These five seniors are (likely) playing in their final games at Lynah Rink this weekend. They did what was necessary to extend their time at Lynah this season. So, in honor of what Cornellians consider unofficial Senior Week, here is a little bit about each member of the class of 2017 as they complete their storied careers in the coming weeks. So far, these seniors have garnered a combined 189 career points (30% during this season alone) and 80 goals. They have played in a whopping 579 games in carnelian and white. These seniors already have one ECAC Hockey Championship to their names (2014) and an Ivy League title from this season. Replacement is never truly possible in Cornell hockey. Each team is unique and there never will be another like it from one year to the next. Just like the team from 2010 was different than that in both 2009 and 2011, this team, the Cornellian squad of 2016-17, is unlike any past or future, just like last year’s team was and just like next year’s team will be.
So, without further ado, let us celebrate the class of 2017 in numerical order. Here is some of what these contributors will miss the most.
So, without further ado, let us celebrate the class of 2017 in numerical order. Here is some of what these contributors will miss the most.
#9 - Hanna Bunton
Hanna is very much a leader on this team without a letter. Touted as a talent coming in and the Ivy League’s Rookie of the Year in 2014, Hanna’s grit and skill combine to leave these writers with memories of overtime game-winning goals and breakout plays that will still come to mind years from now. Hanna’s presence on the ice calms players and propels them on to win. But the breakout plays that she creates are far from the only thing that distinguishes who Hanna is. You can see it in the stands as children cheer “go Hanna!” and in their eyes when she delivers to their cheers. Hanna always comes to play regardless of who her linemates are and giving up is not in her nature. Hanna’s quiet confidence and determination are going to be part of what we will miss most.
#10 - Brianna Veerman
Brianna Veerman had a rougher start to her Cornell career than most. She may have an atypical finish. Her academic eligibility gives the hope that she may have another round in Red next season. Veerman did not suit up in a game during her freshman campaign. That did not, however, mean that she was any less of an integral part of the team then or this senior year’s class. As a sophomore, she surprised everyone by having a breakout year and starting in 28 more games than the previous year. This Friday will be her 28th game of the season. And Veerman has turned into more than just a reliable player on the ice. She fights and claws and even though the roster lists her as a forward, she plays on defense when called upon. She is the epitomical “everywoman” of this team. Though many unacquainted with the team may not recall her name, her absence will be a void to fill.
#23 - Sydney Smith
Sydney Smith is the only defenseman in the senior class and the best phrase to describe her is Iron Woman. Smith has played in every single game (127 of them!) during her time on East Hill. A stay-at-home defenseman in the best possible way, Smith is responsible, reliable, and necessary to the defensive success of this and every team that she has been a part of. The Alberta native found success minding the blue line in Lynah and around the country. Though her goals have been sparing, they have all been important including during time that she skated as a forward. This Iron Woman still has a few more games in her. We’re excited to see what they bring. Syd Smith will be missed as a reliable, constant presence on the blue line.
#26 - Kaitlyn Doering
One of Cornell’s captains sits in the senior class as a woman of purpose: Kaitlyn Doering. Doering co-captains the red as a consistent scorer and backbone of the team. Ten of her points this season are goals, leaving her tied with classmate Hanna Bunton for second-most goals on the team. More impressive? Four of her ten goals this season are game winners. Doering has stepped up, already scoring three more goals than the previous season, one more than the season before that, and twice as many as she had as a freshman. It is easy to imagine the exciting freshman that Doering was, but it is impressive to see the leader that she has become. Doering has improved consistently on the ice, but her off-the-ice work as a leader is what these contributors will really miss in the effortless leadership she brings to the team.
#31 - Paula Voorheis
What can we say about Big Paula? The six-foot tall senior who excels both in the net and in the classroom is the heart of this team. She is part of the nation’s best tandem in the country. Paula never fails to give this team a chance to win and her confidence and poise in the net are only part of the reason. In 85 games in net, Paula notched a career save percentage of 0.922 with eight shutouts to her name, and time in three playoff games as a freshman en route to an ECAC Hockey Championship and six other playoff games to boot. Playoffs are familiar to Paula and even when the team is not victorious, everyone knows how much she put into the game. Last year in Potsdam, Clarkson fans exalted her to this contributor. Paula’s stalwart defense and huge heart are going to be the biggest things that this contributor misses about Big Paula.
These seniors are a special quintet. Which moments will you remember from Hanna, Brianna, Sydney, Kaitlyn, and Paula? Have they already been written, or are they still yet to come?
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