by Ryan Fay
Third-ranked Union returns to action when it travels to Lynah Rink to take on 10th-ranked Cornell Friday at 7 p.m.
Union (19-6-3 overall, 13-3-0 ECAC Hockey) enters the weekend in first place in ECACH by three points over Quinnipiac. Cornell (12-5-5, 8-4-4) is currently tied with Clarkson for fourth place with the final first round bye in the ECACH tournament on the line.
In advance of Friday's game, I chatted with Jason Weinstein, Cornell's play-by-play broadcaster. He dishes on Cornell's recent play, his impressions of Union, Cornell players to watch and more.
Ryan Fay (RF) - Union last played Cornell on Nov. 9, when the Dutchmen blanked the Big Red 3-0 at Messa Rink. How has Cornell played since?
RF - What were your impressions of Union from when the two teams faced off in November?
JW - Considering Union is in first place and highly ranked, it's not surprising to hear me say the Dutchmen are a very good team. Union and Quinnipiac are the two best teams Cornell has played this season. What stands out about Union is its depth. Union has a number of players who are productive at both ends of the ice, maybe more than any other team in the country.
RF - What are Cornell's strengths?
JW - Considering Union is in first place and highly ranked, it's not surprising to hear me say the Dutchmen are a very good team. Union and Quinnipiac are the two best teams Cornell has played this season. What stands out about Union is its depth. Union has a number of players who are productive at both ends of the ice, maybe more than any other team in the country.
RF - What are Cornell's strengths?
JW - Many of Cornell's strengths this season are qualities that are stereotypical of Cornell teams: goaltending and defense. But these are qualities that have emerged as the season has gone on. Goaltender Andy Iles has been tremendous since these two teams last met in November, and the continuity of the same six defensemen playing the overwhelming majority of the season together has paid dividends. As a result, the penalty kill has had some outstanding stretches this season.
Cornell has gotten production from different lines at different times, so the potential is there to have a consistently strong offensive attack.
RF - What are Cornell's weaknesses?
JW - Cornell is coming off of its worst game of the season, a 6-1 loss at Colgate. An uncharacteristic loss of composure resulted in a disastrous third period (Colgate scored four times to pull away). The game snapped a nine-game unbeaten streak, so the team may have suffered from overconfidence. Hopefully, it was a lesson learned.
The power play has been down in a big way in 2014 (0-for-20 to start the calendar year). Some of this has to do with a low number of PP opportunities, but considering how well Cornell started the season with the man advantage (over 30%), the drop is concerning.
At different times this season the first line (Joel Lowry-Cole Bardreau-John McCarron), the second line (Christian Hilbrich-Dustin Mowrey-Brian Ferlin), and the newly-formed all-freshman fourth line (Jake Weidner-Jeff Kubiak-Matt Buckles) have carried the offense. Keeping multiple lines productive at the same time will be the challenge for the offense going forward.
RF - How do you see Friday's game going?
JW: Mowrey has had a great senior season. The set of skills he brings to the ice (faceoffs, shifty skater, speed) have worked well on the line with Ferlin and Christian Hilbrich. Hilbrich has joked his productivity (second on the team with eight goals) has to do with him standing around while Ferlin and Mowrey work their magic with the puck.
Jr. D Joakim Ryan
JW: A fan base that has seen Mat Bodie and Shayne Gostisbehere should appreciate Ryan. He is a tremendous puck mover who can be a one-man transition game. He's a smart player who impacts both ends of the ice.
JW: Iles, with the exception of the team-wide poor performance at Colgate, has gotten better as the year has gone along. Cornell's recent nine-game unbeaten streak (5-0-4) included four ties but also four one-goal wins. It's easy to say that without every single one of Iles' saves over that streak it would be a much different season for Cornell at this point. He has sharpened his focus over his time at Cornell and has developed the short memory goalies need to be successful.
WHERE TO WATCH/LISTEN
Union audio (free) - http://bit.ly/MKgv0H
Live video ($) - http://bit.ly/1eT5q86
Cornell audio (free) - http://bit.ly/1eT5q86
At different times this season the first line (Joel Lowry-Cole Bardreau-John McCarron), the second line (Christian Hilbrich-Dustin Mowrey-Brian Ferlin), and the newly-formed all-freshman fourth line (Jake Weidner-Jeff Kubiak-Matt Buckles) have carried the offense. Keeping multiple lines productive at the same time will be the challenge for the offense going forward.
RF - How do you see Friday's game going?
JW - As for Friday's game, Cornell never really got going when the two teams met in November. A strong start by the Big Red on Friday will go a long way. The same could be said for the Dutchmen, though, especially if Union can quiet the Lynah Rink crowd.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Jr. F Brian Ferlin
6'2" / 217 lbs
2013-2014 stats: 10 goals, 12 assists, 22 points (22 games)
JW: Ferlin is as skilled a player as there is in ECACH. His size allows him to be strong with the puck and his hands, skating, and vision allow him to create. Not many players in college hockey have that package.
Sr. F Dustin Mowrey
Sr. F Dustin Mowrey
5'9" / 185 lbs
2013-2014 stats: 6 goals, 14 assists, 20 points (21 games)
JW: Mowrey has had a great senior season. The set of skills he brings to the ice (faceoffs, shifty skater, speed) have worked well on the line with Ferlin and Christian Hilbrich. Hilbrich has joked his productivity (second on the team with eight goals) has to do with him standing around while Ferlin and Mowrey work their magic with the puck.
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| Ryan |
Jr. D Joakim Ryan
5'10" / 182 lbs
2013-2014 stats: 5 goals, 14 assists, 19 points (22 games)
JW: A fan base that has seen Mat Bodie and Shayne Gostisbehere should appreciate Ryan. He is a tremendous puck mover who can be a one-man transition game. He's a smart player who impacts both ends of the ice.
Jr. F Joel Lowry
6'2" / 185 lbs
2013-2014 stats: 6 goals, 12 assists, 18 points (22 games)
JW: Joel Lowry is someone with tremendous hockey sense. You can tell he's a coach's son. When the Big Red suffered through some injuries earlier this season, Lowry moved to center for the first time in his college career and played the position pretty well. His line (with Bardreau and J. McCarron) has struggled lately, but is too talented to not get back on track.
Sr. G Andy Iles
JW: Joel Lowry is someone with tremendous hockey sense. You can tell he's a coach's son. When the Big Red suffered through some injuries earlier this season, Lowry moved to center for the first time in his college career and played the position pretty well. His line (with Bardreau and J. McCarron) has struggled lately, but is too talented to not get back on track.
Sr. G Andy Iles
5'9" / 180 lbs
2013-2014 stats: 11-5-5, 2.31 GAA, .918%, 21 games
JW: Iles, with the exception of the team-wide poor performance at Colgate, has gotten better as the year has gone along. Cornell's recent nine-game unbeaten streak (5-0-4) included four ties but also four one-goal wins. It's easy to say that without every single one of Iles' saves over that streak it would be a much different season for Cornell at this point. He has sharpened his focus over his time at Cornell and has developed the short memory goalies need to be successful.
WHERE TO WATCH/LISTEN
Union audio (free) - http://bit.ly/MKgv0H
Live video ($) - http://bit.ly/1eT5q86
Cornell audio (free) - http://bit.ly/1eT5q86
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