Red Lines
Cornell head coach Mike Schafer continues his reputation as a “stickler” for the rules. Once again, Schafer caught an opponent using an illegal stick, and in fact did it twice in an attempt to comeback against Vermont during last Saturday’s battle for first place.
It almost worked, too, as the Big Red rallied from a 6-1 deficit, only to lose 7-5. But in the process, Schafer irked Vermont head coach Mike Gilligan, who thought Schafer was getting carried away. Ironically, Gilligan is chairman of the NCAA Rules Committee.
Eye on RPI
Scott Prekaski had a remarkable game two weeks ago against Harvard. The freshman goalie, who is a leading candidate for league Rookie of the Year, let the first two shots he faced go by, then stopped the next 64 in a row for a 5-2 win. That, however, was far short of the league record for saves in a game. The record is held by another RPI goalie, Dick Greenlaw, who stopped 78 shots against Boston University in the 1964-65 season.
Knight Moves
Clarkson coach Mark Morris decided to move freshman defenseman Philippe Roy to center for last Saturday’s game against RPI, and it paid off as Roy scored his first two collegiate goals. Roy was teamed on a line with fellow freshmen Matt Reid and Carl Drakensjo.
“I played defense all my life, but things happen,” said Roy. “There’s a reason I guess. The best thing I can do is keep working and do like I did (Saturday). Our frosh line, like we’re called, is clicking pretty good and I’m real happy right now.”
Tigers Tales
Princeton seems to have secured a player with the potential to be a consistent game-breaker, something the team has lacked since the graduation of Andre Faust in 1992. Chris Corrinet is a 6-foot-3 right wing from Greenfield, Mass., currently playing for Deerfield Academy. Corrinet was ranked 23rd in the New England Hockey Report Fall Rankings of College-Eligible Seniors, and would have been higher if not for some caveats.
For example, Corrinet missed most of this season after breaking an ankle playing football in November. Also, at times Corrinet doesn’t apply all of his skills. But, if it weren’t for these things, Princeton might also not have gotten him. According to Chris Warner, editor of NEHR, “If Corrinet can improve his first step and add intensity to his game, he could be one scary player.”
The person in charge of most of the recruiting effort for Corrinet is Princeton assistant Len Quesnelle, a former defenseman for the Tigers who’s been an assistant since graduating in 1988. If you listen to St. Lawrence head coach Joe Marsh, Quesnelle is a good candidate for any head coaching opening.
“Lenny’s done a tremendous job,” says Marsh. “He’s one of the most underrated guys in college hockey. He has a lot of respect among other coaches. He’s very professional; coaches like him. He’s not out there badmouthing people or any of that.”
