By: Neil Simmons | Follow me on Twitter / X: @NSimmz
Among the many storylines that defined the 2025 NCAA Men’s Hockey Tournament was the Cinderella run of the Cornell Big Red, and Bruins prospect Ryan Walsh was right at the heart of it all. After being ranked ninth in the country to start the year, the Big Red endured a disappointing regular season marred by injuries. Despite a breakout sophomore season from Walsh, they limped into the ECAC Conference Tournament as the sixth seed, with the conference champion’s autobid being their only hope of making it to the big dance.
Cornell finally found its footing once the postseason began and ran the table to win its second consecutive ECAC Tournament title, upsetting each of the top three seeds in the conference and securing the automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. Walsh came through in the clutch when it mattered most for the Big Red, logging two assists in the semifinal against top-seed Quinnipiac, including the OT winner, and an empty net goal in the final to clinch the title over Clarkson.
Coming into the NCAA Tournament as the second-lowest-ranked team in the field, Walsh and the Big Red kept their hot streak going. Walsh scored twice and in a stunning upset over second-overall Michigan State, as Cornell scored the go-ahead goal with just ten seconds to play. Against Boston University in the Regional Final, Walsh opened the scoring with his fourth goal in three postseason games, and another late third period goal forced overtime to keep their season alive, but Cornell ultimately fell one goal short of an improbable Frozen Four berth.
Walsh emerged as a key cog in the Big Red’s lineup right away in his sophomore season, starting the year as the top-line center and never looking back. He set career highs in nearly every category and finished the season with 17-14-31 in a full 36 games. Walsh recorded four separate three-point games, led all scorers in an upperclassmen-heavy lineup, won nearly 56% of faceoffs (419-330), earned First Team All-Ivy recognition, and was named Team MVP at the end of the year. For a team that struggled with health and inconsistency, Walsh was a stabilizing force.
Drafted by the Bruins in the sixth round (188th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft, Walsh is a classic 200ft Center. Elite Prospects described Walsh’s play as being “all about the details”:
Offensively, he’s always open, and when he can’t be, he skates into groups of defenders to create space for a teammate. He wins body positioning around the net, plays a give-and-go style, and never hangs onto the puck for too long.
To complement his offensive skills, Walsh also values playing a solid defensive game. He has been open about his pathway to pro hockey being through his defensive play, winning faceoffs, and killing penalties.
The Big Red are entering a period of transition for Walsh’s junior year. Longtime head coach Mike Schafer retired following the NCAA tournament loss to BU, concluding a 29-season tenure behind the Cornell bench, the longest in program history. Additionally, the team is facing significant personnel changes following ten graduations and two other departures: top-line forward Dalton Bancroft and top-pair defenseman Ben Robertson, both of whom participated in the Bruins’ Development Camp in June. After Walsh, six of Cornell’s next seven top scorers from 2024-25 are no longer with the program, placing an even greater onus on him to lead the way.
Naturally, the Big Red are set to be a much younger squad under new Head Coach Casey Jones, with 12 freshmen coming in this Fall to offset the aforementioned lineup losses. Walsh, now an upperclassman, figures to take on a much greater leadership role to go with his on-ice responsibilities, though Cornell has not yet announced their captains for the season.
A strong junior year could strengthen an already solid case for Walsh to earn a pro contract from the Bruins. Convincing him to forgo a senior season and sign with Boston also became much easier when Bancroft, his linemate with whom Walsh had exceptional chemistry, signed with the Providence Bruins as an Undrafted Free Agent in April. Walsh will be a name for Bruins fans to look out for throughout the 2025-26 season and into the future.
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