Weekly column by Ari

[billhoward]

Nice column as always. http://www.elynah.com/?editorial&id=26

Most useful thought (to me): Cornell's lesser ECAC superiority compared to 3 and 2 years ago.
[q]The Big Red did not sweep any of the top five teams this season. They are not overly superior to these teams as they were in 2001-2002 and 2002-2003 (except for Harvard those years, of course) but rather a slight notch above them. Cornell has played a lot of playoff-type games and has fared reasonably well. They are well-seasoned in that they have played every type of game and just about every type of team. This may be the case with the other teams, but the Big Red have proven themselves as evidenced by their first place status. Come Albany, none of this will matter, as any of the elite ECACHL teams have an equal shot at winning the championship. ... [/q]

Although not to quibble, Cornell is the league's hottest team on defense. A lot of nights, recently, an empty net goal to seal the victory could double Cornell's offensive punch.
[q] ... What will ultimately separate the winning team from the others? It will all come down to who is hottest at the time. Right now, Cornell is clearly the hottest team in the conference, but a couple weeks ago it was Colgate and in December it was Vermont. Harvard always seems to shift into its highest gear come playoff time and they are the most battle-tested in the playoffs of the five teams. Only time will tell, but more often than not, the unexpected occurs in the ECACHL playoffs.[/q]

One hopes McKee's hotness sticks, as opposed it being the pendulum that has for now swung his/Cornell's way. Was there this much he's great/he sucks/he's clutch/he lets in too many easy goals feedback about LeNeveu and Underhill? (One wonders if eLynah in 1967 (on batch cards then) had a thread, "This Dryden kid may be big but we still miss Laing Kennedy's steady hand."
[q]McKee is probably the best goaltender in college hockey right now. He was outstanding in the first game, making at least three spectacular saves that almost no other goaltender can make. In the third period on Friday he made a post-to-post save on Colgate's powerplay that his highly touted predecessors could not have made. The two goals he let in on Saturday came with the team shorthanded, and on good plays by Colgate. In the last seven games, McKee has allowed two even strength goals. In a season where Matt Moulson has been the definitive backbone of Cornell's offense, McKee is giving him a run for his money, not only as team MVP, but as ECACHL MVP.[/q]

Speaking of which, it seems whenever a Cornell player wins ECAC or Ivy player or rookie of the year award, he has to share it.

Moulson also deserves a lot of consideration as the team's MVP. If we mean the MVP is the guy who, if he goes down, we're hosed, then it's McKee. If they're both playing, you could make a case for either one. McKee helps Cornell not lose games (like say holds Colgate to zero goals on a night we can only muster one), Moulson helps us win games.

[Steve M]

I like the statement: And do not be surprised when you see one and perhaps even two ECACHL teams in the Frozen Four.  Pretty bold Ari.

It would be fun to put a link to the column on the USCHO message board and watch the flames from WCHA-land burn hot.  :-P