As we head into the off season and anticipate the next year being full of promise. Us diehards wonder if the talent of the incoming recruiting class will get us over the top. There are many people on here with memories and inside stories of seasons recent and long ago.
I thought it would be interesting to see whom people thought was the recruit that got away that could have been a program changer. Someone who committed and decommitted or showed up on campus and departed before ever suiting up. For me and perhaps Dick Bertrand it was Ron Francis. He was on East Hill a few days before deciding to go major junior. His decision also led to a few others to go elsewhere. I bet the list becomes a pretty impressive roster.
The Ron Francis? Holy shit, I never heard that story.
I don't believe Ron Francis was ever a serious recruit; more like wishful thinking. He came to campus with his friend, Mark Canduro, who did play hockey for Cornell. I don't think Francis played college hockey -- rather he started in the OHL.
He was offered, he was 17. Too much money. I talked to Mark about it.
Mark Scheifele was a more recent blue chipper also talked out of coming, or were they using the Cornell commitment as leverage for getting more money with no intention of him coming?
Quote from: dag14I don't believe Ron Francis was ever a serious recruit; more like wishful thinking. He came to campus with his friend, Mark Canduro, who did play hockey for Cornell. I don't think Francis played college hockey -- rather he started in the OHL.
THE Ron Francis didn't play any college hockey. I was a teen living in CT at the time and remember the whaler fan base anxiously awaiting his call up from Juniors to be the savior of the franchise. I wonder what could have been if he didn't get traded to Pittsburgh.
Quote from: flyersgolfI thought it would be interesting to see whom people thought was the recruit that got away that could have been a program changer.
There were vague rumors that Paul Kariya actually visited Cornell before choosing Maine, though I don't know if they were based on anything more than gossip and wishes. But researching it, I came across a fascinating eLF thread. Come with me now on a trip down memory lane (http://elf.elynah.com/read.php?1,13102,13286).