Recruits 2025 and Beyond

[Beeeej]

—it's massive. 14 incoming recruits must be the largest in the history of Cornell hockey. The staff and leaders are going to have their work cut out for them getting everyone up to speed on the culture and expectations. Adding to the difficulty is that there is a new head coach, a new assistant coach, and very few seniors.

IIRC, the incoming group in 1992-93 was also 14. Their senior year (1995-96) was Schafer's first and our first ECAC tournament title in a while.

[stereax]

Also disputing Cournoyer as the favorite. I think Keopple is the favorite, Cournoyer is either 2 or 3 in line depending how the team views Katz. Though I expect to see Cournoyer given the opportunity to seize the net at some point. It's possible they pulled him here with the idea that he'd work at the NCAA level this year and become the starter next year. Not sure if Roest is anything more than a 3 guy at this point.

[stereax]

Numbers are also shown on the roster. Gorski is 2, Veilleux 4, McCrady 7, Ryan 12, Fisher 16, Long 17, DiGiulian 18, Arsenault 19, Hiscock 21, Pirtle 22, Hamilton 26, Ashton 27, Cournoyer 30, Roest 40.

I can't remember another #40 for Cornell, anyone got one?

As per this, 40 is the highest number we've ever given out.

[Beeeej]

—it's massive. 14 incoming recruits must be the largest in the history of Cornell hockey. The staff and leaders are going to have their work cut out for them getting everyone up to speed on the culture and expectations. Adding to the difficulty is that there is a new head coach, a new assistant coach, and very few seniors.

IIRC, the incoming group in 1992-93 was also 14. Their senior year (1995-96) was Schafer's first and our first ECAC tournament title in a while.

Found a bigger one - 1975-76 incoming was 17 (which included Nethery and Shier). Crazy!

[chimpfood]

Numbers are also shown on the roster. Gorski is 2, Veilleux 4, McCrady 7, Ryan 12, Fisher 16, Long 17, DiGiulian 18, Arsenault 19, Hiscock 21, Pirtle 22, Hamilton 26, Ashton 27, Cournoyer 30, Roest 40.

I can't remember another #40 for Cornell, anyone got one?

Major listed as 9, good catch I didn't notice that.
Major was 16 last year. Is he changing numbers?

[BearLover]

One other thing I meant to say above is that bringing in more recruits opens up more slots for future recruits. I commend Schafer, Jones, and the rest of the staff for miraculously retaining every single recruit despite the coaching change. At most programs, a lot of recruits would decommit upon a coaching change, and moreover a new coach would tell existing recruits to take a hike. All 20 or so committed players at the time Schafer announced his retirement remain committed, even those who maybe didn't put up the junior results they were hoping for. On the other hand, the fact that all these recruits stayed loyal to Cornell, and that the new coaches stayed loyal to the recruits, makes Robertson's decision to transfer even more bananas.

Michigan is a much bigger program lmao. If they wanted him, playing there is a more "sure-fire" way to getting more eyes and eventually the possibility of an NHL deal. Plus the NIL specter. Plus iirc Mich graduated/lost almost all its good dmen.

Yes, there are reasons to play at Michigan. We all know they are a blue blood program. But Cornell has many other good players and recruits who didn't jump ship to a bigger program. Bancroft just signed a deal with the Bruins as an undrafted FA, I highly doubt "more eyes" for an NHL contract is a legitimate reason. It's not like scouts aren't coming to watch Cornell play (at least 8 draft picks next season with games against some of the better programs in college hockey). He didn't just need a reason to go to Michigan, he needed a reason to want to leave Cornell.

[BearLover]

Numbers are also shown on the roster. Gorski is 2, Veilleux 4, McCrady 7, Ryan 12, Fisher 16, Long 17, DiGiulian 18, Arsenault 19, Hiscock 21, Pirtle 22, Hamilton 26, Ashton 27, Cournoyer 30, Roest 40.

I can't remember another #40 for Cornell, anyone got one?

Major listed as 9, good catch I didn't notice that.
Major was 16 last year. Is he changing numbers?

Oh that's good, I was worried Major could possibly be leaving the program when I saw his number was available

[Jeff Hopkins '82]

Numbers are also shown on the roster. Gorski is 2, Veilleux 4, McCrady 7, Ryan 12, Fisher 16, Long 17, DiGiulian 18, Arsenault 19, Hiscock 21, Pirtle 22, Hamilton 26, Ashton 27, Cournoyer 30, Roest 40.

I can't remember another #40 for Cornell, anyone got one?

Schaefer generally didn't want numbers beyond the standard 35.  And I think prior to Schafer's tenure they may not have been allowed.

[ugarte]

Michigan is a much bigger program lmao. If they wanted him, playing there is a more "sure-fire" way to getting more eyes and eventually the possibility of an NHL deal. Plus the NIL specter. Plus iirc Mich graduated/lost almost all its good dmen.

I don't think it's about "eyes" - that's not an issue. The two big differences IMO are (a) NIL, or at least a scholarship and (b) for an undrafted player, better competition on a weekly basis to show that he can make the jump. Probably a lot more (a) than (b) because making the NHL is such a longshot for most of the NCAA.

(Seeing that bearlover answered before me: I suspect getting noticed as a UDFA can be trickier for a dman. I can see the value in showing how you handle the pressure / speed of better opposition since your scoring is secondary to whether you can keep up at the next level.)

[BearLover]

Michigan is a much bigger program lmao. If they wanted him, playing there is a more "sure-fire" way to getting more eyes and eventually the possibility of an NHL deal. Plus the NIL specter. Plus iirc Mich graduated/lost almost all its good dmen.

I don't think it's about "eyes" - that's not an issue. The two big differences IMO are (a) NIL, or at least a scholarship and (b) for an undrafted player, better competition on a weekly basis to show that he can make the jump. Probably a lot more (a) than (b) because making the NHL is such a longshot for most of the NCAA.

(Seeing that bearlover answered before me: I suspect getting noticed as a UDFA can be trickier for a dman. I can see the value in showing how you handle the pressure / speed of better opposition since your scoring is secondary to whether you can keep up at the next level.)

Robertson was invited to Bruins camp this year. He's not flying under any radars.

[cbuckser]

Numbers are also shown on the roster. Gorski is 2, Veilleux 4, McCrady 7, Ryan 12, Fisher 16, Long 17, DiGiulian 18, Arsenault 19, Hiscock 21, Pirtle 22, Hamilton 26, Ashton 27, Cournoyer 30, Roest 40.

I can't remember another #40 for Cornell, anyone got one?

Major was 16 last year. Is he changing numbers?

16 to 9

[BearLover]

Numbers are also shown on the roster. Gorski is 2, Veilleux 4, McCrady 7, Ryan 12, Fisher 16, Long 17, DiGiulian 18, Arsenault 19, Hiscock 21, Pirtle 22, Hamilton 26, Ashton 27, Cournoyer 30, Roest 40.

I can't remember another #40 for Cornell, anyone got one?

Major was 16 last year. Is he changing numbers?

16 to 9

Interestingly, Major's uncle Mark wore #16 when he played for Cornell in the 80s. But Major chose to switch to 9, which was his number in juniors with the Chicago Steel.

[BearLover]

Also disputing Cournoyer as the favorite. I think Keopple is the favorite, Cournoyer is either 2 or 3 in line depending how the team views Katz. Though I expect to see Cournoyer given the opportunity to seize the net at some point. It's possible they pulled him here with the idea that he'd work at the NCAA level this year and become the starter next year. Not sure if Roest is anything more than a 3 guy at this point.

I hope Keopple wins the starting job because I like when loyal upperclassmen succeed. But Cournoyer's junior numbers and NHL draft prospects are on another level. Keopple may start game 1 but I expect Cournoyer to take over as the season progresses. Again, it would be cool if I'm wrong here. Not sure what the basis is for thinking Katz>Roest, both struggled in juniors but so did Shane, it's not the end of the world and goalies are very hard to project.

[marty]

—it's massive. 14 incoming recruits must be the largest in the history of Cornell hockey. The staff and leaders are going to have their work cut out for them getting everyone up to speed on the culture and expectations. Adding to the difficulty is that there is a new head coach, a new assistant coach, and very few seniors.

IIRC, the incoming group in 1992-93 was also 14. Their senior year (1995-96) was Schafer's first and our first ECAC tournament title in a while.

Found a bigger one - 1975-76 incoming was 17 (which included Nethery and Shier). Crazy!

Remember that in the early 70's teams would recruit 25-30 players per year for their freshman team.  I'm glad those days are over.  I can't imagine telling 20 plus kids that they all had a great shot at the team as sophomores.

[RichH]

Also disputing Cournoyer as the favorite. I think Keopple is the favorite, Cournoyer is either 2 or 3 in line depending how the team views Katz. Though I expect to see Cournoyer given the opportunity to seize the net at some point. It's possible they pulled him here with the idea that he'd work at the NCAA level this year and become the starter next year. Not sure if Roest is anything more than a 3 guy at this point.

Nothing wrong with working in a platoon. It doesn't have to be 50-50, but I like having more than one battle-tested and used to the level should an injury occur.

2001-02 saw an experienced Matt Underhill and a young & skilled David Leneveu split time very effectively.