ENGINEERS WIN ECACHL OPENER OVER CLARKSON
Rensselaer wins on Black Friday and Adam Oates Night

The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's hockey team scored five
power play goals on their way to a 5-3 victory over Clarkson University in
the ECAC Hockey League (ECACHL) opener for both teams.  The game was the
second annual Black Friday Game and on the same night the school honored
former Engineer Adam Oates with induction into the Hall of Fame and the
Ring of Honor.

The game opened in fine fashion for the Engineers.  Following a Clarkson
penalty just seven seconds into the first period, RPI junior Kirk MacDonald
put the home team ahead with a power-play goal at the 20 second
mark.  MacDonald, Rensselaer's leading goal scorer, notched his eighth of
the season while standing on the doorstep to the goaltenders' left.  Junior
Kevin Croxton, who fed MacDonald from behind the net, and Nick Economakos
earned the assists on the goal.  The Golden Knights came right back to tie
the score, as senior Mac Faulkner scored from down low just 28 seconds
after the RPI goal.  Nick Dodge and Chris Blight were credited with the
assists on the goal, which came with Clarkson enjoying the man-advantage.

RPI again capitalized on a penalty by the Golden Knights, this time a
five-minute major, when junior defenseman Alexander Valentin scored on a
high shot from the slot.  Kevin Broad and Andrew Lord earned the assists on
the goal, which came at the 14:27 mark of the opening period.

Economakos gave the Engineers a two-goal lead at 12:57 of the second period
when he scored on the short-side from the bottom of the right faceoff
circle.  Croxton and defenseman Brad Farynuk earned the assists on the
goal.  MacDonald's second goal of the game, which came on a rebound of an
Alexander Valentin shot less than two minutes later, made it 4-1 in favor
of the home team.  Valentin had the primary assist while Scott Romfo picked
up the secondary helper.

Clarkson scored two quick goals in the third period to make the score 4-3
with 9:08 left to play in the period.  Clarkson got its second goal from
Brodie Rutherglen with assists to Shawn Weller and Ken Scuderi.  Just a
scant 15 seconds later the Golden Knights pulled within one as Jeff Genovy
got a feed from Chris Blight and Lyon Porter on a bang-bang play from
behind the net.

The Engineers closed the door on the Knights when Kevin Croxton scored his
fourth of the season on the power play into an empty net with 22 seconds
left to play.

The Engineers scored all five of their goals on the power play, going 5-11
on the evening.  The Golden Knights only scored once on the power play in
nine attempts (1-9).

Andrew Martin, 37 saves, picked up his third win of the season, and third
in a row.  David Leggio (2-1-0) started for Clarkson and gave up four goals
in 34:34 of play, making 22 saves. Traylen came in to relieve Leggio and
saved all 10 shots that he saw in 25:01 of action.

Both teams are right back in action on Saturday night when they will face
ECACHL foes.  RPI will host nationally-ranked St. Lawrence while Clarkson
will play at Union.  Both games begin at 7pm.