Union, RPI to play the men’s hockey show on October 2 at Messa Rink

SCHENECTADY Union and RPI men’s hockey teams were to play show games against Canadian college hockey teams 2. October, but these games were canceled due to concerns about a new coronavirus pandemic.

Instead?

The long-term competitors of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area will meet in an exhibition game on October 2 at 4 pm at Messa Rink.

Last Friday, the NCAA granted an exception that allows teams to host show games against non-Canadian schools due to the pandemic.

When we got the resignation, I talked to Dave Smith at RPI, Union head coach Rick Bennett said Thursday. The teams did not play [since Jan. 25, 2020], let ‘s see if we can play with each other. Logistics worked. Everyone agreed. So we went to play.

A spokesman for the Union’s Athletics Department said fans will be allowed to take part in the game. Single-game ticket sales begin Sept. 13. RPI does not allow off-campus fans for its home sports events.

Union and RPI were two of eight ECAC hockey teams that canceled their season due to the 2020-21 pandemic. The last game of the unions was March 8, 2020, and Yale lost 2-1 in the sequel to Yale in Game 3 of the first round of the ECACH tournament.

RPI last played on February 29, 2020, a victory in Dartmouth in the regular season final 4-1. Engineers were scheduled to face off in the quarterfinals of the Harvard ECCH tournament, but when the Ivy League canceled the rest of its sporting season in 2020, RPI’s new opponent became Colgate. This series was then canceled.

Honestly, I think it’s important to get these things in order, Smith said. First of all, I’m glad we’re practicing. Secondly, I’m glad we’re playing the game. … And the third thing is that we are playing the Union. It is victory, victory, victory.

The teams now play each other four times this season, including an exhibition game. They start ECACH against each other 29. October at the Mass and October 30 at the Houston Field House. The Mayor’s Cup match will be played on January 29 at the Times Union Center.

Union will open the regular season on Oct. 8 in New Hamsphire, while RPI will host Bowling Green’s season opener that night.

REMUNERATION NOTIFIED

A native of the metropolitan area and the son of a Stanley Cup champion, he is on his way to the Union College men’s hockey team this season.

Goalkeeper Connor Murphy of Hudson Falls and striker Thomas Richter, son of New York Rangers goalkeeper Mike Richter, are two of nine players who make up the Dutch recruiting class 2021-22, which was announced on Thursday.

Younger Murphy is moving from the Northeast. The 6-foot-4,200-pound played in 21 matches last season on the Huskies and set a 9-9-3 record with an average of 2.72 goals, .910 savings and two stoppages.

We knew he saw him grow a little, Bennett said. But his path followed a different route. Eventually he ended up here and was happy.

Before leaving for the Northeast in 2019-20, Murphy played Carleton Place of the Central Canada Hockey League.

Richter played 20 matches last season in a shortened season at Penticton Vees of the British Columbia Hockey Association, collecting three goals and six assists.

Richter had been in the Union a few years ago and attended the presentation of the summer coaching school.

Talking to Thomas and his family, they seemed to enjoy the camp, Bennett said. From there, it continued its own life. The recruitment process began and was successful.

In total, there are five strikers, two defenders and two goalkeepers in the recruitment class.

Other strikers include Collin Graf (Boston Junior Bruins National Collegiate Development Conference), Michael Hodge (Fort McMurray Oil Barons of Alberta Junior Hockey League), Andrew Seaman (Prince George Spruce Kings of BCHL) and Caden Villegas (Tri-American Hockey City Storm.

The defenders are both from the North American Hockey Association. Cullen Ferguson played in Aberdeen Wings and Josh Phillips in the Minnesota Wilderness.

The other goalkeeper is Joe Sharib, who played for NCDCs Connecticut Jr. Rangers.

Categories: College Sports, Sports