G Cup

Its that time of year, what is quickly becoming one of my favorite Capitaland traditions, the Governor's Cup (Dewitt above). In honor of New York's past governors, I will link one of them to each of RPI's upcoming games.

Tonight:
RPI v. Union
It is THE rivalry game. Growing up an RPI fan, I hated those maroon and white guys from across the river. And, when they were better than RPI for a few years, it got my blood boiling. The downturn in both programs means that they have to be facing each other for the first game as no guarantee that they will advance to the finals. The Knick is usually a wasteland for hockey games (Rats I am looking at you) but it gets as full as its going to get for this game.

I think RPI is going to get up for this game and do what Cuomo did against Pierre Rinfret: RPI 4-2 over Union.

USCHO has a different take:

The Dutch played solid hockey out in Omaha, whereas RPI simply can't get out of its own way. 'Tute has been shut out twice and allowed 10 goals to Bentley and UMass. It should be a tight defensive game if RPI plays well, but Union's on a mini-roll. 3-1 Dutchmen.

Saturday Night:
RPI vs. Colgate/Robert Morris (i.e., Colgate)

In 1994 George Pataki came out of nowhere (Peekskill, really?) to defeat Cuomo and promised reform in Albany. Sure he bought out a lot of state workers and was friendly-ish to the environment but his change signaled a change in Albany and the state from the silver tongued one. Maybe I am naive but I think RPI will have a similar victory over Colgate to announce their return to the hockey stage after their losing ways. I see them winning in a shootout 2-1.

USCHO thinks its batten all hatches if RPI loses to Robert Morris in the consolation game and I can't say I disagree with em:

If RPI doesn't beat RMU, there will be a quicker bandwagon evacuation than the Boston Bruins' saw last spring. 3-1 Engineers.

RPI on the injury front. Here is the latest (from USCHO):

Rensselaer will be without the services of forwards Joel Malchuk and Kurt Colling yet again. The duo has already missed time this year, but with a bye week looming, coach Seth Appert hopes to have them available against Harvard in two weeks. The Engineers are also fretting about the nature of defenseman Mike Bergin’s injury. The freshman suffered a dislocated shoulder against Massachusetts on Tuesday on a questionable late-game hit, and Appert describes his situation as “out for an extended period of time.” His options currently appear to be rehabbing it and playing this year, or having surgery and shelving the season … Appert is leaning toward the former, but only time will tell which plan is best. Regarding the hit, Appert doesn’t blame UMass coach Don “Toot” Cahoon one bit. Appert said that “because of the emotion of the college game, sometimes lines get crossed … I don’t mind the physicality of it, but I don’t like two of our defensemen getting blasted from behind [in a 6-0 game] .” (The guilty party — Minuteman senior Chris Davis — was assessed a hitting-from-behind major and a game misconduct.)