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
|