Cornell at Union 2/28

Very important matchup to determine the lower portion of the conference BYE seeding. Also notable in that this will be the last meeting of these teams at Messa Rink, as Union is moving into a new arena starting next season

It will be interesting to see tonight’s lineup and who may or may not be returning to play
GO RED!

There is a chance the whole linup is available tonight

upprdeck
There is a chance the whole linup is available tonight

Devlin and Wallace?

I dont think there has been any expectation they would be coming back this year.

Castagna could be back though

Castagna back in lineup. Donaldson scratched.

JohnF81
Castagna back in lineup. Donaldson scratched.

Kraft-Casty-O'Leary is not a fourth line lol. I assume they'll try to ease him back in.

Castagna is warming up. Good.

BearLover

upprdeck
There is a chance the whole linup is available tonight

Devlin and Wallace?

IINM Mike ruled them out for the season.

Line chart

Shitty team, shitty town, shitty rink, shitty crowd, shitty piped-in garbage noise, shitty PA, but really nice camera.

We don’t often get to see the opening lineup on ESPN+

Trotsky
Shitty team, shitty town, shitty rink, shitty crowd, shitty piped-in garbage noise, shitty PA, but really nice camera.

At least one thing.

Apparently there’s a lot of RED fans in attendance based on the anthem chant

fastforward
Apparently there’s a lot of RED fans in attendance based on the anthem chant

Announcers said they are expecting a sellout. The few butts-in-seats suggests they will be disappointed.

Ustulo Rego sum

pjd8

fastforward
Apparently there’s a lot of RED fans in attendance based on the anthem chant

Announcers said they are expecting a sellout. The few butts-in-seats suggests they will be disappointed.

But at least after Rego's goal, they said they are going to be watching the scoreboard all night.

pjd8

fastforward
Apparently there’s a lot of RED fans in attendance based on the anthem chant

Announcers said they are expecting a sellout. The few butts-in-seats suggests they will be disappointed.

IIRC half the Union townie crowd are 9-year olds who spend the entire game running and screaming.

That is already 3 great looks. Cornell setting up well in the O zone.

OK let's see if the pp has learned anything this year.

2-1 Union

O’Leary with the Bancroft special: had a clear line of sight for a shot on goal and instead, back-passes it into the skates of two U defenders.

fastforward
2-1 Union

Oh brother.

So Union does a great job keeping the puck in our zone and gets a greasy one off a deflection to take the lead. We have done an awful job so far handling their forecheck. Very disappointing after a nice start.

3-1. Shane pulled for Keopple.

3-1 Union
Ian is pulled

The team looks terrible in its own zone. Might be good to have a timeout

Now 3-1. May not be Shane’s night, so perhaps a goalie change is in order.

Rats.

Penalty coming
Could be a major
Just a 2 minute thankfully

fastforward
Penalty coming
Could be a major

For or against us? What happened?

And now Catalano with an idiotic hit to the head of a union player in the neutral zone. Likely to be reviewed for a major. Maybe not though? Union didn’t seem to want to use their challenge.

Yep, minor only. U didn’t challenge for a major.

Catalano with the penalty

Cornell needs to get their act together

The blame certainly doesn’t fall completely on him for previous losses, but I’m losing count of the number of games where Shane has given up an unexpected softy or two.

I’ve avoided watching, and commenting, ever since the Dartmouth brawl, but…wow, what an abject disappointment this team is.

3-1 Union, end of 1st.

Still a lot of game left and Union is turning the puck over which has resulted is very good opportunities. If the defense shores up, this game is definitely still within reach

fastforward
Cornell needs to get their act together

Since November.

There are seasons it never comes together. Reminding me of 2007. Sometimes the parts are there but the engine never engages.

Trotsky

fastforward
Cornell needs to get their act together

Since November.

There are seasons it never comes together. Reminding me of 2007. Sometimes the parts are there but the engine never engages.

The thing is, it engages like, once every four games! The potential is there! The consistency, on the other hand...

it would be nice to score when its all alone with the goalie at least once a game

stereax

Trotsky

fastforward
Cornell needs to get their act together

Since November.

There are seasons it never comes together. Reminding me of 2007. Sometimes the parts are there but the engine never engages.

The thing is, it engages like, once every four games! The potential is there! The consistency, on the other hand...

+1

stereax

Trotsky

fastforward
Cornell needs to get their act together

Since November.

There are seasons it never comes together. Reminding me of 2007. Sometimes the parts are there but the engine never engages.

The thing is, it engages like, once every four games! The potential is there! The consistency, on the other hand...

You're right of course but I really didn't need an off night while the Orangutan Nazi burns down the only thing that's prevented a nuclear war.

Not that we don't deserve it.

Coulda shoulda woulda and all that, but I do wonder how different our record would be if the coaches tried a “rotation” with Shane and Keopple earlier in the season.

Robertson drops to his belly to break up a union three on one, but they get another odd man rush shortly after and rip a wrister past Keopple. 4-1 U.

sah67
Coulda shoulda woulda and all that, but I do wonder how different our record would be if the coaches tried a “rotation” with Shane and Keopple earlier in the season.

Agree

Bancroft frustrated after the 4th goal decides to start a wrestling match with a union player. Both number 17’s to their respective boxes with roughing calls. Refs are reviewing something though.

sah67
Coulda shoulda woulda and all that, but I do wonder how different our record would be if the coaches tried a “rotation” with Shane and Keopple earlier in the season.

No. This is what we have been all season. It is not an anomaly. We are, somehow, average, despite being loaded with talent and having the greatest incentive to win any Cornell team ever has.

The Doomers are all fucking idiots, too -- we aren't "embarrassing" or any adolescent shit. We're just average. This year, this is us.

I hope we work it all out and come back strong next year.

Union coach apparently needs to “leave the bench and run to his office to look at the video replay.” They must be eager to move to the new rink!

fastforward

sah67
Coulda shoulda woulda and all that, but I do wonder how different our record would be if the coaches tried a “rotation” with Shane and Keopple earlier in the season.

Agree

The coaching staff clearly thinks Shane is much better than Keopple. Otherwise Shane would have been benched long, long ago. So, I have a hard time believing a platoon would have been any better.

Schafer has been a great coach but I’m ready to move on. This season has been disgraceful.

Last years of great coaches are often disappointing. I leafed through the CHN almanac one day and saw some patterns.

sah67
Bancroft frustrated after the 4th goal decides to start a wrestling match with a union player. Both number 17’s to their respective boxes with roughing calls. Refs are reviewing something though.

Looked like Bancroft may have been bleeding

fastforward

sah67
Coulda shoulda woulda and all that, but I do wonder how different our record would be if the coaches tried a “rotation” with Shane and Keopple earlier in the season.

Agree

maybe some of you should go to a practice

WTF
MAJOR AND A GAME FOR BANCROFT

Bancroft tossed out: five minute major and a game misconduct for face masking. Union player still gets a minor penalty for roughing.

The replay showed a lot of tussling and wrestling on both Bancroft and the Union player’s part but nothing obvious. The refs clearly saw “something“ though.

Getting some 1995 vibes here. Circle of Life.

We have two players in the box as Bancroft still got the roughing call in addition to his major.

Thankfully Union no longer appears to be trying.

Mack with a gorgeous rush and power move to the net shorthanded, but couldn’t convert.

Scersk '97
Last years of great coaches are often disappointing. I leafed through the CHN almanac one day and saw some patterns.

It would not surprise me at all if in general last seasons underachieved expectations and post overachieving seasons happened during coaches' first seasons.

Scersk '97
Last years of great coaches are often disappointing. I leafed through the CHN almanac one day and saw some patterns.

Jeff Jackson this season at Notre Dame. Of course most of those other examples were not coming off a final eight season with virtually the entire team returning. Shocking.

arugula

Scersk '97
Last years of great coaches are often disappointing. I leafed through the CHN almanac one day and saw some patterns.

Jeff Jackson this season at Notre Dame. Of course most of those other examples were not coming off a final eight season with virtually the entire team returning. Shocking.

I mean, Schafer wanted to retire after last season. So you can’t really blame him.

Trotsky

sah67
Coulda shoulda woulda and all that, but I do wonder how different our record would be if the coaches tried a “rotation” with Shane and Keopple earlier in the season.

No. This is what we have been all season. It is not an anomaly. We are, somehow, average, despite being loaded with talent and having the greatest incentive to win any Cornell team ever has.

The Doomers are all fucking idiots, too -- we aren't "embarrassing" or any adolescent shit. We're just average. This year, this is us.

I hope we work it all out and come back strong next year.

Shane's been fine. Not as good as years past, maybe, but still fine. It's not about who's in net, it's the sheer lack of scoring plus the defense napping at the wheel every other game.

stereax

Trotsky

sah67
Coulda shoulda woulda and all that, but I do wonder how different our record would be if the coaches tried a “rotation” with Shane and Keopple earlier in the season.

No. This is what we have been all season. It is not an anomaly. We are, somehow, average, despite being loaded with talent and having the greatest incentive to win any Cornell team ever has.

The Doomers are all fucking idiots, too -- we aren't "embarrassing" or any adolescent shit. We're just average. This year, this is us.

I hope we work it all out and come back strong next year.

Shane's been fine. Not as good as years past, maybe, but still fine. It's not about who's in net, it's the sheer lack of scoring plus the defense napping at the wheel every other game.

I’m sorry, but no. Shane has been horrible this season. Both by the eye test and by his stats, which are among the absolute worst in the country.

Major (the length, not the player) penalty killed. I think we had better looks shorthanded than U did on the 5 minutes of power-play.

Castagna pretty invisible tonight so far, but who knows how “recovered” he really is

BearLover

arugula

Scersk '97
Last years of great coaches are often disappointing. I leafed through the CHN almanac one day and saw some patterns.

Jeff Jackson this season at Notre Dame. Of course most of those other examples were not coming off a final eight season with virtually the entire team returning. Shocking.

I mean, Schafer wanted to retire after last season. So you can’t really blame him.

Not blaming him. It happens.

End of 2nd: 4-1 U.

I would still like to know who decided those facemask penalties were a 5 min and throw the guy worthy type calls. 2 min and they if a guy gets thrown around maybe 5?

again we create multiple chances and just cant score.

SOG 13-11 Union through two. I’m not sure if they even got more than a single SOG during their five minute power-play.

arugula

Scersk '97
Last years of great coaches are often disappointing. I leafed through the CHN almanac one day and saw some patterns.

Jeff Jackson this season at Notre Dame. Of course most of those other examples were not coming off a final eight season with virtually the entire team returning. Shocking.

Pretty much the entire list of leaders by wins, including York, Parker, Berenson, Sauer, etc. Ron Mason is the only exception.

Schafer has left the bench. He took a puck to the head in the second and seemed OK but is apparently being evaluated now.

Another great shorthanded bid: Rego this time with a steal behind the net and then a wraparound, but no dice.

Another penalty killed where we had more chances shorthanded than U did with the man advantage.

Scersk '97

arugula

Scersk '97
Last years of great coaches are often disappointing. I leafed through the CHN almanac one day and saw some patterns.

Jeff Jackson this season at Notre Dame. Of course most of those other examples were not coming off a final eight season with virtually the entire team returning. Shocking.

Pretty much the entire list of leaders by wins, including York, Parker, Berenson, Sauer, etc. Ron Mason is the only exception.

I would imagine almost all of their final years were under very different circumstances than Schafer’s.

10 minutes left in the third. We’ve probably had the better of the chances so far, but nothing to show for it.

Union commentator mentions that Schafer and Bancroft are both back in the visitor’s locker right now: probably not great vibes.

Major gets his once-per-game brutal hit into the boards, but it hasn’t been overly physical apart from that in this period.

sah67
Schafer has left the bench. He took a puck to the head in the second and seemed OK but is apparently being evaluated now.

Are we actually trying to kill the guy

sah67
10 minutes left in the third. We’ve probably had the better of the chances so far, but nothing to show for it.

Union commentator mentions that Schafer and Bancroft are both back in the visitor’s locker right now: probably not great vibes.

one last tearing-a-player-a-new-one, schaf :')

Dartmouth leads 3-2
Make that 4-2 ugh

CJ pulls Koepple with five minutes left. Union timeout. We lost ours on an unsuccessful challenge earlier.

upprdeck

fastforward

sah67
Coulda shoulda woulda and all that, but I do wonder how different our record would be if the coaches tried a “rotation” with Shane and Keopple earlier in the season.

Agree

maybe some of you should go to a practice

Its interesting. In 2021 Schafer was so hesitant to go with Shane because he said he wasn’t impressive at practice but once he got him in games he thrived. With Shane being so poor this year you think he would’ve learned from that experience and tried other guys quicker. I’m not saying that Keopple would be better than Shane but it is sure as hell worth a try earlier, as we found out in 2021.

Decent flurry with the extra attacker on, but then Rego takes a tripping call and there goes the momentum. Koepple back in now.

Shooting our selves in the foot

2 mins left: Rego penalty killed and Keopple comes back out.

4-1 final. Union looked pretty beatable, but not by our team.

sah67
4-1 final. Union looked pretty beatable, but not by our team.

Well yeah, Union (now 30th in the PWR) is as mediocre as mediocre gets. So obviously they beat us 4-1 twice this season.

BearLover

sah67
4-1 final. Union looked pretty beatable, but not by our team.

Well yeah, Union (now 30th in the PWR) is as mediocre as mediocre gets. So obviously they beat us 4-1 twice this season.

We're 12-9-6 and tied for 21st in PWR. Union is 18-11-3 and 34th. Their OOC schedule must be awful.

BearLover

Scersk '97

arugula

Scersk '97
Last years of great coaches are often disappointing. I leafed through the CHN almanac one day and saw some patterns.

Jeff Jackson this season at Notre Dame. Of course most of those other examples were not coming off a final eight season with virtually the entire team returning. Shocking.

Pretty much the entire list of leaders by wins, including York, Parker, Berenson, Sauer, etc. Ron Mason is the only exception.

I would imagine almost all of their final years were under very different circumstances than Schafer’s.

You don’t read, do you? Great coaches, mediocre final seasons.

This game basically ended what optimism I had for the remainder of the season. I'll enjoy whatever good is left in the season but I'd be very surprised if this team is playing after next weekend.

Scersk '97

BearLover

Scersk '97

arugula

Scersk '97
Last years of great coaches are often disappointing. I leafed through the CHN almanac one day and saw some patterns.

Jeff Jackson this season at Notre Dame. Of course most of those other examples were not coming off a final eight season with virtually the entire team returning. Shocking.

Pretty much the entire list of leaders by wins, including York, Parker, Berenson, Sauer, etc. Ron Mason is the only exception.

I would imagine almost all of their final years were under very different circumstances than Schafer’s.

You don’t read, do you? Great coaches, mediocre final seasons.

You don’t use critical thinking, do you? Did those coaches have that mediocre final season following two great seasons and 6/7 years in the NCAA tournament at an Ivy League school, like Schafer did? Did they retire because they were pushed out, following a period of less success? Or did they, like Schafer, go out on their own terms? Like I said, very different circumstances. A 75-year-old retiring from BU or Michigan after a relative down period is not the same as a 62-year-old retiring from Cornell at the height of success.

Scersk '97

BearLover

Scersk '97

arugula

Scersk '97
Last years of great coaches are often disappointing. I leafed through the CHN almanac one day and saw some patterns.

Jeff Jackson this season at Notre Dame. Of course most of those other examples were not coming off a final eight season with virtually the entire team returning. Shocking.

Pretty much the entire list of leaders by wins, including York, Parker, Berenson, Sauer, etc. Ron Mason is the only exception.

I would imagine almost all of their final years were under very different circumstances than Schafer’s.

You don’t read, do you? Great coaches, mediocre final seasons.

I think Bear's point was you could be switching the causal arrow.

Trotsky

Scersk '97

BearLover

Scersk '97

arugula

Scersk '97
Last years of great coaches are often disappointing. I leafed through the CHN almanac one day and saw some patterns.

Jeff Jackson this season at Notre Dame. Of course most of those other examples were not coming off a final eight season with virtually the entire team returning. Shocking.

Pretty much the entire list of leaders by wins, including York, Parker, Berenson, Sauer, etc. Ron Mason is the only exception.

I would imagine almost all of their final years were under very different circumstances than Schafer’s.

You don’t read, do you? Great coaches, mediocre final seasons.

I think Bear's point was you could be switching the causal arrow.

Pretty sure they all left on their own terms.

sah67
4-1 final. Union looked pretty beatable, but not by our team.

RPI lost to them in OT at The Mayor's Cup in Albany and could easily have won.

Scersk '97

Trotsky

Scersk '97

BearLover

Scersk '97

arugula

Scersk '97
Last years of great coaches are often disappointing. I leafed through the CHN almanac one day and saw some patterns.

Jeff Jackson this season at Notre Dame. Of course most of those other examples were not coming off a final eight season with virtually the entire team returning. Shocking.

Pretty much the entire list of leaders by wins, including York, Parker, Berenson, Sauer, etc. Ron Mason is the only exception.

I would imagine almost all of their final years were under very different circumstances than Schafer’s.

You don’t read, do you? Great coaches, mediocre final seasons.

I think Bear's point was you could be switching the causal arrow.

Pretty sure they all left on their own terms.

I don't have direct knowledge of their leaving circumstances, but their records suggest they did indeed leave on their own terms. Sauer's sub-.500 years were not directly before his last season. Berenson and Parker had minor RS/CT/NCAA droughts toward the end, but not horrible results overall.

Jerry York, Last Season 15-18-5, Prior 10 seasons: 1 sub-.500 year
Jack Parker, Last Season 21-16-2, Prior 10 seasons: 1 sub-.500 year
Ron Mason, Last Season 27-9-5, Prior 10 seasons: 0 sub-.500 years
Red Berenson, Last Season 13-19-3, Prior 10 seasons: 1 sub-.500 year
Jeff Sauer, Last Season 16-19-4, Prior 10 seasons: 3 sub-.500 years
Mike Schafer, YTD 12-10-6, Prior 10 seasons: 1 sub-.500 year

I think there's a real chance that when a coaching retirement is announced it can drain the focus/energy of a team. That would certainly be consistent with Cornell's performance this year. Combine high pressure to have a great season with a slew of injuries early on, and it's easy to see how frustration mounts quickly.

What I loved most about Schafe's senior year was the fire the team had. It won them games that they shouldn't have. I haven't seen that fire this season, and the result has been just the opposite.

I wonder who we’ll see in goal tomorrow. It could be that they go with the goalie that they will ride through the playoffs to get him hot (most likely Shane) or they could rest the goalie that they are gonna ride during the playoffs which would mean more likely keopple would go tomorrow. Of course they could also have given up on Shane after tonight and be going with keopple in the playoffs but that would be very surprising to me given how patient they have been with Shane this season.

pjd8

Scersk '97

Trotsky

Scersk '97

BearLover

Scersk '97

arugula

Scersk '97
Last years of great coaches are often disappointing. I leafed through the CHN almanac one day and saw some patterns.

Jeff Jackson this season at Notre Dame. Of course most of those other examples were not coming off a final eight season with virtually the entire team returning. Shocking.

Pretty much the entire list of leaders by wins, including York, Parker, Berenson, Sauer, etc. Ron Mason is the only exception.

I would imagine almost all of their final years were under very different circumstances than Schafer’s.

You don’t read, do you? Great coaches, mediocre final seasons.

I think Bear's point was you could be switching the causal arrow.

Pretty sure they all left on their own terms.

I don't have direct knowledge of their leaving circumstances, but their records suggest they did indeed leave on their own terms. Sauer's sub-.500 years were not directly before his last season. Berenson and Parker had minor RS/CT/NCAA droughts toward the end, but not horrible results overall.

Jerry York, Last Season 15-18-5, Prior 10 seasons: 1 sub-.500 year
Jack Parker, Last Season 21-16-2, Prior 10 seasons: 1 sub-.500 year
Ron Mason, Last Season 27-9-5, Prior 10 seasons: 0 sub-.500 years
Red Berenson, Last Season 13-19-3, Prior 10 seasons: 1 sub-.500 year
Jeff Sauer, Last Season 16-19-4, Prior 10 seasons: 3 sub-.500 years
Mike Schafer, YTD 12-10-6, Prior 10 seasons: 1 sub-.500 year

I think there's a real chance that when a coaching retirement is announced it can drain the focus/energy of a team. That would certainly be consistent with Cornell's performance this year. Combine high pressure to have a great season with a slew of injuries early on, and it's easy to see how frustration mounts quickly.

What I loved most about Schafe's senior year was the fire the team had. It won them games that they shouldn't have. I haven't seen that fire this season, and the result has been just the opposite.

Must be killing him. Outwardly very positive but I can’t imagine he’s being patient with the team.

pjd8

Scersk '97

Trotsky

Scersk '97

BearLover

Scersk '97

arugula

Scersk '97
Last years of great coaches are often disappointing. I leafed through the CHN almanac one day and saw some patterns.

Jeff Jackson this season at Notre Dame. Of course most of those other examples were not coming off a final eight season with virtually the entire team returning. Shocking.

Pretty much the entire list of leaders by wins, including York, Parker, Berenson, Sauer, etc. Ron Mason is the only exception.

I would imagine almost all of their final years were under very different circumstances than Schafer’s.

You don’t read, do you? Great coaches, mediocre final seasons.

I think Bear's point was you could be switching the causal arrow.

Pretty sure they all left on their own terms.

I don't have direct knowledge of their leaving circumstances, but their records suggest they did indeed leave on their own terms. Sauer's sub-.500 years were not directly before his last season. Berenson and Parker had minor RS/CT/NCAA droughts toward the end, but not horrible results overall.

Jerry York, Last Season 15-18-5, Prior 10 seasons: 1 sub-.500 year
Jack Parker, Last Season 21-16-2, Prior 10 seasons: 1 sub-.500 year
Ron Mason, Last Season 27-9-5, Prior 10 seasons: 0 sub-.500 years
Red Berenson, Last Season 13-19-3, Prior 10 seasons: 1 sub-.500 year
Jeff Sauer, Last Season 16-19-4, Prior 10 seasons: 3 sub-.500 years
Mike Schafer, YTD 12-10-6, Prior 10 seasons: 1 sub-.500 year

I think there's a real chance that when a coaching retirement is announced it can drain the focus/energy of a team. That would certainly be consistent with Cornell's performance this year. Combine high pressure to have a great season with a slew of injuries early on, and it's easy to see how frustration mounts quickly.

What I loved most about Schafe's senior year was the fire the team had. It won them games that they shouldn't have. I haven't seen that fire this season, and the result has been just the opposite.

This is a great post; well-researched and relevant. Thank you.