ITHACA, N.Y.—The Big Red women's hockey team will open its season this weekend in exhibition play, facing off against Stoney Creek on Friday and Durham on Saturday. Admission is free, giving fans the opportunity to see Cornell in action as the team takes the ice with 17 veterans and nine newcomers.
Game Information
Exhibition Game #1: Cornell vs. Stoney Creek
Face off: Friday, Oct. 17 at 7 p.m.
Site: Lynah Rink (4,267), Ithaca, N.Y.
Exhibition Game #2: Cornell vs. Durham
Face off: Saturday, Oct. 18 at 3 p.m.
Site: Lynah Rink (4,267), Ithaca, N.Y.
At the Helm
Doug Derraugh `91 returns for his fourth season as the head coach for Cornell women's ice hockey. The Big Red has a 25-58-4 record under Derraugh's tutelage. He is once again joined by assistant coaches Danielle Bilodeau '01 and Kim Insalaco (Brown '05).
Track the Action
Live stats will be available for both games this weekend. This season all of the team's ECAC Hockey games will also be video streamed live via REDCast.
Last Time Against the Sabres
Cornell opened its 2007-08 season against Stoney Creek, picking up a 4-1 win over the Sabres in exhibition play. The Big Red notched three goals in the final two minutes, including defenseman Amber Overguard firing the game-winner from between the circles.
Between the Pipes
The Big Red returns junior Jenny Niesluchowski, sophomores Kayla Strong and Katie Wilson and will add freshman Amanda Mazzotta to the goaltender rotation. The three veterans shared the starting role last season, bringing valuable collegiate playing experience to the crease. Mazzotta comes to Cornell with international experience after helping the U18 Canadian National team win a silver medal at the IIHF World Women's Hockey Championships.
Summer Competition
Sophomore Rebecca Johnston and freshman Chelsea Karpenko teamed up this summer to help the Canadian Under-22 team defeat the United States in a best-of-three series. Johnston notched a goal and three assists in the three contests.
Sitting Pretty
The Big Red was picked to finish fifth in ECAC Hockey in the preseason coaches' poll. Harvard led the poll with 10 first place votes followed by St. Lawrence, Dartmouth, Clarkson and Cornell to round out the top five spots. Sophomore Rebecca Johnston was also named to the 2008 ECAC Women's Hockey Preseason All-League team.
Fighting for the Cause
The team laced up its sneakers on Oct. 5 to raise over $1,600 for the American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. Making Strides Against Breast Cancer is the American Cancer Society's premier event to raise awareness and funds to fight breast cancer. In 2007, nearly 500,000 walkers around the country collected more than $50 million to help fight breast cancer.
Smarty Pants
Six players received ECAC Hockey All-Academic honors last season. The group included Kelly McGinty, Kayla Strong, Steph Ulrich, Sam Wauer and graduating seniors Caeleigh Beerworth and Brittany Forgues.
First Time Ever
Rebecca Johnston was Cornell's first player to be named first-team ECAC Hockey or receive rookie of the year honors. Johnston was also named first-team All-Ivy and Ivy League Rookie of the Year.
Fresh Faces
The Big Red adds eight freshmen and a junior transfer to its roster this season with four defensemen, four forwards and a goaltender. The group hails from three different states and three provinces.
Up Next for the Big Red
Cornell opens its regular season next weekend as it travels to Vermont for a two-game series.
