ALBANY, NY -- Special teams paced seventh-ranked Cornell to a 3-0 victory against the 15th-ranked Union College men's ice hockey team in the 2010 ECAC Hockey Championship game in front of 6,505 at Albany's Time Union Center. The Big Red scored two power-play goals and killed off five Dutchmen man advantages to earn its 12th ECAC Hockey title and first 2005.
The Dutchmen, who go to 21-12-6, will find out tomorrow during the NCAA Championship selection show if it will be one of 16 teams vying for a national title. The Big Red (21-8-4) get an automatic bid in the tourney.
Playing in its first ever ECAC Hockey championship and its fifth ever conference title game, Union received stellar goaltending from freshman
Keith Kinkaid. The Farmingville, NY native turned away 31 shots in his 25th start of the season.
At the other end, ECACH Goaltender of the Year and Hobey Baker finalist Ben Scrivens made 32 stops for his fourth win of the post season and second straight shutout. Scrivens was named the tournaments most valuable player.
The Big Red's offensive attack centered around their power-play unit. With eight man-advantage chances, the Cornell converted on two. The first game after back-to-back opportunities, making the Dutchmen pay on the latter. Junior Joe Devin cashed in on a rebound off the end boards at 15:09 of the first. Juniors Tyler Roeszler and Mike Devin earned the assists on the play.
Sophomore Sean Whitney added to the lead at 17:25 of the second period with another rebound goal. This time, Kinkaid made the initial save, but Whitney was there for his third goal of the season. Seniors Colin Greening and Brendon Nash registered the helpers.
An empty netter in the closing seconds produced the final score.
Senior
Mike Schreiber and junior
Adam Presizniuk were named to the all-tournament team.
If the Dutchmen's season ends with the loss in the championship game they will walk away with several school record. They have been ranked a school-record 13 straight weeks, earning 21 wins along the way. Senior
Mario Valery-Trabucco set the school record with 45 points and senior
Jason Walters broke Union's Division I points record with 115 in his career.
The NCAA selection show will take place on ESPN2 at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, Mar. 21.
