by Doug Weinberg - November 15, 2007
2007-2008 Season Preview

1 - Troy Davenport
Davenport is coming off a solid rookie campaign in which he started the majority of games and eventually won the job outright going into the playoffs. Davenport's strengths include his positioning and composure. If he wants to take his game to the next level, however, he will have to work on his agility and quickness, and perhaps look to be more aggressive in net as well. While it is likely that he and Scrivens will split time to start the season, Schafer is not known for going with a two-goalie system and will likely look for Davenport to firmly establish himself as "the guy" early on.

2 - Mike Devin
Mike, along with his brother Joe, comes to Cornell from the Nanaimo Clippers. Mike is a big, physical defenseman and looks like he will contribute immediately. He brings a high level of intensity to the game and has already been seeing time on the power play, due in large part to a booming slap shot which he can elevate and consistently put on net. Mike has already drawn comparisons to another blue-liner to recently wear the number 2, Ryan O'Byrne. Devin has spent the majority of his time paired with senior Doug Krantz, which indicates the coaching staff is optimistic about him as well.

3 - Jared Seminoff
Last year Seminoff struggled with injuries but was the still the Red's top defenseman, even when physically limited. Seminoff is a tough, smart, unselfish player that plays a disciplined brand of hockey. He has been effective at shutting down some of the top scoring lines in the ECACH over the last two years and will be called upon to do the same this year. Seminoff possesses fantastic hockey sense and sees the ice as well as anyone else on the team. Assuming he stays healthy, he will almost certainly log the most ice time for Cornell. Having been used only sparingly on the power play over his first two seasons, look for Seminoff to become a contributor on the team's PP as well as PK this year.

5 - Justin Krueger
Krueger is a big, physical stay-at-home defenseman who proved to be very reliable in his first year of duty. The coaching staff appears very fond of Krueger as he has already seen significant ice time in a variety of key situations. Krueger possesses great size, and uses his frame well, although he will have to look to be more aggressive and more physical along the boards and in the neutral zone in order to become an elite blueliner. Justin will likely be a 4th or 5th defenseman and should dress every night.

7 - Taylor Davenport
After watching most of the action from the stands his freshmen year, Davenport established himself as one of the team's more reliable defensemen during his sophomore year. He seems to have decent hockey sense and moves the puck well. It seems that this year's squad is lacking a quick, mobile, puck-moving defenseman, and Davenport may just be the answer. Unfortunately, Davenport's game seems fairly inconsistent and one dimensional. He will have to improve in a variety of facets if he plans on staying in the lineup once Nash returns.

9 - Tyler Roeszler
Roeszler was recruited as a goal-scorer and should have an opportunity to fill one of the team's major needs after the departure of Justin Milo. It looks like Roeszler will have to battle for a roster spot, however, and could be dressed situationally over Joe Devin when the team is looking for a bit of extra offense.

10 - Patrick Kennedy
The younger brother of Junior Michael, Patrick also joins the team from the St. Thomas Stars of the WOHL. The younger Kennedy has a knack for playmaking and seems to have good chemistry with his older brother with whom he will be linemates. Listed at 6'3" and 203 lbs, Kennedy should also look to establish himself as a physical presence on the ice as well.

11 - Jacob Johnston
It appears that Johnston will spend most of his freshmen year waiting in the wings. Johnson joins the Red from the Sudbury Junior Wolves of the NOJHL where he was known for being an offensive-minded defenseman and fierce competitor.

12 - Raymond Sawada
Co-captaining the Red this year, much of the team's success will depend on Sawada's play. The Dallas Stars thought highly of him when they invested a second round pick, but Sawada has yet to fulfill his full potential at Cornell. While he seems poised for a strong year, he will first have to get over the identity crisis of being expected to play a skilled game rather than just being a physical presence. Sawada will see substantial ice time in all situations, and should use his massive frame and aggressive nature to throw his weight around in front of the net and along the boards.

14 - Riley Nash
The younger brother of defenseman Brendon, Riley is a show-stopping forward who possesses great hands and superb hockey sense. One of the most highly-regarded Cornell recruits ever, Nash was drafted in the first round by the Edmonton Oilers in this past year's NHL draft and could have the biggest impact of any player in recent memory. After getting off to a relatively slow start, Riley has already shown that he can live up to the hype with an NHL-quality highlight-reel goal which sealed the deal against Brown. Look for Nash to be a strong contender for ECACH rookie of the year, and to be among the Red's scoring leaders along with linemate Colin Greening.

15 - Colin Greening
Colin Greening is the total package. Coming off an incredibly successful freshman campaign, there doesn't seem to be much this guy can't do on the ice. Greening is big, physical, possesses strong hockey sense and is a powerful skater. What separates Greening from his opponents, however, is his incredible drive. Never taking a shift off, Greening is one of the NCAA's fiercest competitors and is probably the one player who benefits the most from the addition of Riley Nash. His teammates apparently think highly of him as well, as Greening will be wearing an A on his sweater as only a sophomore.

16 - Jordan Berk
A 5-foot-10 and 190 pounds, Berk is a physical, active defenseman who seems to play with a great passion for the game. Berk has already seen time on both the power play and penalty kill, an indication that he thinks the game well. He will have to work on his discipline, however, as he has already taken a number of costly penalties. Berk has already been compared to a young Jared Seminoff, who can hopefully serve as a great role model for Berk to mold into.

17- Doug Krantz
The only senior blue-liner, Krantz will be one of the many question marks on defense going into the year for the Big Red. Having the team's hardest slap shot, and being one of the fastest skaters, Krantz certainly has all the tools to become a top defenseman as well as a veteran leader. Unfortunately, his play has been inconsistent since he joined the team, even though he has improved greatly year-to-year. If Krantz can become more aggressive and confident in his game, he can easily become one of the team's best defensemen.

18 - Michael Kennedy
The stage is set for Michael Kennedy to have a breakout year. Scorer of the now-famous breakaway goal against Harvard last year, Kennedy clearly has the talent to put up points on the offensive end, although he will have to work on his finishing ability. In addition to being an on-ice playmaker and possessing great vision, Kennedy is also a strong defensive player and some of his most important contributions to this year's squad may very well come on the penalty kill. Kennedy has also put on a good amount of size since his freshman year. Look for him be to more physical this year as well, especially on the forecheck.

19 - Chris Fontas
Fontas is a versatile defensive-minded forward who will likely be called on to center the team's fourth line. Fontas seems to do all of the little things well, and while he may not be the team's most skilled player, he has above-average hockey sense and great drive.

20 - Evan Barlow
Expect a breakout year from Barlow. Barlow is another one of the team's X-factors, and looks like he will have the benefit of playing alongside Greening and Nash. Barlow is a quick, skilled player whose primary role this year will be to put the puck in the net, plain and simple. In addition, Barlow is not one to shy away from physical contact and is aggressive in transition.

21 - Tyler Mugford
Look for Mugford to be one of the team's most improved players this season. While Tyler may not be the team's most skilled player, he plays with an incredible amount of passion and is one of the ECACH's most physical players. While he has typically been a left wing, it looks like Schafer will also experiment with Mugford as a center this year. Mugford is a tenacious penalty killer, and can cause problems for opposing defenses as well, with his tough and active play in front of the net. Mugford's name will not show up that often in the box score, but it's the players like him who do the little things that will give the Red a chance to win night in and night out. Mugford sticks up for his teammates and seems to be willing to do whatever is needed to win.

22 - Joe Devin
The twin brother of defenseman Mike, Joe Devin will likely serve as a checking line defenseman for this year's squad. The amount of playing time he will receive remains to be seen, as Schafer will likely experiment with potential matchups for the start of the season. Joe and brother Mike are the latest in a long list of players to join Cornell from the Nanaimo Clippers pipeline.

24 - Brendon Nash
Opponents obviously think highly of Nash, as he was Cornell's only player elected to the preseason all-league team. Nash is a big, physical defenseman who skates well and possesses a strong shot from the point. Nash's biggest contribution for this year's team, however, will be his ability to move the puck, especially in transition, an area in which this year's blue-liners are clearly lacking. Nash has yet to see the ice this season as he is currently recovering from a knee injury. However, look for Brendon to return to the lineup by the end of the month and immediately become one of the team's most called-upon defensemen.

26 - Topher Scott
What Topher Scott lacks in size, he makes up for in heart and effort. A fan favorite ever since he arrived on the hill, Scott is known more for his playmaking and on-ice vision than anything else. Despite his size, Scott does not shy away from physical play and is also one of the team's best faceoff men. Serving as an alternate captain last year and co-captaining the squad this year, Scott is a vocal leader who has earned the respect of his teammates as well as the rest of the league. However, Scott will have to do more this year in terms of goal scoring. Scott's offensive numbers have remained fairly steady since his freshmen year and he will be called upon this year to put the puck in the net as well as dish out assists.

27 - Blake Gallagher
Gallagher is coming off an impressive year in which he improved greatly down the stretch. He is one of the team's best faceoff men, and because of this he will see significant ice time on special teams as well as key situations late in games. While Gallagher's role on this team has yet to be determined, look for the coaching staff to ask him to fill the niche of goal-scorer, as he was one of the most highly anticipated offensive recruits coming into last year. Expect Gallagher to have a breakout year and improve game-by-game, eventually developing into one of the team's most potent offensive weapons.

28 - Joe Scali
Penalty killing is Joe Scali's game and along with Tyler Mugford, Scali is arguably the team's best defensive forward. Scali plays a smart, controlled game and is a strong skater with a relentless drive. He may not dress for every game, but when he is in the lineup, Scali will make the most of every shift and make sure his presence is felt.

29- Dan Nicholls
Nicholls appears to be a big, tough physical player who will also be called upon to serve a checking role. He will likely be battling for a roster spot with some of his other classmates, and much of his performance this year will be decided by how disciplined he can be while sticking to "his game." Nicholls will also have to work on his skating.

30 - Ben Scrivens
Scrivens is returning from a strong freshman year in which he split time with junior Troy Davenport. This year, however, Scrivens has gotten the majority of ice time and may have won the starting job outright, at least for now. Scrivens is playing well and Schafer has spoken highly of him, indicating that he may be "the guy." Scrivens is an aggressive, sometimes unconventional goaltender, who is always exciting to watch and seems to really enjoy the zest around college hockey. He seems to feed off of his teammates and the crowd, and as long as Cornell is winning, don't expect to see a change at the goaltender position anytime soon.