1998-99 Cornell Preview

In 1998-99, Mike Schafer (57-34-12, 2 ECAC championships, 2 Ivy League championships, 8-0-1 vs. Harvard) leads a balanced squad against another strong ECAC and non-conference schedule. The goal is to return to Lake Placid for the fourth consecutive season, and then attempt to return to the NCAA's, where they enjoyed success as recently as two years ago.

For the first time in three years, Cornell does not return as the defending conference champion. Injuries depleted the squad on every level last year (over 100 man-games were lost, most to key personnel, and even Schafer spent some time on a stretcher!), however even at full strength the Big Red seemed to be missing some of the spark which drove them through their wild title runs in 1996 and 1997. The populous freshman class logged an improbable amount of experience, and indeed their efforts (and departed goaltender Jason Elliott's last hurrah) where chiefly responsible for Cornell's upset round one victory over RPI and their return to Lake Placid.

Another large class, both in size and number, is headed for Ithaca, and the identity and character of this team will be largely in the hands of its freshman and sophomore members, who number a remarkable 17 of the team's 27 players. Refer to the roster for a statistical summary.

Leadership

To complement their youth, the Big Red benefit from the experienced leadership of an accomplished senior class, led by captain Kyle Knopp (6-20-26) and assistants Jeff Burgoyne (4-13-17) and Jeff Oates (8-2-10), and also including Keith Peach (1-8-9).

Goaltending

The goaltending is stable for the next several years, as Ian Burt (3.91, .881) takes over from the legendary Jason Elliott between the pipes, assisted by incoming prospect Matt Underhill.

Forwards

Also among the large and well-rounded incoming class are stellar linemates from Prince George (BCJHL), David Kozier (5'10, 178) and Dennis Ladoceaur (5'11, 175), who have combined for 285 points in their team's last two seasons! (Kozier is recovering from an injury and his debut will be delayed until January.) Their efforts should add to the offensive punch of Knopp, Oates, and powerhouse lettermen Doug Steinstra (13-13-28) and Ryan Moynihan (14-12-26).

The forward position is deep, with the inclusion of juniors Mike Rutter (4-5-9) and Frank Kovac (1-4-5). The sophomore forwards, whose courageous efforts over the grueling three-game quarterfinal at RPI led directly to the Sack of Troy, return with that seasoning under their belts: Andrew McNiven (3-7-10), Dan Svoboda (5-3-8), Tyler Sutherland (2-4-6), Niels Heilmann (1-0-1), and David Hovey (1-0-1).

Finally, additional freshmen Kryztoff Wieckowski (6'3, 190) and Dave Francis (6'0, 190) provide more size up front.

Blueline

The major story of last year was the development of an inexperienced blue line corps, which matured under extraordinarily difficult circumstances to lead the squad back to the conference tournament. Burgoyne (5'11, 185) returns with sophomores Larry Pierce (4-11-15, 5'11, 190), Danny Powell (6'3, 205), and Bryan Telesmanic (5'9, 175), and juniors David Adler (6'3, 203) and Rick Sacchetti (6'4, 217).

The size and strength of the returning defenders is multiplied by the addition of the Twin Towers, Shaun Peet (6'3) and Brian McMeekin (6'4). Mortal-sized freshman Alex Gregory (5'11, 175) rounds out the defensive corps. The combination of five defensemen 6'3 and taller likely gives Cornell the biggest blueline corps in the conference, if not the country.

  • The Roster details the full membership of this year's team, and summarizes their collegiate accomplishments, to date.
  • The 1999 TBRW? ECAC Predictions gives us a hint as to what to expect, generated from the most accurate predictor system in college hockey.
  • Here come the freshmen! One of the most important freshman classes in recent history arrives in Ithaca this autumn. We've got the skinny (actually, they look pretty built, with our preview of the Class of '02.