Union defeated RPI, 4-2, in the league opener for both teams on
Saturday night before a sellout crowd of 2504 at Achilles.  Jeff
Wilson scored two goals, including the game-winner, and Brandon Snee
made (I think) 35 saves to lead the Dutchmen.  The game lasted nearly
three hours with multiple delays due to stuffed animals and a few
oranges being thrown onto the ice and many other penalties.  Special
teams were the big factor in this penalty-filled game as Union scored
all four goals on the power play and killed off two long 5-on-3
shorthanded situations.  I believe this ties a Division I high for
power play goals in a game by Union, last done in a home game against
Air Force in January, 1995 when they were 4 of 13.

Union improves to 3-1 overall and 1-0 in the ECAC.  RPI is 2-2,0-1.

Union coach Kevin Sneddon asked fans to end the tradition of throwing
oranges onto the ice after Union's first goal against RPI and instead
throw stuffed animals to be donated to charity.  It worked well for
the first goal, as lots of animals and just an orange or two made
their way onto the ice when the Dutchmen scored in the first few
minutes.  The problems came on subsequent goals.  After the second
goal, a good number of stuffed animals and a bit more fruit made it
onto the ice and Union was assessed a bench minor for delay of game.
The fans were warned again, but when Union scored its go ahead goal in
the third, more animals and oranges were thrown.  This time, no
penalty was called, resulting in a heated discussion between RPI coach
Dan Fridgen and referee Tim Kotyra.  Union was quickly called for two
minors after this, but RPI failed to score on over a minute of 5-on-3
advantage.

The controversy was not over yet.  Union was again on a power play
when the net was knocked off, but play was allowed to continue for
several seconds before Jason Ralph scored into the dislodged net.  A
very long argument followed, but the goal was allowed to stand.  I
thought it should have been disallowed, but one of the people in my
section says there is a new rule that if the defending team dislodges
the net intentionally, play may be allowed to continue so long as it
is unaffected by the fact that the net is loose.  This had to be the
call here, as the net was clearly off, but moved no more than about 6
inches.  We will have to wait for comments by the coaches and referees
in the morning papers to know for sure why the call was made as it was.

Union remains home to face Colgate and Cornell in league action next
weekend.


--
Jim Teresco '92, '93G - [log in to unmask]
Visit the Union Hockey Pages at http://www.vu.union.edu/~hockey