Scrivens, Davenport Vie for Starting Position

After gaining valuable experience last year, junior Troy Davenport and sophomore Ben Scrivens enter the 2007-08 season ready improve upon last year’s performance.
“You want to play every game,” Davenport said. “On the other hand, if you’re both capable of doing the job and winning games, you can’t really complain. I had a situation back in juniors. We had two good goalies, and [we] basically just rotated every other game. … It can work. When your name gets called, you’ve just got to go out and perform.”
Davenport had a 11-7-2 record last year. His 461 saves in 24 games last season were good for a 2.41 goals against average and .899 save percentage.
In a season and a half with the United States Hockey League’s Des Moines Buccaneers, Davenport’s .913 save percentage was a critical factor in the team’s 2006 USHL Tier 1 national championship.
Though he came in with experience and skills, Davenport returned to Lynah Rink last year as a college hockey newbie, given the tall task of replacing David McKee ’07. This year is different, however.
“I’ve got a different mindset [from last year],” he said. “Last year, I didn’t know what to expect in college hockey, just coming in and thrown right into the mix, learn[ing] on the fly, and this year I know what’s going on.”
Scrivens had a solid rookie season in his first year at Cornell. Even though he ended his rookie campaign with a 3-6-2 record, he often displayed flashes of dominance. For example, in his first collegiate start, Scrivens recorded 22 saves to shut out Union, 6-0.
Their playing styles match their personalities, as Scrivens has a flashy style both on and off the ice.
“I like to talk a lot more than Troy,” Scrivens said. “He kind of likes to sit back and let things happen around him, and I like to get in there, give my two cents whenever I can.”
Davenport also noted their physical differences and the effects on their styles of play.
“[Ben is] a little bigger than me,” Davenport said. “Maybe an inch or two bigger, so he can play deeper in the net. I have to come out a little bit otherwise, I give up a little bit more top area of the net if I stand out where he plays.”