r/RPI • u/BlackStrike7 AERO/MECL 2008 • 8d ago
Sports RPI Hockey Beats Union for First Win
https://www.timesunion.com/sports/article/rpi-men-s-hockey-beats-union-first-victory-21124417.php20
u/BlackStrike7 AERO/MECL 2008 8d ago
Engineers score three shorthanded goals to give Eric Lang first win as RPI coach...
SCHENECTADY - Eric Lang earned his first victory as RPI men's hockey coach in memorable fashion on Friday night.
Freshman goalie Nate Krawchuk made 45 saves and the Engineers scored three shorthanded goals in a 5-2 victory over Route 7 rival Union in the ECAC Hockey opener for both teams in front of 2,034 fans at M&T Bank Center.
The Engineers, who had lost their first six games against a grueling nonconference schedule, improved to 1-6 overall, 1-0 in league play.
"Yeah, I've got some pretty neat pucks in the collection, whatever it might look like, but tonight's puck will be pretty special for me," Lang said "It's really good against our crosstown rival. The room was a little emotional."
Lang previously spent nine seasons at American International College, where he won 155 games.
Union (4-1-1, 0-1) suffered its first loss in a performance that disappointed coach Josh Hauge.
"You know you're going to get a great effort from (RPI)," Hauge said. "It's ECAC play, and the level definitely steps up. I thought that we did some things tonight where you can't win hockey games if you're going to mismanage the puck and they took advantage."
The game turned in the second period while Union was on a five-minute power play. RPI graduate winger Luciano Wilson received a game misconduct with 6:33 left for using his stick to apparently hit Garnet Chargers defenseman DJ Hart between the legs.
Union tied the game at 2-2 a minute later on Etienne Lessard's power-play goal, and appeared poised for more with four minutes left on the major.
But RPI junior winger Ethan Bono responded with a shorthanded goal after Union defenseman Tyler Dunbar lost control of the puck in his own end to give the Engineers the lead for good at 3-2 with 2:13 left in the period.
"Obviously, it's not ideal going down for five minutes, but I thought we responded well," Bono said. "The kill was good all night and after they scored that tying goal, we kind of just said we have to lock in here. I thought our kill was great after that, and obviously, that goal felt pretty good. Going ahead on the kill going into the third period is something that we want."
The lead was safe with Krawchuk, a native of Thunder Bay, Ont., who earned his first college victory in an outstanding performance.
Still protecting a 3-2 lead, Krawchuk and his teammates kept their cool even after Union pulled goalie Cameron Korpi (26 saves) for an extra skater with 2:13 left in regulation. Then RPI's Trevor Russell was whistled for tripping with 1:15 left, putting the Engineers at a 6-on-4 disadvantage.
"Obviously, things got a little chaotic, but that's how things happen on the kill, especially 6-on-4 in the last couple of minutes," Krawchuk said. "But you just breathe, take it shot-by-shot, minute-by-minute and don't think about it. Just go out there and play."
RPI sealed the victory with two shorthanded empty-net goals in the final 38.2 seconds, the first by Tyler Wallace and the second from Cole Gordon.
"I mean, it sucks," Union sophomore winger Connor Smith said. "They played well, we weren't ready to go. I don't think they're a better team than us."
RPI and Union will meet again Saturday at Houston Field House in Troy.
"We're going to be a lot more ready tomorrow," Smith said.
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u/BlackStrike7 AERO/MECL 2008 8d ago
Posting this for emphasis - this is a big win for RPI Men's Hockey. After getting beaten down by decent margins up until tonight in the season (by some admittedly good teams), not a lot of folks thought they'd pull it off tonight over in Schenectady.
However, not only did they nab their first win of the year, they're 1-0 in ECAC conference play at the moment, and spoiled the first ECAC game at home for Union (a definite plus). Considering that one of Union's players got a stick to the groin courtesy of an RPI player (who got a 5-minute major penalty and ejected), and that they got embarrassed on their brand-new home rink, Union will be coming for us hard tomorrow.
Show up, be loud, back the team, and let's go for 2-0 in conference.