First Line

[Robb03]

This question is open for discussion and a brief history lesson for me.  Judging by this weekend's performance and what has happened this season, has there been a more productive first line than the one we have now.  Ryan seems to score almost at will, Matt is taking off, and Steve involves himself on almost every play.  Although only together for 2 months it seems like these guys grew up together.  Have we seen anything like this before and how long will the dream last?

p.s.  Where was Hynes this weekend?

[Section A]

Hynes hasn't practiced this past week because of a "nagging injury." In fact, he didn't even make the trip out to Kalamazoo. That was the word in the pre-game show of the Friday night game.

[adamw]

From recent history - Try:  Ryan Hughes, Doug Derraugh, Trent Andison ... circa 1991.

[Al DeFlorio]

Less recent than Adam's, but :  Nieuwendyk, Moeser, and anybody.

[FRED\'83]

How about Nethery, Treadway and Kerling!

[redice]

Bingo!!!  Fred '83.   Occasionally, Dick Bertrand would split them up....trying to "balance" the scoring.   But, whenever he put them back on the same line, it was the same thing:  red lights came on.   That was the best CU line ever.  Even better than Doug Ferguson, Dave Ferguson, and Mike Doran.   What d'ya say, Al?

[Hillel]

No doubt about it: The best line (offensively) in recent Cornell history is Tredway/Nethery/Kerling circa '78-'79.

It's funny, I don't think of Nieuwendyk and Moeser together, but I imagine they must have been. The guy who really seemed to click with Moeser was Gary Cullen (a big old slug of a skater, but a smooth stickhandler/passer, and thus a perfect compliment for Duane). I can't remember who they were paired with in '84-85, but I suppose it could've been Joe.

Another favorite line from circa '75 or '76 was Dave Groulx, Brian Campbell, and (somebody else I can't remember--was it Dave Peace? Ambrosia?).

[Al DeFlorio]

It's an unanswerable question, Bill, I suppose.  Like choosing among Dr. Mike's rich chocolate, Four Seas coconut, and Haagen Dazs rum raisin.  Can I have a triple scoop, please?:-P  

Nethery et al certainly racked up points faster than anyone else, but they did play in a very high-scoring era (the eight ECAC tournament game scores from 1977:  6-3, 4-3, 7-5, 8-7, 10-9, 7-6, 5-4, 8-6; or a combined goals-against average of 6.00!).  Both Doug Ferguson and Mike Doran were first-team All-Americans in 1966-7, as were Pete Tufford and Brian Cornell two years later.  Them's pretty good credentials for your first line.  

I'd also put in a plug for Marrett, Murray, and Ugolini in 1972-3, when Carlo was stiffed in the All-America selections.  They were the closest I've seen to BU's "pinball" line for puck movement and creativity in the offensive zone, and they came within a last-second heartbreak of the NCAA championship game.

No question the Nethery gang were the most explosive, though.

[Hillel]

Yes! Loved Ugolini, Marrett, Murray (was it really Murray who was with Carlo and Doug?). I completely forgot them.

That was a fun year. At least until Boston Part II. A plague on Dean Talafous. I hated that game. [Aside: Al, wasn't that the first time we did the "sieve" thing? I don't remember it before that.]

[Al DeFlorio]

Bob Murray was on that line (and not Bill Murray, who played defense).  

With Carlo gone to graduation, the following year Murray dropped from 57 points to 39 and Marrett from 63 to 38 (and from 34 goals to 18!).  A great playmaking center (25-44-69) is a good thing for a wing to have.  

Sorry, Hillel, I don't have a very good memory for cheers.  Seems to me "sieve" has been around forever, but maybe not in its current form.

[Larry72]

You can't forget Larry Fullan, John Hughes, & Kevin Petit in '70.  And with Dan Lodboa and Steve Giuliani on the points, they WERE unbeatable!!

Larry '72

[Al DeFlorio]

Lodboa and Giuliani both came to Cornell as forwards.  Ned loved having offensive-minded defensemen.

[Jim Hyla]

I also don't remember when we started it. But what about when Wis. beat us in '73. Did we do it before that anyone?

One thing I do remember, that isn't allowed anymore, is when we used to throw a sieve on the ice after we scored the first goal.

[jkahn]

The '70 1st line was Pettit-Hughes-McCutcheon.  the 2nd line was Ryan-Fullan-Bertrand.  The 3rd was Aitchison-Duthie-Westner and 4th was Stewart-Brush-Ambis.  The defensive pairings were 1) Lodboa-Lowe and 2)Higgs-Giuliani.  Ron Simpson was the 5th defenseman.  At that time you could only dress 17 skaters plus goalies.  The goalie of course was Cropper, backed up by Bob Rule.  Others on the squad were Mark Davis, a spare defenseman, and Bill Perras, who play in the final four with Bertand out.  Westner moved up to Bertrand's spot, Brush moved into Westner's spot on the 3rd line and Perras took Brush's spot.

[cmoberg]

My introduction to Cornell Hockey was in 1975.  The Nethery, Treadway and Kerling line was something to see.  With Peter Shier on point  you have the most threatening offense (and that with just 4 of the 5) of all time.