Cornell junior David LeNeveu signed a multi-year contract with the NHL’s Pheonix Coyotes, forfeiting his final two years of college eligibility.
LeNeveu was honored after the 2003 season with the Ken Dryden Award as top goalie and was a first-team All-ECAC pick. A 2003 Hobey Baker Award finalist, LeNeveu was named ECAC tournament MVP and was a first-team All-American. The ECAC Co-Player of the Year, the sophomore goalie standout, led the Big Red to the Frozen Four for the first time in 23 years.
LeNeveu was drafted by Pheonix in 2002 in the second round, 46th overall. Earlier in the off-season, the Coyotes were unsure whether they would negotiate with the Big Red goalie.
“David is one of the top young goaltending prospects in the world,” commented Phoenix Coyotes general manager Mike Barnett. “He has enjoyed an outstanding two years in a top program like Cornell and we are confident that he has the skills to develop into an NHL goaltender.”
The Coyotes have been having some goaltender troubles in recent years. Their top goalie, Sean Burke, has been plagued with injury, and their other two goalies, Zak Bierk and Brian Boucher, are not top NHL goaltenders.
Over his career at Cornell, LeNeveu posted a goals against average of 1.29 and a save percentage of .938. He had a record of 35-9-2.
The Big Red is in a sticky situation. Their two remaining goalies, senior Todd Marr and sophomore Louis Chabot, have only five games of experience between them. “One door closes for the program with David moving on, but another has quickly opened for our two returning goalies,” remarked Big Red Head Coach Schafer. “It’s a tremendous opportunity for these two young men to step up and continue the tradition of goaltending excellence at Cornell.”
