The Frozen Apple has become a staple each year at Madison Square Garden, where college hockey players and fans get to experience a game in the world’s most famous arena. This year’s matchup featured two of the nation’s best as Quinnipiac took on Cornell in front of nearly 17,000 fans on Saturday night.
Fans from both sides showed up, and the game had just about as intense of a rivalry feel as you could imagine, with Quinnipiac defeating the 11th ranked Big Red team a week ago. With the National Anthem and pregame warmups completed, it was time for hockey in the Big Apple. Both teams skated up to center ice and we were finally underway!
Cornell Strikes First
Cornell put pressure on the Bobcats immediately after the opening faceoff and controlled the puck in the offensive zone, firing shots at Quinnipiac goalie Dylan Silverstein. Just over two minutes in, senior Sullivan Mack found the back of the net after a nice feed from sophomore Jonathan Castagna giving the Big Red an early 1-0 lead.
Cornell extended their lead in the closing minutes of the 1st period on a short-handed goal by Dylan Bancroft. The goal was set up after the Bobcats shot missed wide of the net and Ryan Walsh split two defenders with his pass off the boards, setting up a 2-on-0 breakaway. The teams headed into the first intermission with Cornell up 2-0, but plenty of hockey left to play.
Quinnipiac Strikes Back
There was no way the Bobcats were going to let the early deficit bury them, and they showed confidence seconds into the 2nd period to get on the board. Quinnipiac started the period on a carried over power play from the first period, and Travis Treloar found Andon Cerbone for the team’s first goal of the night. Cerbone’s goal sparked an offensive run for the Bobcats, who tacked on two more goals before the end of the period to take a 3-2 lead heading into the final frame.
Cornell evened things up at three a minute into the 3rd period when Jack O’Leary lit the lamp off a rebound as the Big Red continued to put the puck on net all period trying to take the lead. Dylan Silverstein stood tall to end the period and the 3-on-3 overtime to finish his night with a season 30 saves. Cornell’s Ian Shane turned away 26 shots himself as we headed into a shootout to decide the game.
Free Hockey at the Garden
Bancroft started the shootout, getting the puck past Silverstein, which was all Shane and Cornell needed as the Big Red came away with the shootout win to improve to 4-2-3 on the season as Quinnipiac drops to 6-6-1. The win extended Cornell’s unbeaten streak at the Garden to five games in which they are now 4-0-1 bringing their best in the Big (Frozen) Apple.
