SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men’s hockey team scored four goals in the first period, on its way to a 5-1 win over Union College, in the ECAC Hockey opener for both teams at Messa Rink. With the win, the Engineers improve to 2-4 overall (1-0 ECAC Hockey), while the Dutchmen drop to 2-2-3 (0-1 ECAC Hockey).
Senior Travis Fulton (Oakville, ON/Vaughan Vipers) got the scoring started at 10:38 of the opening period, when snuck a tight-angle shot past Union junior goaltender Alex Sakellaropoulos (Tinley Park, IL/Chicago Steel). Junior Jake Wood (Georgetown, ON/Lincoln Stars) picked up the lone helper on Fulton’s first of the year.
RPI doubled its lead (2-0) a shot from the right point by senior Phil Hampton (Oakville, ON/Oakville Blades) that found its way inside the post at 15:22 of the first. Freshman Evan Tironese (Qualicum Beach, BC/Alberni Valley Bulldogs) and junior Riley Bourbonnais (Rochester, NY/Lincoln Stars) had the assists.
Less than a minute later, sophomore Kenny Gillespie (Morrisville, SC/Jersey Hitmen) netted his first collegiate goal to give RPI a 3-0 lead. The tally, which came at 16:20, saw seniors Fulton and Zach Schroeder (Prior Lake, MN/St. Thomas Academy) provide the assists.
Bourbonnais then capped the scoring at 18:12 of the frame, netting his team-leading fourth of the season from Tironese and sophomore Viktor Liljegren (Stockholm, Sweden/Fairbanks Ice Dogs).
After a scoreless second period, the Engineers extended their lead to 5-0, when senior Milos Bubela (Banska Bystrica, Slovakia) picked off a pass at his own blue line and skate in for a shorthanded goal.
Bubela deked left before sticking the puck around freshman netminder Jake Kupsky (Waukesha, WI/Lone Star Brahmas) for his second of the season.
Union converted on its ninth power play, to break up the shutout, with 2:46 left in the third period. Freshman Mark Dufour (Winthrop, ME/Islanders Hockey Club) scored his third of the campaign, from junior Noah Henry (Seattle, WA/Powell River Kings).
RPI senior goaltender Jason Kasdorf (Winnipeg, MB/Des Moines Buccaneers) made 22 saves, while Sakellaropoulos stopped 7 of 10 shots before being relieved by Kupsky, who had 20 saves. The Engineers went 0 for 4 on the man advantage, while Union finished 1 for 9.
FOUR GOAL FIRST:
The Engineers created plenty of separation, when they scored four goals, less than eight minutes apart, in the first period.
FIRST CAREER GOAL:
RPI’s Kenny Gillespie scored his first collegiate goal in the first period. Three of his four career points have come against Union.
AGAINST THE DUTCHMEN:
Riley Bourbonnais has recorded six of his 19 career points against Union. All six have come in the last four meetings.
UP NEXT:
Both teams are back in action tomorrow night at the Houston Field House (7pm).
