Game Time: Union vs. RPI

Union (4-1-1) concludes a home-and-home tonight at Messa Rink after defeating the Engineers (1-2-2) 4-2 last night. Highlights here. Union's win in enemy territory came at a price, however: Mat Bodie was a casualty to what the team is labeling an "upper body injury." He played only one shift before leaving the game and not returning. Update: Ken Schott reports that Bodie has sustained a broken wrist. This is a worst-case scenario for the Dutchmen. Feasibly, Bodie could return as soon as the second week of December, although it is far too early to know.

Union hopes their defense can be as imposing as they look.

The team will need to fill a large void left by the dynamic, puck-moving defenseman. Charlie Vasaturo will step in tonight on the blueline, while it appears he and Ryan Forgaard will receive more playing time. A major component to the sustained success of the program has been its depth: Forgaard, Vasaturo as well as rookies Tim Boyle and Sebastien Gingras appear to be poised to fill in for the captain, who has been afforded a 6-8 week recovery time.

Here's to a speedy recovery to the captain of the Dutchmen!

Union 
17 Daniel Ciampini - 12 Kyle Bodie (A) - 21 Wayne Simpson
9 Daniel Carr - 7 Josh Jooris (A) - 8 Nick Cruice
19 Matt Wilkins - 18 Max Novak - 15 Matt Hatch
23 Cole Ikkala - 26 David Roy - 16 Kevin Sullivan

20 Greg Coburn (A) - 24 Sebastien Gingras
28 Shawn Stuart - 4 Tim Boyle
14 Shayne Gostisbehere - 6 Charlie Vasaturo

1 Troy Grosenick
30 Colin Stevens
31 Dillon Pieri

RPI
9 Matt Neal - 15 Jacob Laliberte - 39 Ryan Haggerty
28 Matt Tinordi - 23 Brock Higgs - 22 CJ Lee
7 Zach Schroeder - 21 Mark McGowan - 17 Milos Bubela
2 Johnny Rogic - 26 Mark Miller - 14 Greg Burgdoerfer

3 Guy Leboeuf - 29 Nick Bailen
10 Curtis Leonard - 24 Chris Bradley
5 Luke Curadi - 11 Bo Dolan

32 Bryce Merriam
34 Scott Diebold
33 Jason Kasdorf

Notes: 

• Bryce Merriam, (0-1-1) in 2 games this season, gets the start between the pipes for the Engineers after Scott Diebold started last night. Merriam has a .903 SV% and a 2.86 GAA in limited duty. He appeared in 31 games last year for the Engineers, and appears to be fighting for the starting job with Diebold.
• RPI also does some major line-juggling tonight:  Neal, Laliberte, and Haggerty stay together as the Engineers' most potent line, but Coach Appert has shuffled some players around, especially from right-to-left. We'll see how new line combinations play in conjunction with the out-of-zone changes at Messa Rink.
• As much as things change for RPI, they stay the same for Union, except for the notable absence of captain Mat Bodie, who left last night's game early with a potentially devastating injury. The "energy line" of perpetual body-banger Cole Ikkala, David Roy, and Kevin Sullivan give the Dutchmen a very good line (not just a 4th line), while Daniel Ciampini, goal scorer from last night, sticks on the first line with Kyle Bodie and Wayne Simpson. I wonder if Kyle and Wayne ever bonded about having older brothers on the team...
• Charlie Vasaturo steps in for Bodie, and the imposing d-man will be paired with Shayne Gostisbehere. It appears that Coach Bennett prefers a balance on the blue line: wheeler-and-dealer with stay-at-home rock. Case in point: Coburn with Gingras, as well as Stuart and Boyle. 
• As we noted last night, RPI went BFBS. And not the British Forces Broadcasting Service. RPI blog Without a Peer took a picture. Not bad for BFBS, but kinda looks like a big home plate. They're back to their traditional road-reds, Union in home whites.  Edit: Union in Garnet Aways tonight:

  @dillpikle31 Told yah it would happen!!!!! #dillionpierifanclub #neversaynever instagr.am/p/RltBDEPhTm/

  — Bryanne Panchuk (@brypanchuk) November 4, 2012