TROY, N.Y. – Senior Eric Robinson scored two goals and assisted on the eventual game-winner to lead the Princeton University men’s hockey team to a 6-2 victory over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), on Saturday night at the Houston Field House. With the win, the Tigers improve to 2-2-1 (1-2-1 ECAC Hockey), while the Engineers drop to 2-5-3 (1-4-1 ECAC Hockey).
The visitors jumped out to a 2-0 lead by the 10:20 mark of the first period. Junior Ryan Kuffner (Ottawa, ON/Gloucester) and Robinson (Bellmawr, NJ/Dubuque) each potted even strength tallies five minutes apart, with Kuffner opening things up at 5:22.
RPI senior captain Jared Wilson (Calgary, AB/Vernon Vipers) made a 2-1 game at 14:58 of the period, burying a one-timer from the right circle. Junior Brady Wiffen (St. Mary’s, ON/Toronto Golden Hawks) delivered the cross-ice feed, with freshman Troy York (Plano, TX/Lone Star) picking up the secondary assist.
Freshman Billy Jerry (River Falls, WI/Madison Capitals) knotted the score at 2-2 less than two minutes later, snapping home a shot from the top of the left circle for his second goal of the year. Helpers went to classmate Owen Stout (West Vancouver, BC/Coquitlam Express) – his first collegiate point – and sophomore Todd Burgess (Phoenix, AZ/Fairbanks Ice Dogs).
Just 1:50 after the Engineers evened the score, Princeton sophomore Jackson Cressey (West Vancouver, BC/Coquitlam Express) made it 3-2 tucking home a pass from senior David Hallisey (Wethersfield, CT/Islanders), with Robinson earning the secondary helper.
Junior blueliner Josh Teves (Calgary, AB/Merritt) then netted the only goal of the second period to make it 4-2 Tigers. Kuffner and freshman Matthew Thom (Oakville, ON/Georgetown) collected the assists on Teves’ first of the year.
Robinson and freshman Luke Keenan (Courtice, ON/Whitby) added insurance goals on the third period, with Keenan’s registering as his first NCAA tally.
Rensselaer finished 0 for 4 on the power play, while the Tigers were 0 for 2. Junior netminder Chase Perry (Andover, MN/Wenatchee Wild) made 30 saves, including 14 in the third period, while Princeton freshman Ryan Ferland (Franklin, MA/Jersey) had 27 stops other other end of the ice – 18 of which came in the second.
Twelve different players accumulated points for the Tigers, including Ferland, who claimed the secondary assist on Robinson’s early third period marker. Six different RPI skaters found the scoresheet, with sophomore defenseman Will Reilly (Toronto, ON/Nanaimo Clippers) notching a game-high five shots.
The Engineers are back on the ice next weekend, when they host Notre Dame for a two-game series on Friday (7pm) and Saturday (7pm). Princeton hosts Yale and Brown on Friday (7pm) and Saturday (7pm).
