« Hockey 2011-12

Keir Ross

School
Cornell
Position
Defender
Major
Human Biology, Health and Society
G
2
A
5
PTS
7
+/-
+14
GAA
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SV%
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Classroom

Ross is a two-time selection to the ECAC Hockey Academic All-League team and was the Big Red’s Hockey Scholar Athlete last season. He was also named to the College of Human Ecology Dean’s List in 2010, carrying a 3.57 grade point average in Human Biology, Health and Society. Ross is an assistant researcher for the Cornell Veterinary College and is writing a paper on his study of assessing the utility of a laser scanning imaging technique called multiphoton microscopy. He has been working on a study for more than one year on cartilage image techniques. The project will also be the platform for Ross’ senior thesis for Cornell’s Nutrition department. He intends on applying for medical school following his graduation.

Character

Ross has been an exemplary teammate both on and off the ice for the Big Red. He was an invaluably versatile part of the team at the rink, excelling as a stay-at-home defenseman while occasionally filling in as a center — an unnatural position for him. He has been named team captain for his senior season, becoming just the second solo captain for the team over the last five seasons. He was given team’s Iron Man Award after his junior season, in which he appeared in 33 of the team’s 34 games. The award is presented annually to the player who showed determination to overcome injuries. Ross has been selected to Cornell’s Red Key Honor Society of which membership is restricted to those who have displayed tremendous leadership, integrity and responsibility with their varsity program, shown a commitment to academics and have been involved in the Cornell and Ithaca communities.

Community

Ross is the coordinator for the sixth annual Cornell Hockey Teddy Bear Toss, which raises money for the Franziska Racker Centers and Cancer Resource Center of the Finger Lakes, while also donating stuffed animals to the Ithaca Cops, Kids and Toys program. He is also a member of the Sphinx Head Senior Honor Society, Cornell’s oldest senior honor society, which is committed to leading, serving and humbly uplifting the university by recognizing members of the senior class who have given their time and passion to the community. Additionally, Ross works with Feed My Starving Children, an organization that hand-packs meals specifically formulated for malnourished children that are shipped to nearly 70 countries around the world.

Competition

Ross has been a key contributor for a Big Red team that has competed in the NCAA tournament in two of his first three years on campus, including an ECAC Hockey championship in 2010. He is one of the top defensive presences on the team, particularly as a key cog on a penalty-killing unit that has ranked in the top 10 nationally over the past two seasons. His plus-12 rating ranked second on the team in 2010-11, and he was penalized the least of any defenseman despite frequently being matched up against some of the opposition’s best forward combinations. He followed that up with a plus-14 rating this regular season, which ranks first among blueliners on the team. Ross was one of the two defensemen named to the 2009 ECAC Hockey All-Rookie Team, as selected by league coaches, while also being presented with the Cornell Hockey Greg Ratushny Award for most promising freshman. He was awarded a spot on the Cornell Hockey Strength and Conditioning Wall of Honor in 2010.