UMass hockey: Minutemen to play Cornell to open Desert Hockey Classic

Slovakia's Daniel Jencko (17), who plays for UMass, scores on Sweden goaltender Melker Thelin (35) as teammate Axel Hurtig (6) works on defense during IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship preliminary round action in Ottawa last week. AP
Published: 01-02-2025 7:07 PM |
The UMass hockey team is back in action Friday when it takes on No. 16 Cornell during the first game of the 2025 Desert Hockey Classic in Tempe, Arizona.
The Minutemen return to the ice 23 days following their last official game – Dec. 11 against Boston University – and will square off against a Big Red squad that has composed a 5-3-3 record to date.
“I was talking to Norm Bazin, we were actually on a flight with UMass Lowell [Wednesday] from Boston to Phoenix, and his word was, well, they’re predictable,” UMass head coach Greg Carvel said regarding what he expects to see from Cornell. “That’s exactly what they are. They are the same thing year after year, which I respect. They’re a big team, play a good defensive game, heavy, and check well, the way the game is supposed to be played. They’ve had real, consistent success, much like we have. Last year, we went to a shootout and I expect another low-scoring game this year.”
During the Adirondack Winter Invitational in Lake Placid, New York last season, the two teams were tied 2-2 after regulation and overtime, before Big Red took the shootout victory, 2-0.
Friday’s matchup marks just the sixth ever meeting between UMass and Cornell, and the Big Red hold the 2-1-2 edge. Ryan Walsh and Dalton Bancroft both have five goals to lead Cornell while goalie Ian Shane has a 2.26 goals-against average and a .896 save-percentage in 11 games played.
As a team, the Big Red have averaged 3.09 goals-per-game, with most of those coming in either the first or third periods. Cornell has a negative goal differential in the second period (seven goals for, 13 against) and its power play is converting at just a 14.3 clip.
There’s a chance the Minutemen will be without two key contributors in Michael Hrabal and Daniel Jencko for one or both games of the tournament. The duo was competing in the IIHF World Junior quarterfinal round in Ottawa for Czechia and Slovakia, respectively, on Thursday. Should either team lose, Carvel said getting them to Arizona will be possible.
“We’ve had discussions to set that up if they want to,” Carvel said. “It’s a long tournament, it’s a long way out here, but we have made those options for the players.”
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Given Hrabal’s likely unavailability on Friday, Jackson Irving will be called on to man the UMass net against the Big Red. Irving allowed three goals in the exhibition against Simon Fraser on Dec. 28, but Carvel didn’t read too much into that performance.
“I don’t think it’s fair to evaluate it,” Carvel said. “He had so few shots. I watched the game over and I think their first goal was on basically their first scoring chance. It’s really hard for a goalie to get into a game when it’s so uneven. Our goalie coach, he was satisfied with his game. Obviously, he’s going to have to do a lot more here in this tournament, and he showed earlier in the year that he can.”
In Irving’s only start this season against Providence, the Newbury native notched 26 saves in a 2-1 loss on Nov. 14 at Mullins Center. Bruce Irving, Jackson’s father, played goalie at Cornell from 1981-84.
Cam O’Neill returned to the Minutemen lineup against Simon Fraser and scored, after recovering from a broken wrist during that home game against the Friars. While Carvel wouldn’t classify him as back to 100 percent, he did say that O’Neill is progressing well.
The Desert Hockey Classic marks UMass’ second in-season, neutral site tournament of the year after competing in the Ice Breaker Tournament in Las Vegas in October. Carvel disclosed the vibes this time around are much better, in large part due to playing at Mullett Arena, the former home of the Arizona Coyotes.
“I think the biggest one is just to get off campus during this stretch in January when there’s no students, it’s quiet,” Carvel said on the benefits of these tournaments. “This is a five-day trip, so to me, No. 1 it’s just to get away and be together and No. 2 is the quality of this tournament is good. We’re playing a Cornell team that we’re basically, pretty even with in the Pairwise and we need to beat to earn our way up into the top 16, same with Arizona State.
“If we can beat Cornell and then get to play Arizona State, those are two games that could probably determine whether we make the NCAA tournament or not,” Carvel said.
The Minutemen will play either No. 19 Arizona State or Robert Morris on Saturday, depending on Friday’s results of the tournament.
Puck drop for UMass’ game Friday is set for 6 p.m.