by Joshua Seguin/Staff Writer (@JoshSeguin24)
Cornell defenseman Ben Robertson (photo: Matt Dewkett)
The ECAC has a clear favorite this season in Cornell, but after that there are a lot of talented teams that could make a stand. It is an interesting time in the league, with some teams feeling good about competing in the new college hockey landscape, while others struggle to maintain what they have. The landscape is becoming murkier, but at the end of the day the ECAC still provides some of the best hockey in the country.
5 Things to Watch
Cornell Expectations
Cornell was a goal away from defeating eventual national champion Denver in the Springfield Regional final last season and won its first ECAC championship since 2010. This was a great accomplishment because it was unclear if the Big Red were still a year away from being labeled a national title contender. Cornell entered the year with a young roster and had lots of turnover in the last offseason. This season, however, Cornell returns nearly everyone from a team that was ticking at the end of the season and one of the hottest teams in the nation.
“It was really nice this year that we didn’t have to deal with a lot of turnover, like we did last year,” Cornell coach Mike Schafer said. Schafer pointed out his team’s recent trip to Czechia and Austria as a great experience. “We have been able to hit the ground running and our trip (to Europe) has really allowed us to gel a lot. We have high expectations but we have to go out and prove it. We will be tested early but we will need to be ready.”
While this doesn’t always guarantee success, it is certainly something that sets high expectations. Now that the ECAC championship is out of the way, Cornell can set its sights on making its first Frozen Four in 22 years. The Big Red have few weaknesses and are the clear favorite in the ECAC. We should know quickly where they stand, as they host North Dakota in their first weekend and have two games against Quinnipiac in November.
Mike Schafer Swan Song
The biggest news in the offseason in the ECAC, wasn’t about on-ice action, but rather Mike Schafer’s retirement announcement. The long-time Cornell boss has seen it all in his more than 30 years behind the bench, but the league legend will hang up the skates at the end of the year. Casey Jones has…
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