My Opinion of Cornell after the Princeton game

Scott Goldsmith · November 09, 2003, 12:51:38 AM

The first line with Bitz-Vesce-Moulson is just awesome. I read everyone's opinions on this board about Bitz before the game, and I agree, he is awesome. He has stepped in as a freshman and looks great out there. Big guy who can skate and has skill. He needs to get stronger, but he is fine as is. I just hope he stays at Cornell until he is at least a junior. That pass to Vesce for the first goal tonight was beautiful. Moulson is very good and will only get better.

The Abbott-Abbott-Hornby line is exciting to watch. They work hard on every shift and are fantastic forecheckers. Schafer puts them out after each goal.

Hynes-Iggulden-Knoepfli line is solid. Hynes appears to be much stronger this year. He needs to increase his production, but he is so strong on the puck, it looks like he is on another level at times. I am not used to seeing Cornell players like that.

Fourth line of Pegoraro-McCutcheon-Carefoot didn't impress tonight. Carefoot seemed decent, but nothing stood out. Remeinds me of a Ladouceur/Kozier type. I expected more out of Pegoraro. I thought he looked better last year. McCutcheon is OK, but has lots of room for improvement. He is a skinny kid. Legs especially are thin. Not as bad a skater as I was led to believe. He should be great in two years. However, this line did not get much playing time until the third period, partially because of all the power plays and it was tough to judge.

On defense, Cook, Wallace and Downs are solid. I love O'Byrne's size and overall package. But his penalties are going to kill us against a good team. Glover and Gleed didn't play much until the third period. Again, it was difficult to judge. I think Glover looked a little better than Gleed. They both looked OK though. They might have problems against good teams this year.

The crowd tonight was great. I love how we go to Princeton and make it a home game for Cornell. I was there last year as well. But crushing them this year was sweet.

Team will keep getting better. As the Yale coach said, our defense needs to improve. We miss Murray at the point on the power play. No big slap shot on the team. Moulson and Bitz played the point at times on the power play.

Beeeej · November 09, 2003, 01:01:46 AM

McCutcheon took a few unnecessary cheap shots tonight, and I was a bit surprised; usually Schafer's players are more disciplined. But if you like that kind of thing, you'll be happy to know he managed only to do it when Dunn couldn't see it. Seven power plays is plenty to give any team we're playing, thank you.

De-lurking for the first time since late April,
Beeeej

Post Edited (11-09-03 01:26)

RedJeff20 · November 09, 2003, 01:29:45 AM

I have always been, and remain optimistic about this team. We all expected growing pains and it's great to see how some parts of the Cornell we are used to seeing are coming together.

Am I alone in my opinion that Evan Salmela is a terrific point man on the power play? Since we have not had tremendous success, especially with the second PP line, I was sort of disappointed he didn't play this weekend. In addition, he played very little 5-on-5 action at Lynah last week, so I couldn't tell how good a defensive player his is.

Anyone have any thoughts on the outlook for him?

Cheers,
Mike

Scott Goldsmith · November 09, 2003, 01:40:32 AM

I haven't seen Salmela play and I would love to know what people think about him.

As a board, it would be easier if people changed the subject headings so we can follow the topics.

Also, how is Stachurski?

Section A · November 09, 2003, 03:13:00 AM

Salmela does indeed have a great shot from the point. It's a low laser that is on target most of the time.

BUT....remember the kind of hockey sense that Mark McRae and Doug Murray had? Well Salmela doesn't have that (yet)...at least not from what we saw last weekend. He pinches in when he shouldn't, and then he doesn't backcheck well enough. Some of those defensive mistakes against Western Michigan last week, whether or not they led to goals, were at least partially his fault. Also, I think he mishandled the puck a couple times at key moments on the power play that resulted in the puck being cleared from the zone. So I wasn't surprised at all when I saw Glover (who was solid in the Red/White and vs. the U-18 team) was playing this weekend instead of Salmela. (Don't get me wrong though; I still think Salmela will be good....a Cook-like player eventually).

As for Stachurski, I'm not sure exactly what the coaches think of him. During the red-white game, he was only played at the same time as the walk-ons.

Post Edited (11-09-03 03:15)

atb9 · November 09, 2003, 04:13:25 AM

Good to see you post Beeeej...was asking about you tonight

Beeeej · November 09, 2003, 11:46:53 AM

Thanks, Adam. And the answer to the question you were asking is Oregon v. Elstad, 470 U.S. 298 (1985). Hope I've helped.

Beeeej

Greg Berge · November 09, 2003, 12:18:49 PM

> Carefoot seemed decent, but nothing stood out. Remeinds me of a Ladouceur/Kozier type.

This really jumped out at me as to the significant strides Schafer has made. Kozier and Ladouceur were among the best forwards on the team in 98-99, finishing in the top four in scoring as freshmen. Five years later, a player of comparable ability is on the bubble for the fourth line. Wow.

Post Edited (11-09-03 12:20)

Section A · November 09, 2003, 12:31:18 PM

Another thought following this weekend is that I'm glad Iggulden is no longer injured and was playing instead of Varteressian. Iggulden is actually pretty good and skates better than Varteressian. Iggulden just didn't get the playing time last year because of an already loaded roster. He's one of the best penalty killers on the team, and I think he's going to end up being the most improved player on the team.

As for Pegoraro not being as impressive this year, I think that's only because he's centering a line with two freshmen (the only line with two freshmen). I think just the fact that Schafer put Pegoraro with Carefoot and McCutcheon shows that he thinks highly of his ability.

Greg Berge · November 09, 2003, 12:37:58 PM

From the netcast of the WMU games, I thought Pegoraro looked very good. Can't speak to this week.

Was it my imagination, or did Mike deploy Stealth Hornby (i.e., rarely mentioned) this past weekend?

Post Edited (11-09-03 12:38)

Scott Goldsmith · November 09, 2003, 01:42:09 PM

Hornby played plenty against Princeton. As I mentioned, his line was out after every goal. But with all of the power plays for both teams, perhaps he didn't get on the ice as much as he normally would.

Scott Goldsmith · November 09, 2003, 01:44:28 PM

He is also a pretty big guy on the ice. A good presence to have. Cornell once again has a good sized team. I love not being the ones who get pushed around.

ugarte · November 09, 2003, 02:40:12 PM

QuoteScott Goldsmith wrote:

He is also a pretty big guy on the ice. A good presence to have. Cornell once again has a good sized team. I love not being the ones who get pushed around.

Speaking of big, seeing Bitz and O'Byrne for the first time was pretty amazing (especially Bitz). Those are two big fellas. That was a great game to watch last night.

By the way, McKee has his first shutout, and not a word in the thread. And it makes some sense. That was some great defense in front of him, and he didn't have to make many impressive saves.

Beeeej · November 09, 2003, 02:46:12 PM

I disagree - McKee had plenty of tough saves to make last night, and made them - including a couple of breakaways and a couple of nasty scrambles in front of the net. Yes, the defense was certainly better this weekend than last, but McKee did a great job, especially once Princeton started to find their power play and moved the puck to the net better. Vesce's ridiculously absurd career game is the main reason people aren't talking about McKee...

...but it's also a tougher mental leap to treat the goalie as a hero because of his shutout, when the offense scored seven goals.:-D

Beeeej

ugarte · November 09, 2003, 03:00:15 PM

QuoteJeffrey "Beeeej" Anbinder '94 wrote:

I disagree - McKee had plenty of tough saves to make last night, and made them - including a couple of breakaways and a couple of nasty scrambles in front of the net. Yes, the defense was certainly better this weekend than last, but McKee did a great job, especially once Princeton started to find their power play and moved the puck to the net better. Vesce's ridiculously absurd career game is the main reason people aren't talking about McKee...

...but it's also a tougher mental leap to treat the goalie as a hero because of his shutout, when the offense scored seven goals.:-D

Beeeej

Wow, Beeeej. When you stop lurking, you come back with a vengeance. I don't disagree with anything you wrote. But while McKee certainly had some tough saves, every goalie makes some tough saves in every game. Leroux certainly did. His night was impressive, but certainly nothing that shows signs of greatness. LeNeveu gave up one goal in NJ last year, but I thought his game was spectacular. This shutout was good, but less impressive. (And of course the lack of offense in last year's game put more pressure on Lenny.)

In any event, it was a great game to go to. (Where were you sitting, Beeeej? I looked but didn't see you.)