Sun hockey columnists Mitchell Alva and Elie Bilmes say their final good-byes and look towards the future of Cornell hockey.

Watching Cornell hockey over the last few years was essentially a two-period experience. Most of the time, you could watch the first 40 minutes of hockey and know whether Cornell would win or lose. As seen in Saturday’s win over Harvard, this may no longer be true.

Since the start of the 2002-03 season, Cornell boasts an astonishing 115-4-7 record when leading after two periods. Last season, Cornell was 17-1-0 when leading after two periods, with the single loss coming in the final minute against Princeton at Lynah. (For some comparison, the New York Yankees were 71-2 this season when leading after six innings.)

Because of exhibition and non-league games, it is too early to effectively break down most aspects of team play. Thus, our column today focuses on four different subjects many fans may have overlooked this weekend.

Delay Hurts Ivy Programs

Although Friday night’s game was the first of the season for Cornell, it was Niagara’s fifth. Teams like Denver and Miami-Ohio have now played eight games to Cornell’s one. Even in Cornell’s own conference, ECAC Hockey, the six non-Ivy teams have all played at least five games.

The Cornell hockey class of 2009 graduated without an Ivy League title, ECAC Hockey regular season title, or ECAC Hockey tournament championship during its four years on the hill. The last time this happened? 2001.

These Cornell teams did not suffer from lack of opportunity. Between 2006 and 2009, Cornell reached the ECAC Hockey final weekend three times and the NCAA tournament twice, but returned home without any ECAC championships or Frozen Four appearances.

Talented players like Matt Moulson ’06 (now with the New York Islanders), Byron Bitz ’07 (Boston Bruins), Topher Scott ’08, senior Colin Greening and junior Riley Nash skated at Lynah during these four years, but in each season, Cornell came out empty-handed in the hardware department.