Box Score

CHICAGO, Ill. - Former Rensselaer standout Brandon Pirri made his National Hockey League debut on Saturday night when the Chicago Blackhawks hosted the Detroit Red Wings.  Pirri, who spent last year at RPI, wore #14 and played 8:56 for the Blackhawks, with whom he signed a three-year contract in August.

Pirri, who tallied 11 goals and a team-high 32 assists for 43 points for the Engineers in 2009-10, became the 21st former RPI hockey player to play in the NHL.

In his lone season in Troy, Pirri played in all 39 games, collecting 11 goals with 32 assists for 43 points along with 67 penalty minutes. He was first on the Engineers – and in ECAC Hockey – in assists, first on the team in penalty minutes and second in points. Four of his goals came on the power play and two were game-winning markers. The Toronto, Ont., native had five goals and 22 assists for 27 points in 22 league games.

In addition to ranking first in ECAC Hockey in assists, he led the league in power play points and he led all freshmen in scoring. He was seventh in overall scoring. Nationally, Pirri was second in points per game by a rookie and tenth in assists per game.

He had at least one point in 26 games, including 13 contests with multiple points, on his way to being named the ECAC Hockey Rookie of the Week twice and to the league's All-Rookie Team.

Prior to joining Rensselaer, Pirri played for the Georgetown Raiders and Streetsville Derbys of Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) in 2008-09. He had 94 points on 46 goals and 48 assists in 44 games and ranked third in the league in scoring. He captured All-Canadian Junior Hockey League First Team honors and earned the OJHL's B.J. Munro Memorial Award as the player with the best professional prospects. He was also the top scorer for Canada East in the 2009 World Jr. A Championships, helping his team to the bronze medal.