Racker Rivals returns to the ice at Cornell

This Saturday, Aug. 14, the Racker Rivals game will be back in Lynah Rink for the first time since 2019. The annual fundraiser is in its seventh year and benefits the early childhood development programs of the Racker organization. This year, over $60,000 has been raised thus far.

Last year, the exhibition game was scrapped and the fundraiser was held completely virtually. It was still a major success, with over $157,000 being raised. The exhibition game between well-known hockey figures and local celebrities is always the highlight of the summer, and this year’s roster includes both current and former NHL talent.

Current NHL players Ithaca native Dustin Brown, Anthony Angello and Morgan Barron will be joining, and Hockey Hall of Fame member Joe Nieuwendyk and U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame member Mike Richter will be participating in the game as well. The aspect of the game that Cornell University men’s hockey coach Mike Schafer is looking forward to most, though, is seeing fans back inside Lynah Rink.

“I think the most exciting thing is getting on the ice with the people in the building, whether it’s 2,000 or 1,500, just to have the atmosphere back at Lynah Rink and people skating on the ice and being around the game,” Schafer said. “It’ll be a lot of fun, also in that game, just to be able to honor our 19-20 team, both the men’s and women’s teams, and bring the athletes back that can get back and introduce them between periods. I think it’s going to be great for them to do.”

Cornell’s men’s and women’s hockey were both the top-ranked teams in the nation before the postseason was canceled due to COVID-19. Some players from those teams, like Alex Green, Jeff Malott and the aforementioned Barron, will be back on Cornell ice in game action for the first time since that unfortunate ending.

“It’s really important for those seniors,” Schafer said. “They didn’t get a chance to really finish it off and really get a proper goodbye. I think it’s important for them to have a little bit of closure and also [for] their parents and family members who support their child and invested in their future to come down here. So, it’s important, and I think it’ll allow us to move on to the next chapter, which is that rebuild with regards to our program.”

While Cornell women’s hockey coach Doug Derraugh won’t be attending the game due to his duties as an assistant coach for Team Canada at the International Ice Hockey Foundation Women’s World Championships, he has remained an active part of the fundraising efforts. He discussed what having fans back at Lynah Rink means to him.

“Originally, we weren’t sure that it was going to be able to happen,” Derraugh said. “So, when we heard that we were going to be able to have fans, that was really exciting news for us. To be able to do that as the first event that is going to happen back in Lynah with any fans I think is really special. After last year, not being able to have the game and now to be able to do it with fans certainly has been a big boost for our fundraising efforts and for the game itself.”

Topher Scott, former Cornell men’s hockey captain and founder of The Hockey Think Tank, has been involved with Racker Rivals in a major role since its inception. He gave his perspective on the impact of the fundraiser.

“When there’s good people involved in things and everybody’s pulling on the same rope, special things happen,” Scott said. “There are so many people involved in this event, whether it’s from Cornell, whether it’s from Racker, whether it’s just anybody in the Ithaca community like Tompkins Trust [Company]. There’s just so many good people, and we have a blast putting it on. And I think that that shows in the product of the game.”

He then recalled the first Racker Rivals game that has spawned seven years of community benefit.

“I can still remember that first year we did it about seven years ago. Walking down the tunnel and coming out to the ice, we didn’t really have any idea what was going to happen,” Scott said. “When you see 2,500 people in the stands, you’re like, ‘Wow, this is something that’s really cool.’ I think on top of the money raised, it’s a very fun event for people to come to, especially this year.”

Of course, one of the most fun parts of the game for the participants is playing alongside and against old friends. That includes some friendly trash talk, and Schafer detailed his strategy.

“You’ve got to see who the easy target is and who can be easily thrown off their game,” Schafer said. “You don’t want to waste any words on the ice and have someone that is just going to ignore you. You’ve got to find someone who’s an easy target.”

Tickets for the game, which will be at Lynah Rink on Aug. 14 at 4 p.m., are available on the Racker Rivals website, racker.org/events/racker-rivals-big-red-2021. Donations can also be made there up until game time.