Recruits 2025 and Beyond

[chimpfood]

Found a highlight reel here: https://youtu.be/9HJRiXjPa4I?si=pxkjJfuZGxF2_ONj
He looks so poised and calm in the net.

[arugula]

That's fucking big time let's go. Wonder if we just let Roest walk because I want this kid in this fall. I could see a world where we leave him in the Q for another year though because he doesn't have much CHL experience still. After all of the short goalies we've had 6 feet 4 inches sounds sweet.

First tall keeper since Scrivens I think.  Pet peeve for a long time. Excellent!

[ithacat]

That's fucking big time let's go. Wonder if we just let Roest walk because I want this kid in this fall. I could see a world where we leave him in the Q for another year though because he doesn't have much CHL experience still. After all of the short goalies we've had 6 feet 4 inches sounds sweet.

I was really upset with how last season ended and in the aftermath I wanted us to bring in a transfer/CHL goalie for next season, but now that it's been a couple months and I've settled down, I think there's a lot to be said for staying loyal to your players and recruits. Shane was in Roest's position five years ago and if we had "let him walk" we would have missed out on the goalie who led us to our first two ECAC titles in the past 14 seasons. So I'm fine giving this new recruit (who looks great) another year in the CHL and rolling with whoever wins the spot next season among Keopple/Katz/Roest.

Looks like we will find out more soon (does say "former...")). This interview looks like it will go live either noon or 5pm EST. I'm abroad so I'm not sure if it knows what time zone I'm in.

Premieres Jun 2, 2025  Dump N' Chase Podcast
 In this edition of the Dump N' Chase Podcast, Dylan Robillard sits down with former Cape Brenton Eagle, Cornell University commit, 2025 NHL Draft eligible goaltender Alexis Cournoyer in an exclusive one-on-one interview.

https://youtu.be/8beuZ2yyRo0?si=erSFMar5gPog-HUv

[Scersk '97]

That's fucking big time let's go. Wonder if we just let Roest walk because I want this kid in this fall. I could see a world where we leave him in the Q for another year though because he doesn't have much CHL experience still. After all of the short goalies we've had 6 feet 4 inches sounds sweet.

First tall keeper since Scrivens I think.  Pet peeve for a long time. Excellent!

I am happy about this. Casey is not going to rock the boat regarding our well-known defensive culture, and I think a big goalie strongly benefits a team that limits shots.

I don't need a goalie that can stop breakaways, although it's nice; I need a goalie that stops everything from outside and gets hit by a lot of pucks on the power play.

[Trotsky]

He's big.  Really big.

Great stats in a tough league last year.  Darwinian selection in practice.  Love it.

[stereax]

I think this answers the question of "Are we gonna pick up anyone from the CHL for next season?"
https://x.com/janemcnally_/status/1929275769546543159?s=42

And a goalie, no less.

A GOALIE!!!

[stereax]

Found a highlight reel here: https://youtu.be/9HJRiXjPa4I?si=pxkjJfuZGxF2_ONj
He looks so poised and calm in the net.

Oh hell yeah.

I'm ok with running Keopple this year (Katz in the wings and possibly Roest) and then going Katz and Cournoyer next year. Interview in 25 mins. I'll be listening for SURE.

[stereax]

Cournoyer

Listening to the podcast rn. Here are my notes:

- Big boy. 6'4". Admits he's not as athletic as a Wolf or Saros but he takes up space in the net.

- Talked a lot about his journey. In 21 games this year at the Q level, starting after Christmas (!) he had a .942 and 1.82 GAA. He went 13-6-1 with 3 shutouts.
- In the playoffs... he was 0-2 with a .863.
- This is the only year he's played meaningful games in the Q. Before that, he was shuttling around triple A, QCHL, MJAHL.
- He was timesharing the net with Jakub Milota (NSH draft pick), seemed to take it over at stretches in January and March, and was the starter to begin the playoffs before losing the net 2 games in.
- Milota later backstopped the Eagles to that crazy 5OT win later in the series. More a fun fact than anything else.

- Habs/Price fan. Compares himself to Markstrom (compete level and style) and Hellebuyck (size and confidence).

- Mentions that "three months ago, he would have been happy with a USports offer" because "he had nothing" and he's a little blown away by all the serious offers he's been getting.
- On the draft: "Every time I expected something from somebody, I was disappointed. I don't want to be disappointed again. I expect nothing, I just want to know what the future holds for me."
- Sell yourself to an NHL team: "All these past few years, so many people passed on me - I don't want you guys to be the team that's going to pass on me and regret your decision."
- "I got the opportunity in Cape - when I got it, I took it. I don't want you guys to regret giving the opportunity to me."
- "The biggest thing about me, on and off the ice, is I took the opportunity. And I won't let you guys down."

NCAA:
- The offer from Cornell "really stood out" to him.
- He says he "has the option to come back at 20" (to the Q, presumably). Underlines that if he doesn't go this year, he'll go in his 21-year-old season. Will be "in the process" of going on the NCAA route.
- (Personally, imho, he could stand to marinate in the Q longer, especially given he's played only 20-something games at that level. But we'll see what Coach does with the goalies. Don't think carrying Keopple, Katz, Roest, AND Cournoyer is that good of an idea.)

- "I don't have a specific thing I'm better at [than others in my draft class], I just stop the puck more than anybody."
- More "good at everything" than "the best at something and not good at something else".
- On his training regimen: "You can't buy time in life." Doesn't want to spend time doing nothing when he can be training.
- "When I'm on the ice, I'm controlling the game."
- Would you rather score a goalie goal or get into a goalie fight? "I can't tell you that I wouldn't like to score a goal or get in a fight with a goalie, but I just want to win the Stanley Cup. That's the only thing I'm dreaming for, that's my goal."

- "I play golf, like every hockey player " "Do you consider yourself a good golfer?" "No "

[Trotsky]

I had not considered a guy announcing an NC$$ offer but staying CHL another year.  That would be perfect.

The CHL's blue chippers are significantly better and more numerous than the NC$$, so if he wants more time to learn to shut them down I am just fine with that.  He does seems extremely savvy and hockey career-oriented which suggests to me he won't be here 4 years, but you had me at 6-4 and mobile.

[arugula]

Doesn't this kid have to, you know, actually apply to the school and take, oh I don't know, the SAT?

[arugula]

Considering all of those deadlines are long long past, how can he matriculate in August?

[CU2007]

Considering all of those deadlines are long long past, how can he matriculate in August?

He could have been proactive and taken the SAT knowing he might end up at an American college. As for an emergency back door into Cornell, no idea how that might work.

[stereax]

I had not considered a guy announcing an NC$$ offer but staying CHL another year.  That would be perfect.

The CHL's blue chippers are significantly better and more numerous than the NC$$, so if he wants more time to learn to shut them down I am just fine with that.  He does seems extremely savvy and hockey career-oriented which suggests to me he won't be here 4 years, but you had me at 6-4 and mobile.

I think we'll see more of that type soon! Hoping he stays another year, he'll have solid playtime in games in the CHL which we likely won't be able to give him. He might not stay 4 years but he'd probably need an NHL offer or at least a SOLID AHL one. We'll have to see if he gets drafted; I think he's ranked 16th among goalies?

[chimpfood]

Yeah after a day to mull it over I think leaving Cournoyer in the Q another year and bringing in Roest this fall is the move. I trust Keopple to hold down the job pretty well.

[ugarte]

no opinion on when he comes. best man plays. goalie is a lonely position and backup is a rough place to end up but the best player plays for the good of the team.