Yesterday, Cornell hockey fans celebrated the commitment of Phillipe Hudon to Cornell in 2011. Hudon currently plays for Choate, a prep school in my home state of Connecticut:
USHR had a chance to speak with Choate's coach, Pat Dennehy, who said "[Phillipe] has a real edge to his game – a grittiness. He’s first in on the forecheck, first back on the backcheck, and he’ll try to hurt you, which is what Cornell and the pro scouts want to see. He’s the full package.” Have to like the sound of that. USHR also had this to say to Cornell fans wondering what kind of player Phillipe is... "think Colin Greening."Given current Cornell senior Colin Greening's absolute physical dominance over the rest of the ECAC this year, it's hard not to start salivating at the thought of having someone coming to Ithaca in a couple of years who may turn into that sort of player.
Phillipe selected the Big Red over Yale and Vermont, although he was also being recruited by BC, BU, Harvard, Michigan, and Princeton.
However, Hudon's commitment doesn't really change the fact that Cornell rarely brings in big-name recruits. Sure, Cornell's freshman class was ranked 13th in the nation this year, but this was only good for third in the ECAC. Our rival, Harvard, consistently puts together phenomenal recruiting classes and then goes on to have another mediocre season.
Moreover, the "top" recruits whom Cornell has recruited in recent years haven't always worked out well. First round NHL pick Sasha Pokulok had two unexciting seasons at Cornell before departing for the pros and watching his career fizzle out. Tony Romano, considered the #3 recruit in New England when he came to Cornell, stayed for one year before deciding his hockey development was better served elsewhere. First-rounder Riley Nash '11 led the team in goals last year, but his numbers have still been below what people in the Oilers organization probably would like to see. He won't be back next year.
There are plenty of obvious explanations for the dearth of blue chip talents in Big Red uniforms. The lack of athletic scholarships. Cornell's admissions policies. Our distance from both the hockey hotbed of the upper midwest and the prep school scene in New England. A defense-first mentality which means forwards will score fewer goals here than elsewhere.
Yet Cornell has proven able to compete on a national level despite the lack of big names. After Riley Nash, Cornell's five other drafted players were all taken in the last two rounds of the draft. Cornell's currently-most-famous-alum-playing-in-the-NHL, Matt Moulson, was drafted in 2003 in a round (9th) which no longer exists.
For me, this is a good reason to root for Cornell hockey. Although Cornell teams tend to be successful, it's not like rooting for the Yankees; the Bronx Bombers can purchase star players from elsewhere and use them to craft a championship team, while the Big Red must work with the players who come in through the difficult recruiting process.
[Disclaimer: my own interest in Cornell does stem somewhat from fair-weather fandom. My other primary favorite team, the Detroit Tigers, was having some exceptionally miserable seasons (i.e. 43-119 in 2003) while Cornell hockey was having plenty of success (Frozen Four in 2003).]
Plenty of credit is due to the coaches. Players like Blake Gallagher, Topher Scott, Evan Barlow, Mike Iggulden, Charlie Cook, Jared Seminoff, Tyler Mugford, and even Ben Scrivens, came to Cornell without much pomp and circumstance but went on to contribute substantially during their four years in Ithaca.
It's quite fun to watch Cornell's team of grinders, checkers, and under-the-radar recruits beat teams like Harvard who bring in "top" talent every year. On Saturday, Cornell faces BU; the Terriers had the sixth-best recruiting class this year. Look for players like Gallagher, Scrivens, Joe Scali, and Patrick Kennedy -- all undrafted -- to bring their top games against the defending NCAA champions.
LET'S GO RED!!!
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