ITHACA, N.Y. – On the heels of the program’s 21st berth in the NCAA tournament, the Cornell men’s ice hockey team has announced eight additions for the 2018-19 season. Mike Schafer, who will return for his 24th season as the Jay R. Bloom ’77 Head Coach of Men’s Hockey, announced the additions Monday as the team prepares to follow up on a 25-win season that saw the Big Red rank among the nation’s elite teams and lead the Division I ranks in defense.
There are five forwards, a pair of defensemen and a goaltender among the newcomers, pushing the roster size to 28 – 15 forwards, 10 defensemen and three goalies. The team’s captains for the 2018-19 season will be released closer to the start of the season.
“All five forwards have a history of producing points at the junior level, and they provide a nice mixture of size and speed,” Schafer said. “Having graduating four forwards in addition to Anthony Angello signing an NHL contract, this group will be looked upon to contribute in different ways – just like the freshmen from last year did.
“On defense, we have two guys that have size and can skate. They will be looking to break into a defensive corps that brings back everyone from last year,” Schafer added. “And Nate McDonald continues our tradition of strong goaltenders here. He has size and great athletic ability, and we look forward to him transitioning to college hockey.”
Class of 2022 Player Biographies
Max Andreev
Forward — 6 feet, 174 pounds — Moscow, Russia — Central Illinois Flying Aces (USHL)
The first native of Russia in program history scored 12 goals with 31 assists for 43 points in 56 games as a USHL rookie, finishing second in team scoring last year. He was a fourth-round draft pick into the top-tier junior league after putting up identical numbers in 2016-17 with the NAHL’s New Jersey Junior Titans (12 goals, 31 assists, 43 points in 55 games). Andreev had 22 points on three goals and 19 assists in 29 games with the Eastern Hockey League’s New York Bobcats in 2015-16, his first season in North America.
Chase Brakel
Forward — 5-foot-11, 185 pounds — Winnipeg, Manitoba — Portage Terriers (MJHL)
Brakel posted 188 points on 87 goals and 101 assists in 167 games over the last three seasons in Manitoba. He averaged better than 1.18 points per game while serving as captain and earning his second career MJHL Second All-Star Team honors last year, helping Portage win the league title for a second straight year. He posted eight points in nine Western Canada Cup games. Brakel’s arrival will mark the second straight year Cornell has a Manitoba import, following sophomore Tristan Mullin.
Zach Bramwell
Forward — 6-foot-1, 176 pounds — Hamilton, Ontario — Oakville Blades (OJHL)
Bramwell scored 22 goals in 49 games last season, adding 19 assists for 41 points in his rookie season with Oakville. He earned a tryout for Team Canada East for the World Junior A Challenge, then ranked second on the Blades with 14 points over 13 playoff games. Bramwell led the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Ancaster Avalanche in scoring during the 2016-17 season with 29 goals and 33 assists for 62 points in 47 games, earning team rookie of the year honors.
Joe Leahy
Defenseman — 6-foot-3, 201 pounds — Waterloo, Ontario — Salmon Arm Silverbacks (BCHL)
Leahy split last season with a pair of British Columbia Hockey League teams, combining for 21 points over 40 games. He won league titles in the two seasons prior, first with the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Stratford Cullitons in 2015-16, garnering the league’s Best Defensive Award and a spot on the first all-star team. He then helped the Penticton Vees win the BCHL title in 2016-17. Leahy has two great uncles in the Hockey Hall of Fame, Bobby Bauer and David Bauer, and his mother competed in the 1984 Olympics with Canada’s field hockey team.
Nate McDonald
Goaltender — 6-foot-2, 195 pounds — North Bay, Ontario — Markham Royals (OJHL)
McDonald finished the 2017-18 season with a 2.38 goals against average and .937 save percentage in the playoffs with Markham after a midseason trade from the Whitby Fury. He competed with Team OJHL in the 2017 Eastern Canada Cup Challenge, and also played in the 2016-17 Canadian Junior Hockey League Prospects Game. McDonald was named Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League Most Valuable Player in 2016-17 after helping lead the Powassan VooDoos to the league championship.
Liam Motley
Forward — 6-foot-4, 185 pounds — Calgary, Alberta — Whitecourt Wolverines (AJHL)
Motley led Whitecourt in scoring with 51 points last season on 22 goals and 29 assists in 60 games, serving as an alternate captain. He split the previous season between the Wolverines and Camrose Kodiaks, scoring 30 goals over 57 games. He also once reached the Calgary City high school finals in badminton.
Michael Regush
Forward — 6 feet, 205 pounds — Surrey, British Columbia — Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)
Regush excelled in his first USHL season, finishing second on the Phantoms in scoring with 48 points on 19 goals and 29 assists over 58 games, also tying for the team lead with a plus-9 rating. He spent the two seasons prior with the Merritt Centennials in his native British Columbia Hockey League, accumulating 54 points in 103 games. Regush played in four games with Team Canada West in the 2016 World Junior A Challenge, and he was selected to play for Team West in the 2017 Canadian Junior Hockey League Prospects Game.
Misha Song
Defenseman — 6-foot-1, 181 pounds — Beijing, China — Madison Capitols (USHL)
Song is the first China-born NHL draft pick, having been selected by the New York Islanders in the sixth round of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft with the 172nd overall pick. The selection came at the end of his three years at Lawrenceville School, then he spent a post-graduate year at Phillips Andover Academy. Song spent the last two seasons playing 100 games with the United States Hockey League’s Madison Capitols. He twice competed with China at the IIHF World U18 Division 2B Championships, serving as captain in 2015.
