Cornell 4 Harvard 1, 1/24/26

[stereax]

The fact that the challenge is taking this long is... good, probably.

I thought it was bad that it took a while because Jason was sure it was offside. I figured they were looking at whether we regained possession at some point in a way that would nullify the illegal zone entry. But it all worked out.

Usually from my experience if the challenge is quick it's because it's not successful.

[David Harding]

Jane's account of the game is posted.  https://www.cornellsun.com/article/2026/01/no-12-men-s-hockey-secures-commanding-4-1-win-over-rival-harvard-at-lynah-rink
And also commentary from her and her colleagues.  https://www.cornellsun.com/article/2026/01/first-thoughts-how-no-12-men-s-hockey-took-down-harvard

[BearLover]

Cornell dominated basically the whole weekend from what I was able to watch. Easily our most impressive weekend of the year.

Growing to love this team. Had no idea what to expect with all the turnover but they've maintained the Schafer structure with a bit more aggressive offensive approach and a ton of depth size and speed.  Alexis is looking very solid between the pipes.  Very optimistic for this year and the future.  Major at 3C tells you all you need to know about the depth. I'm sure someone has two better Cs than we do but our guys are pretty pretty good.  Was hoping for a bit more from Fisher, not that he's been bad, but otoh XV has been a revelation and various freshman f's have been great. Unfortunately for them, guys like Donaldson, Mosko, Murray, Wolfenberg etc have just been buried.

This was the first weekend we played with any real consistency or discernible identity. But it was basically nonstop across two games, which bodes well. We'll see how replicable this is going forward. 

Biggest potential area of growth seems to be the breakout, where we turn the puck over too much against opposing forechecks (that led to the lone Dartmouth goal). I think Harvard doesn't play as aggressive a forecheck system as Q and Dartmouth. Not sure why that is, but it benefited us tonight. Other biggest area of growth going forward is depth scoring. 

[BearLover]

Cornell dominated basically the whole weekend from what I was able to watch. Easily our most impressive weekend of the year.

Unfortunately for them, guys like Donaldson, Mosko, Murray, Wolfenberg etc have just been buried.

The other thing burying those guys is that we've had incredible injury luck so far this year (knock on wood).

[chimpfood]

Fantastic game and weekend of play. Today was fun to watch and obviously the result was great. It's truly magical how every year Harvard recruits so much talent, I buy in, and they're mediocre yet again. The salmon filet that landed right at Donatos feet after the game cracked me up.

Kraft was of course massive this weekend, Cournoyer's calm presence in the net was comforting, and I thought that the fisher/O'Brien pair was really good this weekend as well. I love it when it's a packed house and you have to stand sideways to even fit into section B. This energy with the students will probably carry over to Colgate and the senior weekend series with how well we played today and yesterday.

[VIEWfromK]

There was no let down!

It feels like it's been a long time since they had this much success over the two Dartmouth/Harvard weekends (Eight out of twelve points).  I won't bother to look it up because I'm probably wrong.

It was another dominant second period for Cornell.  They were really humming when Kraft buried the first goal into the same top corner as his breakaway goal from Friday.

I saw some really nice decision making with the puck.

1) Fegaras jumping into the play (I thought from the bench) saw the chaos in front of the net and didn't gather the puck in first before shooting.  Nobody could get out there to block it with his quick release.  I'd say the majority of our defenseman shot attempts at even strength come after the guy handles the puck and looks for an opening.

2) Long streaking down the wing had a guy going to the net but he never even looked to pass.  I do believe the Harvard goalie was leaning a touch knowing there was a backdoor option but the velocity of the shot was enough to squeak through.

3) Probably my favorite decision of the night.  A younger Castagna forces the puck over to DeSantis on a two on one like that.  He's a playmaker and a wonderful teammate so he knows DeSantis could use one.  Instead he drives to the net and takes the shot.  His maturation process has been on full display this season.

Someone else said it but Cournoyer was very efficient from the start.  He was not called on to have to make a ton of high quality saves but except for one time that I could recall he put every rebound into the corner. 

One of my players of the game would be Luke Ashton.  Harvard had a bit of a push to start the third and he laid out to block a pretty good scoring chance.  It stung him a bit but he was able to stay out there.  He also had another block pretty soon after.  During the preseason he looked to be another offensive type defenseman but he's settled into more of a stay at home role.  Man he's so tall.

Kraft was again the spark for the offense.  He was all over the puck just like Friday and I thought they should figure out a way to award him an assist on the Long goal.  He was the reason they had gained the puck in the first place after yet another successful forcheck.  I'm pretty sure he had gone for a line change and the puck may have even cleared the zone but the pressure that led to the goal started with him.

The students were engaged from the start in that one.  Not sure why they can't bring it for every game when class is in session?  There was a traditional chant or two that don't come out of the bag much anymore and there were quite a few spontaneous "Let's Go Red" chants started over there.  I no longer expect it to get back to the level it once was but after a game like that I'm even more confused about why not?

That was a wonderful weekend to cap off eight straight home games.  Maybe you could count only two bad periods (Second period of the first UNO game and the third period of the Q game) in that stretch.  It has been almost two months since their last road game.  Hopefully it hasn't been too much of a good thing with this crazy schedule.  The Yale Brown swing might be the best way to ease back into it. 

[stereax]

The students were engaged from the start in that one.  Not sure why they can't bring it for every game when class is in session?  There was a traditional chant or two that don't come out of the bag much anymore and there were quite a few spontaneous "Let's Go Red" chants started over there.  I no longer expect it to get back to the level it once was but after a game like that I'm even more confused about why not?

Students don't show up quite as much anymore. Again, Harvard weekend is the only weekend where I complain about personal space.

But also... we have three more home games this season, sadly, barring the playoffs. Will this carry to the Colgate weekend? To senior weekend?

[VIEWfromK]

I knew I'd forget something....

I also had a hunch that they only challenged the offsides because it was obvious.  If I recall correctly it looked funny coming across the line because the Harvard player had gloved it down to himself.  The play lasted a while before they scored so maybe I am mixed up about the entry.  I have a good view of the broadcast booth where the video guy sits.  He was pretty pumped after they waved it off, he gave a big fist pump before sitting down.  Angello was up there with him so there was also some back slapping.  In that game the momentum shifts weren't just limited to the players on the ice. 

[VIEWfromK]

The students were engaged from the start in that one.  Not sure why they can't bring it for every game when class is in session?  There was a traditional chant or two that don't come out of the bag much anymore and there were quite a few spontaneous "Let's Go Red" chants started over there.  I no longer expect it to get back to the level it once was but after a game like that I'm even more confused about why not?

Again, Harvard weekend is the only weekend where I complain about personal space.

This was one of my more pleasant Harvard experiences in a while.  Luckily for us the seats around us have become season tickets again after years of being available for single game purchase.  The two student aged fans that did sit near us were very well behaved. 

[Weder]

How do we feel about Castagna's suit

[VIEWfromK]

He looks like he's ready for those bygone days of the NHL's yesteryear

[BearLover]

I knew I'd forget something....

I also had a hunch that they only challenged the offsides because it was obvious.  If I recall correctly it looked funny coming across the line because the Harvard player had gloved it down to himself.  The play lasted a while before they scored so maybe I am mixed up about the entry.  I have a good view of the broadcast booth where the video guy sits.  He was pretty pumped after they waved it off, he gave a big fist pump before sitting down.  Angello was up there with him so there was also some back slapping.  In that game the momentum shifts weren't just limited to the players on the ice.

Angello is sitting in the broadcast booth?

[Weder]

I knew I'd forget something....

I also had a hunch that they only challenged the offsides because it was obvious.  If I recall correctly it looked funny coming across the line because the Harvard player had gloved it down to himself.  The play lasted a while before they scored so maybe I am mixed up about the entry.  I have a good view of the broadcast booth where the video guy sits.  He was pretty pumped after they waved it off, he gave a big fist pump before sitting down.  Angello was up there with him so there was also some back slapping.  In that game the momentum shifts weren't just limited to the players on the ice.

Angello is sitting in the broadcast booth?

It was alumni weekend for the team, so he was probably just hanging out.

(Also, Jason hinted that Nieuwendyk might have been there? Anyone see him?)

[Snowball]

How do we feel about Castagna's suit

He looks terrific in that suit—someone clearly lavished real attention on tailoring that baby. Not easy fitting soccer or hockey players in suit pants because they usually have giant thighs.

I once dragged my son to Brooks Brothers to buy proper work suits for his first job... which he now almost never wears, because apparently "professional attire" now means whatever you grabbed off the floor. Yep, I mourn the decline of standards for dressing. And I remain deeply confused by the people flying in see-through leggings and pajamas.

Castagna mentioned he's of Italian heritage —his surname literally means "chestnut"—and I have no trouble believing the food at his house is a competitive advantage.

Honestly, if he keeps playing this well, I'll buy him another suit myself.

[andyw2100]

(Also, Jason hinted that Nieuwendyk might have been there? Anyone see him?)

Nieuwendyk got to the celebration of the 1986 championship team late. They were leaving the bench as he was coming in through the tunnel. They then took some pictures facing into the tunnel. So I have some pictures of his back. At some point they turned and were waving to someone up at the balcony or back of section O area. I snapped a pretty bad picture, but here it is.