. While goals will probably be a little harder to come by, based on what I saw, I think we'll give up fewer as well. Cornell skated right with Mercyhurst 90% of both games and even outplayed them for chunks. Unfortunately, we had a couple lapses and MC was very good at capitalizing on their opportunities.

Add Johnston and Jenner and TBA and this team should be extremely good next season.

I had the feeling that this team was a year away from challenging for a league title, even with Johnston et al. Next year should be a lot of fun.

ithacat

Tom Lento

mattj711
4-1 Meryhurst again. Another good effort by Cornell. I do think this team is much better overall than last year's team. While goals will probably be a little harder to come by, based on what I saw, I think we'll give up fewer as well. Cornell skated right with Mercyhurst 90% of both games and even outplayed them for chunks. Unfortunately, we had a couple lapses and MC was very good at capitalizing on their opportunities.

Add Johnston and Jenner and TBA and this team should be extremely good next season.

I had the feeling that this team was a year away from challenging for a league title, even with Johnston et al. Next year should be a lot of fun.

Very impressed by Fortino. I thought she was the best player on the ice for either team. She might be the best skater for a Cornell team since Topher Scott. I still think Cornell plays too much like a collection of parts and not like a team.

dag14
I thought Cornell looked pretty strong throughout the game. They scored first, Harvard needed powerplays for at least 2 of their goals and we forechecked better than the men did against Niagara. We also got outstanding goaltending and heads up play in our own end.

I have it on very good authority that this is the first weekend sweep of Harvard and Dartmouth in the history of the program making this win even more significant.

ebilmes
Any word on why the Niesluchowski twins left the team?

dag14
Women win at Union this afternoon 4-0. Based on "Live Stats" from Union, we did everything better than they did.

mattj711
Cornell wins 2-0.