In Cornell's annual Red-White scrimmage last Saturday night, the White team
defeated the Red team, 8-5.  Here's a summary of how the various pieces of
this year's Cornell team looked during the scrimmage:
 
Goaltending:
     Going into the season, Cornell's top spot in goal was Parris Duffus's
     to lose, and if his performance in this game is any indication, he's
     lost it.  Duffus was between the pipes for the Red team, facing off
     against freshman Andy Bandurski of the White, and he looked pretty
     rattled all night.  He made a few great saves early on, but he wound up
     allowing four goals in the first period and five overall before
     departing at the 9:40 mark of the second, having stopped 12 shots.  To
     be fair, the White team's offense was somewhat better than the Red
     team's, being led by the likely top line of Ryan Hughes, Joe Dragon,
     and Alex Nikolic -- but this line accounted for only one of the goals
     scored on Duffus.
 
     As for Bandurski, he played a decent game, stopping eight of ten shots
     (he was also replaced at 9:40 of the second), but I was more impressed
     with his composure.  Freshman goaltenders often have trouble adjusting
     to the faster-paced college game, but Bandurski seemed to handle it
     well, barking orders to his teammates like a seasoned veteran.  He did
     lose track of the puck a couple of times early, and he allowed a ridi-
     culously easy goal to the Red's Jason Vogel from the blue line, but all
     in all, he had a good night.
 
     The number three spot looks to belong to junior Steve Coultes (unless
     he beats out Duffus for the second spot), who was in JV last year and
     rode the bench with the varsity two years ago.  He also started out a
     little shaky, but he improved in the third period and was outstanding
     over the last ten minutes -- especially during a 1:44 5-on-3 power play
     for the Red team, during which Coultes (playing for the White) made
     some great saves and did not allow a goal.
 
Defense:
     Fairly solid and physical, which is about what was expected.  Marc
     Deschamps seems to be skating well after missing most of the last two
     seasons with knee injuries.  He goes about 6-3, 220, and if he can stay
     healthy, his presence should really help out a defensive unit which is
     missing half its starters from last year.  Two other blue-line spots
     are up for grabs, and one of them will probably go to sophomore Todd
     Chambers, who the team just didn't have room for last year.  Blair
     Ettles may get the other one based on his performance Saturday night --
     he played a tough, physical game, highlighted by the Lonnie Smith-style
     decking he gave to fellow freshman Tyler McManus in the first period.
 
Forwards:
     Two players deserve special mention here -- senior wing Joe Dragon and
     freshman center Jake Karam.  Dragon was the center for the Big Red's
     top line two years ago and for the second line last year, but he is
     being moved to wing to provide some scoring punch for this year's top
     line.  (Last season's top scorer among the returning wingers was Phil
     Nobel, with 12 points)  Dragon looked strong as a winger for the White
     team and was all over the ice, making things happen.  His real gem
     occurred in the third period, while the Red team was on their 5-on-3
     power play.  Dragon stole the puck from a defender near the Red net and
     beat goaltender Geoff Raynak with a high shot for a shorthanded goal.
     Karam also had a terrific game for the White team, with two goals and
     an assist.
 
The ECAC league schedule kicks off this weekend, with newcomer Union
travelling to Vermont.  The rest of the ECAC teams will begin league play on
November 15.  Here are the games involving ECAC teams this weekend:
 
Nov. 8
     Clarkson at Northeastern (NC)
     RPI at Boston College (NC)
     St. Lawrence at UMass-Lowell (NC)
     US Olympic Team at Harvard (NC -- exhibition)
 
Nov. 9
     Union at Vermont
     Clarkson at UMass-Lowell (NC)
     St. Lawrence at Northeastern (NC)
     McGill at Dartmouth (NC -- exhibition)
     Toronto at Colgate (NC -- exhibition)
     Western Ontario at Cornell (NC -- exhibition)
--
Bill Fenwick
Cornell '86 and probably '94
LET'S GO RED!!
"My friend has a 16-month-old baby.  Ugly baby, really -- the doctor said,
 'Keep the receipt on this one.'"
 -- Garry Shandling