2008 Woodie Awards
Men's Hockey captures Capital Skates Trophy
Dan Greene
Issue date: 1/24/08 Section: Sports
Coming into this past weekend the Union men's hockey team was flying high on a four game winning streak while arch-rival R.P.I. came in on a dismal seven game losing streak. Both of these streaks continued as Union swept the weekend series taking the Capital Skates Trophy which, goes to the team who wins the season series between the two rivals. The Dutchmen won 2-1 Friday at Messa Rink and 4-1 Saturday at the Houston Field House. These two wins put the Dutchmen on a six-game winning streak, tying a team set November 5-20, 2004, and puts RIP on their longest losing streak since the 1965-66 season.
This past weekend paradoxes how each team was doing earlier this season. Before R.P.I.'s losing streak they were ranked in the national polls for two months while Union was considered to be one of the weaker teams in the ECACHL. The Dutchmen and Engineers faced off for the first time this season at the Governor's Cup on October 26 where the Dutchmen were defeated 3-2 by the Engineers. This game was in the midst of R.P.I.'s six-game unbeaten streak (including a win over Colgate to win the Governor's Cup), and was the beginning of Union's seven-game winless streak.
There was a lot of anticipation coming into this big home-and-home weekend and, everyone knew that this was going to be a tough and hard-hitting battle. This became obvious early as there was a lot of pushing in shoving between opposing players after whistles. There were also 21 penalties called.
The first game of the weekend was at Messa Rink where the Union faithful came out to support the Dutchmen and filled the rink. The student section was packed and in full voice in chanting for their classmates. This came into effect after the a scoreless first period and an 32 minute delay between periods because the zamboni broke when a t-shirt being thrown by a Union attendant got caught in the zamboni, when the Dutchmen got to shoot towards the Union student section. Since the student section was so close to the R.P.I. goaltender, Jordan Alford, the students started to chant discouraging things towards him, trying to rattle him. This eventually worked as the Dutchmen scored both of their goals of the night in the second period.
This past weekend paradoxes how each team was doing earlier this season. Before R.P.I.'s losing streak they were ranked in the national polls for two months while Union was considered to be one of the weaker teams in the ECACHL. The Dutchmen and Engineers faced off for the first time this season at the Governor's Cup on October 26 where the Dutchmen were defeated 3-2 by the Engineers. This game was in the midst of R.P.I.'s six-game unbeaten streak (including a win over Colgate to win the Governor's Cup), and was the beginning of Union's seven-game winless streak.
There was a lot of anticipation coming into this big home-and-home weekend and, everyone knew that this was going to be a tough and hard-hitting battle. This became obvious early as there was a lot of pushing in shoving between opposing players after whistles. There were also 21 penalties called.
The first game of the weekend was at Messa Rink where the Union faithful came out to support the Dutchmen and filled the rink. The student section was packed and in full voice in chanting for their classmates. This came into effect after the a scoreless first period and an 32 minute delay between periods because the zamboni broke when a t-shirt being thrown by a Union attendant got caught in the zamboni, when the Dutchmen got to shoot towards the Union student section. Since the student section was so close to the R.P.I. goaltender, Jordan Alford, the students started to chant discouraging things towards him, trying to rattle him. This eventually worked as the Dutchmen scored both of their goals of the night in the second period.
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