The Big Red has always been strong on defense, and that’s certainly not going to change this year.

Juniors Mark McRae (8-11-19) and Doug Murray (5-12-17) lead a stingy and experienced defensive corps that will make the Cornell zone virtually impassable. Beyond that, putting the puck past honorable mention all-ECAC goaltender Matt Underhill (1.88 GAA) is a daunting task for would-be scorers.

Given that intimidating defensive unit, if Coach Mike Schafer’s team can improve considerably upon its anemic offensive production last year (2.00 goals per league game), the Big Red will have a legitimate shot at making the NCAA tournament. That may not be unrealistic, with Cornell’s top ten scorers from last season coming back, including Stephen Baby and Ryan Vesce, both of whom racked up 27 points last year.

The Big Red hosted Alabama-Huntsville of College Hockey America this weekend to begin its season.

Dartmouth

With Coach Bob Gaudet now entering his fifth season in Hanover, N.H., many around the league are anticipating his rebuilding plan to reach its fruition this winter.

The Big Green’s top nine scorers from last season will be skating in Thompson Arena again this winter, including forwards Mike Maturo (18-15-33), Kent Gillings (11-18-29), and Chris Baldwin (14-10-24).

Dartmouth is just as strong on the blue line, with ECAC Player of the Year candidate Trevor Byrne (5-21-26) and partner Jamie Herrington (7-16-23). The Big Green also boast a very experienced netminder in junior Nick Boucher, who has played in 57 of Dartmouth’s 64 games since the start of his freshman season and posted an impressive 2.56 GAA in 2000-01.

The Dartmouth power play, which was lethal last season at 24.7% efficiency in ECAC play, could make the difference in key games.

The Big Green opened at Harvard on Sunday.

Princeton

Princeton’s tight-checking play made the Tigers very competitive last season, and their strength on the blue line this year could make that the case this winter as well.

Coach Lee Quesnelle returns nearly all of his defensive corps, including senior David Schneider (8-6-14), an honorable mention all-Ivy selection last year, and sophomore Matthew Maglione, a June draft pick of the Washington Capitals.

And with a solid defense in front of him, senior netminder Dave Stathos could return to the form of his sophomore year when he set school records for both save percentage (.912) and goals-against-average (2.82). Last year, his numbers dipped a bit, to .901 and 3.06, respectively.

The Tigers also return a few key forwards, most notably Brad Parsons (14-10-24), an honorable mention all-Ivy pick one year ago, and junior winger George Parros, who—at 6-5, 218 pounds—is one of the most imposing players in the ECAC.