Cornell freshman forward Cole Bardreau missed one game in this—his first season of collegiate hockey. That wouldn’t be news except for the fact that he played for several weeks with a broken bone…in his foot.
The 5’10” 185 lb. center finished his first collegiate season with four goals and four assists. Included were two power play goals and a clutch game-winner in overtime on home ice against Dartmouth January 20th.
“I knew I always wanted to go Ivy (League), so it was between Cornell, Harvard and Yale,” said Bardreau. “My first college game was Cornell-Harvard here which was an unbelievable experience, but I came for a visit and fell in love with the atmosphere.
“It’s one of a kind that set the standard and the education and it was close to home, so it is a perfect mix. The bad news is I only get two tickets every game and all my grandparents, aunts and uncles want to come. It’s been a great experience so far.”
The website “Bluechip Bulletin” in July described the soon-to-be 19 year old as “a smallish, pesky energy line guy with a stout build. A streaky offensive contributor, Bardreau is never going to lead your team in scoring. Or if he is, you’re in trouble. What he is going to do though is draw penalties, work his tail off, and be the kind of player you want to have in the dressing room.”
“That’s probably the best part of my game. I’ve always been a little agitator guy out there stirring things up. I try to get guys off their game whenever I can. I’m not the biggest guy which tends to bother them more.”
“I’m used to a bigger guy clearing the way for me on my line, but I’m getting used to playing with smaller guys. It’s a little tougher in the corners getting beat up, but I’m enjoying playing with the skill guys.”
Previous to this season, Bardreau played two seasons of high school hockey at Fairport before spending the 2010-11 season with the United States National Team Development Program playing international competitions in addition to a handful of games in the USHL. For the 2010-11 season, he appeared in 60 games and scored 11 goals and had 15 assists for 26 points, ranking him eighth on the team.
He was also a member of the U.S. team that captured the gold medal at the IIHF U18 World Championship in April 2011 in Germany. He also represented the United States at the 2010 U-17 World Hockey Challenge.
And as for the broken foot…
“I really didn’t notice for the first week and I had a rough beginning of the season with mono, but now I think I’m getting back to full strength. Just freewheeling and getting back out there again.”
Bardreau won a Section V hockey title at Fairport before departing for the USDTP and his former coach asked him to write an inspirational speech before their title game against Pittsford this past February.
While the speech didn’t work (Pittsford defeated Fairport for the championship), he still has found memories of his high school playing days.
“The school spirit here at Cornell is on another level, but the high school stage with a couple thousand people and all your buddies in the crowd going nuts was an unbelievable experience.
“Stepping stones along the way…” *
