Dependable and consistent, senior co-captain Topher Scott has not missed a single game in his entire 102 game career playing for the Red. Heading into his final season as a Cornell hockey player, Scott is aiming to help his team come together as a force in the ECAC Hockey League.
The role of captainship is not new to this Illinois native. Scott also served as captain for his junior hockey team, the Chicago Steel in the USHL. While playing for the Steel, he was named team MVP and selected to the USHL all-star team. Last year, he helped the Red through a tough season as an alternate captain, which provided him with plenty of experience for the coming year.
“Last year was a tough year for all of us,” Scott said. “As bad as it was, it was a great learning experience for us this year. In certain situations we know how to handle things now so we can turn some of the negatives that happened last year into positives this year.”
Scott’s skill does not rely solely on his perfect attendance. He leads the team in assists with 62, and has earned 77 points for the Red in his career so far. Last season, he had a nine-game streak in which he scored at least one point in every game. Scott has proven himself as a consistent playmaker and hard worker all over the ice in the last three years.
Even as a freshman, Scott made sure his presence known on the ice. In his debut game against Army, he earned the first assist of his Cornell career. He went on to earn a tie for second in assists with a total of 19 and was ranked fourth for total points with 24 on the team.
Many fans may remember last season’s home contest versus RIT on October 28th, 2006. That da the Lynah faithful and many other spectators had the opportunity to purchase a teddy bear for ten dollars and then throw the bear onto the ice at the end of the game. The money raised from the Steve Garner Teddy Bear Toss was donated to the Cancer Resource Center of the Finger Lakes, an organization that provides support for women with breast and gynecologic cancers. Scott, an active player in community efforts, understood the role that the hockey team plays in the local community and came up with the idea for the bear toss. He has also been instrumental in putting together a bear toss this season on November 30th, during the Red’s game against Umass.
Scott has been a strong presence on the hockey team and in the Cornell community throughout the previous three years. His leadership and hockey skills, will be an invaluable asset to the team season.