Campus Celebrity: Mike Cornell
Player Bio
· Franklin, MA
· Senior
· Defenseman
As a defenseman and the captain of the Black Bear Men’s hockey team, Mike Cornell has his hands full on this ice. “Defend and distribute” is his job as a defenseman, but Mike Cornell has much more responsibility in co-leading the team as one of the captains. Mike has been on skates for as long as he can remember.
“Growing up in Canada they would always freeze over tennis courts. It was almost a right of passage; everyone starts skating as soon as they can,” says Cornell.
On the ice, Mike can be found under the number 2 jersey, which is the same number his brother has always worn, making the number somewhat of a family tradition.
Mike, most recently played for the New Hampshire Junior Monarchs before committing to UMaine. Accompanying Mike to UMaine in 2009 was Kyle Beattie, Adam Shemansky, and Matt Mangene. He also previously played with Bryce O’Connor. Mike attributes some of the teams on and off ice chemistry to the experience they have had playing together.
Going along with team bonding, is a team effort to get pumped up before games. Passing the honor of “Team DJ” along to different players. Mike revealed to Her Campus that Kyle Beattie and Jake Rutt are among the chosen few DJs.
Mike wants to be remembered as a good guy, a good teammate, and a good member of the Orono community. Mike admits that even when he is done playing, he does not want to leave the game completely. Mike hopes to find a career in scouting or couching after he hangs up his skates.
But hopefully long before he will be hanging up his skates, Mike was able to take some time to show me the art of the slap shot. Check it out here!
You can catch up with Mike and the rest of the team at the Alfond Arena or you could check them out on Twitter (@MaineIceHockey).