by Ryan Fay
All streaks are bound to end eventually.
For third-ranked Union, its 10 game winning streak against Route 7 rival Rensselaer came to an end on Saturday.
Mike Zalewski scored with 3:38 left in the third period to propel the Engineers to a 2-1 win in the second annual non-league Mayor's Cup in front of 7,100 fans at the Times Union Center.
The Engineers (10-10-4) hadn't beaten the Dutchmen (16-5-3) since a 4-3 overtime win on November 3rd, 2010.
But Rensselaer's drought-ending win was marred by an array of extra-curriculars after the final horn sounded.
The one that drew the most attention involved the head coaches as Union's Rick Bennett was attempting to go after Rensselaer's Seth Appert. The two had to be restrained by several parties.
Appert didn't know what spurred Bennett's rage.
“I have no idea," Appert said. "You have to ask him."
Bennett offered "no comment" when asked what was behind the incident.
Both apologized for what happened.
“I’m actually embarrassed about my actions,” Bennett said. “I apologize to our president, our athletic director, our fans, Garnet Blades members, to the RPI fans, their coaching staff, their players. That’s not how we want to be represented.”
“I’d like to apologize for that end of the game [incident],” Appert said. “These are two heated rivals that have had some of these incidents, but we have a tremendous amount of respect for Union. I have a tremendous amount of respect for Rick Bennett and his coaching staff. When you play in a heated rivalry game, sometimes things boil over. But that’s not the way we want to be portrayed at all. I know they don’t either.
“I want to apologize to Dr. [Shirley] Jackson, our school president, our fans and the Union fans because that’s not what either team’s about.”
All told, the various postgame antics resulted in 19 penalties and 125 penalty minutes. Four players received game disqualifications. Rensselaer's Zalewski and Luke Curadi, along with Union’s Eli Lichtenwald, were assessed disqualifications for fighting. Union's Mat Bodie received one for facemasking.
All four will miss at least their team's next game. Union is at St. Lawrence on Friday while Rensselaer is at Clarkson.
More discipline, including possible action against the head coaches, could be handed out once the video is reviewed by the ECAC.
“I’d like to apologize for that end of the game [incident],” Appert said. “These are two heated rivals that have had some of these incidents, but we have a tremendous amount of respect for Union. I have a tremendous amount of respect for Rick Bennett and his coaching staff. When you play in a heated rivalry game, sometimes things boil over. But that’s not the way we want to be portrayed at all. I know they don’t either.
“I want to apologize to Dr. [Shirley] Jackson, our school president, our fans and the Union fans because that’s not what either team’s about.”
All told, the various postgame antics resulted in 19 penalties and 125 penalty minutes. Four players received game disqualifications. Rensselaer's Zalewski and Luke Curadi, along with Union’s Eli Lichtenwald, were assessed disqualifications for fighting. Union's Mat Bodie received one for facemasking.
All four will miss at least their team's next game. Union is at St. Lawrence on Friday while Rensselaer is at Clarkson.
More discipline, including possible action against the head coaches, could be handed out once the video is reviewed by the ECAC.
The postgame theatrics put Zalewski's game-winner on the backburner. His initial shot off a feed from Brock Higgs was saved by Union goaltender Colin Stevens. But Zalewski cashed in on the rebound to provide the decisive goal.
"It feels good anytime you can beat those (Union) guys," Zalewski said. "It's a big win and we'll enjoy it."
Rensselaer tied it when Milos Bubela flipped a backhander off the crossbar and in at 5:17 of the second.
Max Novak nearly tied the game with a minute left in the third, but Rensselaer netminder Scott Diebold made the biggest of his 28 stops when he gloved Novak's shot.
“We’re all just trying to battle out there,” said Diebold. “It was look what I found.”
Shayne Gostisbehere's shorthanded, wraparound goal gave Union an early lead at 8:04 of the first. After taking control of a loose puck near center ice, he flew down the left boards, skated around the RPI net and stuffed the puck past Diebold.
Shayne Gostisbehere's shorthanded, wraparound goal gave Union an early lead at 8:04 of the first. After taking control of a loose puck near center ice, he flew down the left boards, skated around the RPI net and stuffed the puck past Diebold.
Rensselaer tied it when Milos Bubela flipped a backhander off the crossbar and in at 5:17 of the second.
POSTGAME VIDEO
Rensselaer's Mike Zalewski, Scott Diebold and head coach Seth Appert
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