Cornell

Cornell 5 - Dartmouth 3

Friday, February 7, 1997

Attendance: 2,009

by Ben Wallace-Wells

All year, the men's hockey team has been waiting for one defining weekend, one pair of games in which they thoroughly dominate their opposition and establish themselves as an ECAC force. This weekend, the Big Green came as close as it has all season to having such a weekend, but they didn't quite.

Over the course of this weekend's two games, a 5-3 loss to Cornell on Friday night followed by a 5-3 win over Colgate on Saturday, the Big Green played as good hockey as it has played all season. But for a few calls against them and a few unlucky bounces of the puck in the Cornell game, the Big Green would have swept this weekend's games and established itself in the ECAC playoff hunt. As it is, the Big Green stand 5-10-1 in the ECAC, in ninth place, and still awaiting that one huge weekend.

The Cornell game was pivotal for Dartmouth's season. The Big Red came in tied for first place in the ECAC, and had Dartmouth been able to take control of the game, the Big Green would have gotten the weekend off to a spectacular start and helped its prospects in the ECAC.

Unfortunately, it was the Big Red, who brought along their band, who jumped off to the quick start. In a largely even game through the first ten minutes, the Big Red took the lead when Cornell center Ryan Smart's wraparound attempt left the puck loose in the Big Green crease and defenseman Chad Wilson jumped up on the play to punch the puck past prone goalie Eric Almon `00 for a 1-0 Big Red lead.

The goal brought out the fight in the Big Green, and it was not long before Dartmouth equalized through a rare goal from wing Matt Geidt `99. Giedt broke in on goal, took a cross-ice pass from Scott Peach `99 and put the puck past Cornell goalie Jean-Marc Pelletier.

For the rest of the forst period, the game was played to a practical standstill, and, when Cornell wing Tony Bergin was put in the penalty box for slashing with a minute to go in the period, it looked like Dartmouth would even have a chance to steal a quick goal before the end of the period.

Then, disaster struck. With just 24 seconds to go in the first period, Cornell wing Darren Tymchyschyn got possession of the puck and sprung defenseman Jeff Burgoyne on the break. Burgoyne finished the play off by sliding the puck by Almon and the Big Green headed, demoralized, towards the locker room down by one goal.

The Big Green's power play failed it again in the second period. After the opening few had been played relatively evenly, Cornell was again penalized, with Matt Cooney roughing his way into the box. With Dartmouth pressing for the tying goal, Cornell wing Doug Steinstra knocked the puck loose at his own blue line, recovered it, and skated nearly the length of the ice to beat Almon.

Right after the Steinstra goal, Cornell center Vinnie Auger drew a penalty and Dartmouth had a two man advantage for a minute. Although the Big Green managed two splendid chances, with Bill Kelleher `96 failing to convert a point-blank shot and Pelletier saving a blast from David Whitworth `98, they did not dent the Big Red net. The failure to convert seemed to demoralize the Green, and, just three minutes later, Tymchyschyn scored a goal to boost Cornell's lead to three. The Big Red dominated much of the rest of the third period, but did not score again.

The third period began poorly for Dartmouth, with Alex Dumas `97 and Giedt drawing quick penalties to give Cornell a two-man advantage for nearly two minutes. The Thompson Arena crowd sighed collectively.

At potentially their weakest point, however, the Big Green proved their strongest. Dartmouth thoroughly stymied the Cornell attack, and, just as Giedt's penalty expired, Ryan Chaytors `99 picked up the puck along the right wing boards in center ice and found Whitworth with a cutting pace through the centerm of the iice, and Whitworth beat his man, skated in, and pounded the shot over the shoulder of Pelletier. Dartmouth was back.

The Big Green kept up the pressure, pelting Pelletier with promising blasts, and it was not too long before Whitworth collected his second of the game, pushing the puck past Pelletier on the power play.

Dartmouth continued to pound the Big Red net, but could not put anything past Pelletier, who stood strong under redoubled Dartmouth attacks. With less than a minute to go, coach Roger Demment pulled Almon, but a turnover as Almon climbed onto the bench left Cornell forward Kyle Knopp with an open shot at an open net, which he converted. Dartmouth lost, 5-3.

Statistics

Scoring by Period
Team
1
2
3
OT
Total
Cornell
2
2
1
-
5
Dartmouth
1
0
2
-
3

Power Play Goals/Power Play Opportunities
Dartmouth: 1 for 8
Cornell: 0 for 8

Total Penalties – number/minutes
Dartmouth: 11/30
Cornell: 10/20

Goals
Period
Team
Goal
Assists
Time
1
C
C. Wilson Smart 12:26
1
D
Giedt C. Retter, Peach 15:58
1
C
Burgoyne Tymchyshyn 19:36 (SHG)
2
C
Stienstra - 3:21 (SHG)
2
C
Tymchyshyn Cooney, Auger 6:52 (GWG)
3
D
Whitworth Chaytors 6:48
3
D
Whitworth Kelleher, Sturgis 12:48 (PPG)
3
C
Knopp Burgoyne 19:42 (ENG)

Saves by Period
Player-Team
Min.
1
2
3
OT
Total
Pelletier (Cornell)
60
10
5
12
-
27
Almon (Dartmouth)
59:52
6
10
7
-
23

Penalties
Period
Team
Player
Penalty
Time
1
C
Auger tripping 5:34
1
D
Peet interference 8:08
1
C
Kendell hitting after whistle 18:31
1
D
Whitworth hitting after whistle 18:31
1
C
Bergin slashing 19:00
2
C
Cooney roughing 2:37
2
C
Auger slashing 3:45
2
C
Dailey slashing 8:36
2
D
C. Retter hooking 10:53
2
D
C. Retter interference 12:59
2
C
Papp slashing 14:37
2
D
Wercinski roughing 14:37
2
C
Bergin tripping 15:22
2
D
Burkart holding 18:46
3
D
Dumas cross-checking 4:05
3
D
Giedt unsportsmanlike conduct 4:47
3
C
Kendall holding 10:42
3
C
S. Wilson boarding 12:24
3
D
Wilgosh slashing 13:36
3
D
Peet boarding 15:49
3
D
Chaytors 10 min misconduct 19:42

Go to Dartmouth Hockey 1996-1997.

Go to Dartmouth Men's Hockey Home Page.

This file last updated on 02/12/97 at 12:59:42.