While most of the teams in the ECAC were busy playing non-conference games
or exhibitions in preparation for the start of the league schedule, Vermont
and Union got things going a week early. Here are the results of the games
played over the weekend involving ECAC teams (home teams in CAPS):
Friday, Nov. 8
NORTHEASTERN 5, Clarkson 2
Rpi 7, BOSTON COLLEGE 4
St. Lawrence 7, UMASS-LOWELL 6
Team USA 5, HARVARD 4 (exhibition)
Saturday, Nov. 9
VERMONT 3, Union 1
Clarkson 5, UMASS-LOWELL 2
St. Lawrence 10, NORTHEASTERN 2
COLGATE 9, Toronto 5 (exhibition)
CORNELL 4, Western Ontario 3 (exhibition)
ECAC standings as of 11/10/91:
League Overall
Team W L T Pts GF GA W L T Pts GF GA
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Vermont 1 0 0 2 3 1 3 1 0 6 18 9
Clarkson 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 4 16 10
RPI 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 4 12 12
St. Lawrence 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 4 19 11
Brown 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Cornell 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Dartmouth 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Harvard 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Princeton 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Yale 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Colgate 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 6 11
Union 0 1 0 0 1 3 0 2 0 0 7 12
Notes on a couple of the games:
Colgate 9, Toronto 5
The Red Raiders were led by Matt Garzone's goal and three assists,
while Marcel Richard contributed a pair of goals. Toronto took a 3-2
lead with 8:12 gone in the second period, but Colgate broke things open
with four straight goals. For the game, Colgate outshot the Blues
49-25, and of the Red Raiders' nine goals, *seven* came on the power
play.
Cornell 4, Western Ontario 3
Cornell managed to up its record against the Mustangs to 10-0, but not
without some tense moments. Someone is going to have to check the ice
and see whether or not it's tilted, because all seven goals in the game
were scored in the same net. Naturally, my seat was at the OTHER
end...
The Big Red came out for this game looking quite flat and disorganized,
and they were having a lot of trouble controlling and passing the puck.
Perhaps it was just early-season jitters, or maybe the effects of
working several new guys into the lineup, but the Cornell players
seemed to spend a fair amount of time waiting around for things to
happen, rather than being more aggressive and going after the puck.
Ontario played a rough and physical game, not without a few cheap shots
along the way (Cornell's 9-0 advantage in power plays was well-
deserved.)
After some scrambling around, Cornell finally got on the board at 14:24
of the first period, when Jim McPhee skated down the left side, faked a
pass, skated behind the net, and shovelled the puck back out in front.
During a pile-up near the Western Ontario net, Tyler McManus got
control of the puck and fired it past goaltender Willie Mitchell. Four
minutes later, the Big Red wound up with a 5-on-3 power play, and they
converted with 1:16 left in the first, when Joe Dragon poked home a
pass from Ryan Hughes. The Mustangs cut the deficit in half with 59
seconds gone in the second period, courtesy of Steve Rucchin. Cornell
goalie Parris Duffus kicked away a shot by Sean Burns, but the puck
floated right to Rucchin, who slapped it over Duffus' leg.
Three minutes into the second period, referee Scott Edwards left the
game for some reason (injury? I didn't see what happened) and was
replaced by Bob Holt. Western Ontario tied the score at the 9:21 mark
on a goal by Robb Graham. Later in the period, Duffus came up big,
stopping two shorthanded breakaway opportunities by Western Ontario
within a one-minute span. However, the Mustangs took the lead almost
immediately upon returning to full strength, at 16:21 of the second.
As Duffus went down to block a shot, Graham fired the puck between the
goalie's legs and into the net.
Freshman Andy Bandurski replaced Duffus between the pipes for the Red
at the start of the third period. Cornell tied the score at 12:29 of
the third, on a blast by Jason Vogel that beat a screened Mitchell from
the edge of the right faceoff circle. The game-winner came about three
minutes later, when Shaun Hannah fired a shot from near the blue line
that Jake Karam deflected into the net. There was still some fun left,
as the Mustangs' Burns was called for roughing at the 16:17 mark.
Apparently unsure that he had made his point, Burns proceeded to take
off after another Cornell player, earning himself a ten-minute and game
misconduct.
I'm still not completely sure what to make of this Cornell team. They
had some problems early on, but it was good to see the team pull to-
gether and come back in the third period. Considering all the new
people and new pairings, the defense looked quite good. The offense
probably won't be anywhere near as flashy as last year's unit was, but
once they started to click later in the game, they were at least
effective. The power play may need a lot of work, though. As for
goaltending, this should prove to be interesting. Despite allowing
three goals in the second period, Duffus played considerably better
than he did in the scrimmage the week before, finishing with 13 saves.
However, he himself later admitted he was a little tentative, and he
has a tendency to stray a little too far from the net when there are
unfriendlies in the area. Now, I admit this may be a case of "every-
body loves a newcomer", but I'm still impressed with Bandurski's
composure between the pipes. The guy just has the looks and moves of a
good college goaltender. Unfortunately, he didn't have much of an
opportunity to strut his stuff, since Western Ontario managed to get
off only two shots in the entire third period. It appears that Duffus
will be the starter when Cornell opens the season this weekend. By the
way, Western Ontario's Mitchell, who is usually their backup, finished
the night with 23 saves.
Overall, this team seems to be somewhat less emotional that the 1990-91
edition was, but that may be a good thing. When emotional teams are
high, they're practically unbeatable, but if they come out on a low,
forget it. That was known to happen a few times to the Big Red last
year, as they "just couldn't get into" some games. I overheard one of
the players saying that this year's squad had a lot more team unity
than last year's, which won't hurt either. Cornell may have a chance
to surprise a few people.
The ECAC FINALLY gets its league schedule going this weekend, with all 12
teams playing in-conference opponents. Among the high points, Vermont puts
its undisputed-first-place-in-the-ECAC record (after just one game, but
hey!) on the line against the tough North Country teams, and Union has its
ECAC home opener against perennial contender Harvard. Here's the schedule
for Friday and Saturday:
Nov. 15
Brown at RPI
Colgate at Yale
Cornell at Princeton
Dartmouth at St. Lawrence
Harvard at Union
Vermont at Clarkson
Nov. 16
Brown at Union
Colgate at Princeton
Cornell at Yale
Dartmouth at Clarkson
Harvard at RPI
Vermont at St. Lawrence
--
Bill Fenwick
Cornell '86 and probably '94
LET'S GO RED!!
"I used to work in a delicatessen. I got fired, though, because I would refuse
to serve tongue to the customers. I don't like the idea of tasting something
that might be tasting me back."
-- Elayne Boosler
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