Cornell men’s hockey has been picked to finish fifth and sixth in the ECAC for the 2016-17 season in the media and coaches’ poll, respectively.
The Red enters the season with most of its key players returning, including all of last season’s top-five scorers and All-Ivy League goalie Mitch Gillam. Cornell finished last season with a record of 16-11-7.
This year’s rankings represent an upgrade from last year. Cornell was ranked seventh by the coaches, and ninth by the media in last year’s ECAC preseason poll. Last season saw the emergence of a strong offensive line with senior Jeff Kubiak in the middle, and sophomores Mitch Vanderlaan and Anthony Angello on the wings.
On defense, Cornell has lost former captain Reece Willcox ’16, but retains strongholds sophomore Alec McCrea and seniors Patrick McCarron and Holden Anderson.
While the Red’s squad remains similar and strong, as compared to last year’s, the team’s key opponents have also kept their squads up to par. Top names ranked ahead of Cornell include perennial favorites including Quinnipiac, Harvard and Yale.
Cornell finished last season tied for seventh in the standings of the ECAC. After taking care Union in the first round, the Red lost in the quarterfinals of the playoffs against Quinnipiac, who went on to win the conference and lose in the finals of the national championship.
After a five-game road trip to start the regular season, the Red will open at home against the defending champion Quinnipiac on Nov. 18, seeking redemption.