PRINCETON, N.J. – Junior Riley Bourbonnais scored the game-tying goal late in the third period, to help the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men’s hockey team to a 3-3 tie at Princeton University, on Thursday night. With the draw, the Engineers move to 11-7-4 (4-1-4 ECAC Hockey), while the Tigers are now 4-12-1 (3-7-1 ECAC Hockey).
Rensselaer took a late first period lead thanks to freshman Jesper Ohrvall (Halstad, Sweden/Fairbanks Ice Dogs), who buried a rebound for his fifth goal of the season. Sophomore Viktor Liljegren (Stockholm, Sweden/Fairbanks Ice Dogs) took the initial shot, from the high slot, which was turned away by Princeton junior goalie Colton Phinney (Chatham, NJ/Islanders Hockey Club).
The Tigers tied the game 15:54 of the second period, on a screen shot by senior Mike Ambrosia (Chatham, NJ/Youngstown). Freshman Max Veronneau (Ottawa, ON/Gloucester) had the lone helper on Ambrosia’s second of the season.
Veronneau then gave the hosts their first lead of the game (2-1), 5:11 into the third period. Assists went to classmate Ryan Kuffner (Ottawa, ON/Gloucester) and junior defenseman Quin Pompi (Springfield, PA/Berkshire School).
RPI pulled even 1:01 later, when sophomore Jared Wilson (Calgary, AB/Vernon Vipers) launched shot into the top right corner of the net, for his third goal of the season. Bourbonnais (Rochester, NY/Lincoln Stars) and fellow junior Jimmy DeVito (Bloomingdale, IL/Lincoln Stars) picked up the assists on the power play tally.
Princeton regained the lead (3-2) at 10:48, as Veronneau buried his second goal of the period and team-leading seventh of the year, from just inside the left circle. Freshmen Alex Riche (Oakville, ON/Cobourg) and Kuffner had the assists.
Bourbonnais then netted the equalizing goal at 16:42 of the period, taking a cross-ice feed from sophomore Lou Nanne (Edina, MN/Sioux Falls Stampede) and burying it past Phinney for his club-best 13th goal of the year. Senior Zach Schroeder (Prior Lake, MN/St. Thomas Academy) chipped the puck up ahead to start the break into the offensive zone.
The Engineers recorded 11 shots in each period before out-shooting Princeton, 6-0, in overtime, but were unable to come up the winning goal. Both teams were 1 for 3 on the power play.
RPI senior netminder Jason Kasdorf (Winnipeg, MB/Des Moines Buccaneers) finished with 20 saves, while Phinney had 36 at the other end of the ice.
FIVE IN FIVE:
RPI freshman Jesper Ohrvall scored his fifth goal in five games, when netted the opening tally on Thursday at Princeton.
FINALLY ON THE MAN ADVANTAGE:
RPI scored its first power play goal since December 12 against Arizona State.
ANOTHER LEAGUE TIE:
The Engineers recorded their fourth tie of the season. All four have in ECAC Hockey play.
UP NEXT:
The Engineers are back in action on January 15 and 16, when they host nineth-ranked Cornell and Colgate. Puck drop for both games is scheduled for 7pm.
