Box Score
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Senior
Chase Polacek scored the eventual game-winning goal with 25 seconds left in the third period to lead the Rensselaer men's hockey team to a, 2-1, victory over Alabama-Huntsville, this afternoon at Von Braun Center. With the win, the Engineers improve to 11-4-3 overall, while the Chargers fall to 2-18-2.
A Huntsville turnover in the neutral zone transitioned into a CJ Lee (Staten Island, NY/Green Bay Gamblers)-led 3-on-1 for the Engineers. With junior
Patrick Cullen (Washington, DC/Indiana Ice) to his right, Lee left a drop-pass for Polacek (Edina, MN/Academy of Holy Angels), right between the circles. Polacek stepped into his ninth of the season, breaking a 1-1 tie with just seconds to spare.
The Chargers lifted freshman netminder John Griggs (Barrington, IL/Cumberland Grads) for an extra attacker but could not muster a shot on RPI junior goaltender
Allen York (Wetaskiwin, AB/Camrose Kodiaks), who finished with 15 saves on the afternoon.
For the second straight night UAH struck first, as senior Joe Koudys (Grimsby, ON/Thorold Blackhawks) beat York stick-side at the 5:00 minute mark of the second period. Assists went to junior center Jamie Easton (Edmonton, AB/Bonnyville Pontiacs) and senior defenseman Matt Baxter (Courtice, ON/Bownmanville).
Rensselaer even the score at one apiece with just a second to play (19:59) in the second stanza, when senior
Bryan Brutlag (Lakeville, MN/Academy of Holy Angels) found the puck right in front of the Chargers goal and snapped home his sixth of the season. Polacek and junior defenseman
Mike Bergin (Ottawa, ON/Smiths Falls Bears) earned helpers on the Engineers game-tying tally.
York (10-4-3) made nine of his 15 saves in the first period, while Griggs (0-4-1) earned 25 of his 31 stops in the second and third periods combined.
The Engineers are back in action on January 7 and 8, when they host ECAC Hockey and north-country rivals Clarkson and St. Lawrence. Both games are set for 7pm start times. The Chargers host Bemidji State on January 7 (8:05pm) and 8 (4:05pm).
