STARS (1984 – Present Day)
Cornell Honours Mike Kennedy
Former Star Michael Kennedy is a Triple Award Winner at Cornell
Senior Michael Kennedy was a triple winner on the night, earning the Bill Doran Sportsmanship Award, the Sam Woodside Award and the Mark Weiss Memorial Award. The Bill Doran Sportsmanship Award is presented to the player best exhibiting sportsmanship, both on and off the ice, as well as being an outstanding player. The Sam Woodside Award is given to the senior whose overall play has improved the most from his freshman to senior seasons, while the Mark Weiss Memorial Award is given to the player who best exemplifies the determination and passion for the game of hockey that the late Mark Weiss had.
Kennedy began his Cornell career by scoring seven points as a freshman and finished with his senior season with 10 goals and 10 assists for 20 points. Despite missing four games due to injury, he still finished fifth on the team in scoring, recording four multi-point games on the season. Kennedy was also a key member of both the power play and penalty-killing units.
At Cornell
Kennedy had a breakout season as a junior, scoring 26 points to nearly double his career total entering the season. After a slow start to the season in 2007-08, his year took a fortuitous turn when he was moved to a line with Topher Scott and Raymond Sawada in the Florida College Classic. He then erupted for a goal in back-to-back games in Florida, then garnered national player of the week honors from Inside College Hockey and ECAC Hockey Player of the Week accolades after scoring three points in both games of the series against Niagara. He scored twice with an assist in the opener against the Purple Eagles, then turned around the next night for a goal and two helpers. He had eight multi-point games during his junior season despite missing three games during the middle of the year due to injury. He wrapped up his third season with a three-assist game against Colgate in the consolation game of the ECAC Hockey Tournament, the first such game of his career. Kennedy followed up a solid rookie campaign with another outstanding year as a sophomore. He was an instrumental part of the Cornell penalty killing unit and nearly every game was matched up against the opposition’s top scoring line. His contributions went far beyond the defensive end of the ice, however, as he equaled his season-high in points, scoring five goals and tallying a pair of assists for seven points. He scored the game-winning goal with 1:33 to play in the Nov. 10 win against Harvard. Kennedy also was outstanding in the faceoff circle, winning 286 total faceoffs, the highest amount on the team, and gaining possession of the puck 56 percent of the time. He had a streak of playing in 55 straight contests snapped when he sat out the Feb. 17 game against Princeton due to injury. He had his best series of the season in the split against Clarkson and St. Lawrence on Feb. 2-3, recording two goals and an assist on the weekend. Kennedy appeared in every game as a freshman and scored seven points on three goals and four assists. He scored his first collegiate goal in the win over Niagara on Nov. 26, also picking up an assist in that contest for his first multi-point game. Kennedy also scored in the Jan. 20 win over St. Lawrence and again in the loss to Harvard in the ECACHL Championship.
Before Cornell
Kennedy was named the team MVP while playing center for Lord Dorchester Secondary School. He was named the Woodstock Navy Vets Jr. `C’ Most Improved Player and was a WJBHL all-star while serving as assistant captain for the St. Thomas Stars. He also played basketball and volleyball and was an honor roll student.
Stars in the NHL
Scott Luce (G) | Dan Cloutier (G) | Joe Thornton (F) |
Brian Willsie (F) | Gregory Campbell (F) | Logan Couture (F) |
Matt Hackett (G) | Cory Emmerton (F) | Boone Jenner (F) |
Bo Horvat (F) | Greg McKegg (F) | Lawson Crouse (F) |