Men’s Hockey Secures Capital Skates Trophy with Shutout Victory Over RPI
TROY, N.Y. – On Saturday afternoon, the Union College men’s hockey team achieved a convincing 3-0 victory over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), successfully defending the Capital Skates Trophy. This win was significant as it helped maintain the trophy in Schenectady.
Key Highlights from the Match
- First-Year Achievement: Alex Laurenza scored his first collegiate goal, demonstrating the potential of Union’s rookie talent.
- Goaltending Excellence: Sophomore Cameron Korpi recorded a shutout, making 12 saves throughout the game.
- Power Play Dominance: Union scored a power-play goal, bringing their total to seven in the last five games.
- Penalty Kill Success: Union has successfully killed 20 consecutive penalties dating back to their season opener.
Early in the game, Union earned a power play but was initially unsuccessful. However, they quickly gained momentum, dominating the first period. RPI struggled to maintain possession and managed just one shot on goal amidst Union’s consistent offensive pressure.
Major Turn of Events
At the 12:01 mark of the first period, Laurenza capitalized on a rebound during a power play, with assists from Will Felicio and Drew Sutton. This marked his first collegiate goal, further solidifying the Garnet Chargers’ power-play prowess.
As the second period commenced, Union’s defense remained strong, successfully killing off three RPI power plays throughout the game. An unexpected turn occurred when head coach Josh Hauge challenged a call, resulting in a five-minute major penalty for RPI.
Despite not registering a shot during a critical four-on-four situation, Union doubled their lead when senior Nick Young set up Brandon Buhr for a wrist shot, marking Buhr’s fifth goal of the season. Notably, Union has won all five games where Buhr has scored.
Final Touches on the Victory
Tyler Dunbar sealed the victory with an empty-net goal in the game’s closing seconds. This goal not only ensured a solid win but showcased the team’s offensive reach.
With this win, Cameron Korpi improved his goals-against average to 1.57, the best in the conference among goaltenders with at least three starts. Looking ahead, the Garnet Chargers will play against Clarkson on November 8, 2025, at 7 PM.
