Dartmouth Tripped Up by Cornell, 1-0, on Senior Night

Saturday, February 20

Hanover, N.H.

7:00 PM

Dartmouth College

14-12-1, 11-9-0

Cornell

13-8-6, 8-7-5

Team	1	2	3	F
Cornell	0	1	0	1
Dartmouth	0	0	0	0

Dartmouth Tripped Up by Cornell, 1-0, on Senior Night

2/20/2016 9:07:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey

Box Score

By: Dartmouth

HANOVER, N.H. – No. 16 Cornell came into Thompson Arena Saturday evening and spoiled Senior Day for the Dartmouth men's hockey team with 1-0 win.

The lone goal of the game came 1:23 into the second period on a Jeff Kubiak wrist shot in the slot off a Big Red (13-8-6, 8-7-5) rush. The Big Green (14-12-1, 11-9-0) finally split a season series with an ECAC Hockey opponent as the visiting team in picked up a shutout of the other in 2015-16.

The story of the night was the play of Cornell's Mitch Gillam in net, stopping all 33 shots he faced in picking up his sixth shutout of the season. Gillam's strong play at the other end of the ice overshadowed an otherwise stellar night from Dartmouth netminder Charles Grant, who finished the game with 20 saves and allowed just one goal to the Red in two games this season.

“I felt like we played really well all night,” head coach Bob Gaudet '81 said. “We didn't give them a lot to work with and you just knew it had the makings of a 1-0 game

“Considering who we were missing from the lineup, I thought we played a tough brand of hockey,” Gaudet added. “We didn't give them much of anything all night, but they took advantage when we did and kept us off the board when we were countering.”

The Green and White dominated puck possession in the third period, outshooting the visitors, 13-2, and out-attempting them, 20-4. However, Gillam stood tall in net in the Cornell crease for the 1-0 win.

Senior Connor Dempsey appeared in the lineup for the first time since the 2014 postseason and was the early spark the Dartmouth bench was looking for in the 2015-16 regular season home finale.

“Connor is what college athletics is all about,” Gaudet said. “He works so hard, comes to the rink every day ready to compete and is at every practice and optional skate to help this team get better.

“I love him and can't say enough good things about Connor,” the head coach continued. “I hope he looks back in 20 years on his time here and realizes what a special player he was for this program and his teammates.”

The Big Green were unable to capitalize on a crucial 5-on-3 two-minute power play midway through the third that proved to be the turning point and allowed Cornell to maintain momentum and hold on for the win.

Neither squad did anything with special teams as the home team was 0-for-3 and the visitors failed on both their opportunities.

Dartmouth is on the road next weekend to wrap up the 2015-16 regular season at St. Lawrence and Clarkson.