ITHACA, N.Y. — ECAC Hockey announced the Cornell men’s hockey team has been predicted to finish third in both the coaches’ and media poll for the 2017-18 season. The league held its annual preseason media day via teleconference Monday.
USCHO.com also released its preseason national poll on Monday afternoon, with Cornell tabbed 15th in the country after finishing last season two spots higher.
The Big Red posted a 21-9-5 record last season, finishing third in league play before advancing all the way to the ECAC Hockey Championship game and the program’s 20th trip to the NCAA tournament. Cornell returns its top three goal-scorers from last season and the majority of a blue line corps that helped the team finish 10th nationally in team defense, including All-Ivy League first-teamer Yanni Kaldis.
At forward, junior Mitch Vanderlaan led the team in both goals and points last season, while senior Trevor Yates scored eight of his 12 goals on the power play. Five of the Big Red’s six NHL draft picks are forwards — including Pittsburgh Penguins selection Anthony Angello, who scored seven of his 12 goals over the team’s last 14 games.
Junior Alec McCrea and Kaldis, now a sophomore, headline the team’s defensemen. After seeing top-four minutes as a sophomore, senior Ryan Bliss returns following a lost season due to injury. Senior Hayden Stewart is the lone incumbent among the team’s three goaltenders, having posted a 2.27 goals against average, .918 save percentage and a pair of shutouts in his 15 career appearances.
The Big Red will enjoy a home-heavy start to the season, including a pair of exhibitions against Canadian universities Oct. 14-15 and the team’s annual Red/White Game on Oct. 21. Cornell then gets the regular season started with a pair of non-league games Oct. 27-28 against visiting Alabama-Huntsville. A five-game home stand over 12 days highlights the November slate, including a visit from rival and defending ECAC Hockey champion Harvard on Nov. 11.
ECAC HOCKEY PRESEASON POLLS
Coaches Media
1. Harvard (9) 1. Harvard (25)
2. Quinnipiac (1) 2. Quinnipiac (3)
3. Cornell (1) 3. Cornell (1)
4. Clarkson (1) 4. Princeton
5. Princeton 5. Clarkson
6. Union 6. Union (1)
7. St. Lawrence 7. Yale
8. Yale 8. St. Lawrence
9. Dartmouth 9. Dartmouth
10. Rensselaer 10. Rensselaer
11. Colgate 11. Brown
12. Brown 12. Colgate
