Union takes on RPI in Halloween Face-Off

A tie with UConn is not the way the Dutchmen wanted to head into the Halloween Face-Off with arch rival RPI. After romping all over Atlantic Hockey teams at Messa Rink, Union just stopped playing hockey for the final 20 or so minutes of the game. Now they have to respond with a win over RPI before ECAC play opens up next weekend at Harvard and Dartmouth.

The Engineers have got off to a pretty good start this season with a 3-1-2 record. Their ties have come against Colorado College and Northeastern (both tough opponents) on the road. The three wins came at home against Bentley (3-0), RIT (4-1) and Niagara (4-3 OT). The CC Tigers handed them their only loss.

All four of the Union-RPI games last season were absolute classics! Three of the games were decided by one goal, two were decided in overtime, and the other was a 3-1 Union victory where Luke Cain scored a diving, empty-net goal. The Dutchmen held the advantage in the season series last year going 3-1-0.

The December 5th game is one of the greatest games I have ever seen in person. It was during winter break, but my dad, my younger brothers took the two and a half hour trek up to Troy. AND IT WAS SO WORTH IT! Union's comeback led by Mario-Valery Trabucco and Jason Walters was awesome, along with Mike Schreiber's game-winner. Hopefully, the Dutchmen can beat the Engineers without these guys.

Here are some links from those games:
October 30 at Messa Rink - RPI 4, Union 3 (OT)
November 28 at Houston Field House - Union 5, RPI 4 (OT)
December 5 at Houston Field House - Union 5, RPI 4
January 16 at Messa Rink - Union 3, RPI 1

Players To Watch For RPI:

Chase Polacek: was named ECAC Player of the Year and All-American last season. Polacek is tied for team lead with three goals, four assists, seven points, and two power-play goals this season. Led the team with 26 goals and 52 points (tops in the ECAC and tied for sixth in the nation). He is extremely fast and will be dangerous on the Olympic ice sheet in Lake Placid.

Tyler Helfrich: has got off to a very hot start matching Polacek in goals, assists, and points. He has digressed the past few seasons, but his senior year could be his best season yet.

Brock Higgs: the freshman has started his collegiate career on the right foot scoring three goals, two of which were game-winners.

Allen York: heading into the game York is fifth in the nation with a 1.61 GAA and fourth in the country with a .943 save percentage. Also, he has played the most minutes in all of college hockey so far this season (370:38). York was also named preseaon First Team All-ECAC over Keith Kinkaid.

Players To Watch For Union:

Matt Hatch: look out for his speed on the big ice surface if he dresses... I think he will.

Mat Bodie: had an awful game against UConn. Let's see how he responds against a better opponent.

John and Wayne Simpson: both are extremely fast and should take advantage of the wide ice sheet. I think their line should counter Polacek's line because they can keep up with him.

Adam Presizniuk: last season stars like Mario Valery-Trabucco and Jason Walters came up big for the Dutchmen in the games against RPI. Let's see if Prez can do the same.

Prediction: I'm going to go with a 4-3 Union victory... yeah, yeah call me a homer but that's what I think. The Dutchmen need to make a statement before league play begins and the offense should step up their game. The two teams also have two common opponents, RIT and Niagara, both of which they have beaten. But, while the Engineers have outscored these opponents 8-4, the Dutchmen have outscored them 13-3.

Here are some highlights from the games last season: