Stephane Boileau should have known better.
With his Union team leading RPI, 3-2, in the third period, and having just run the Engineers ragged after having two straight power plays, the Dutchmen had the momentum, and were in position to win.
Boileau, a junior forward, was behind the RPI net, and was battling for the puck with Engineers defenseman Jeff Foss when, suddenly, Foss' stick went high into the air. That is a no-no. Boileau got called for interference, giving RPI a power play with 4:37 left in. The Engineers' Bryan Brutlag scored on it with 2:54 to go, tying the score at 3-3.
It was RPI's game after that. Chase Polacek scored 1:58 into overtime, giving the Engineers a thrilling 4-3 non-league hockey win over the Dutchmen before a standing-room only crowd of 2,327 at Messa Rink.
While it was exciting for RPI, it was a devastating loss for Union.
Give Stephane Boileau credit for one thing — he did speak to reporters after the game.
"After my shot, I tried to lift his stick, and he dropped it," Boileau said. "I'll take the blame. It was a bad penalty."
Well, Foss did drop it — after it went about 10 feet into the air. Gravity dictates that what goes up must come down. So, technically, Boileau is right.
But there is no excuse for Boileau's penalty. Any offensive zone penalty is bad enough. Compound that with knocking an opponent's stick out of his hand for no apparent reason, and it was just a poor decision.
"It's my fault," Boileau said. "I just need to make sure it doesn't happen again."
That is what Union coach Nate Leaman said after last Saturday's 6-5 overtime loss to Sacred Heart. A high-sticking penalty by Dutchmen freshman forward Wayne Simpson in the Sacred Heart zone in the OT led to Nick Johnson's game-winner.
Asked what the team had to do to change its ways, especially with ECAC Hockey play starting next weekend, Leaman said, "That was discussed in the locker room after the game, and I'm going to leave it there. It's better if we leave it in our locker room. But, yeah, I thought that was a big turning point in the game."
Boileau was in the room when Leaman said that. Whether or not that was done on purpose is up for debate.
Making it even worse was that it ruined a great game by Boileau. He had a goal and an assist in the second period to give Union a 3-2 lead heading into the third.
I later asked Leaman will he have to start benching players who take bad penalties.
"Absolutely," Leaman said. "As the head coach, I have to control what I can control. That's the bottom line."
The Dutchmen better learn soon. If not, it will be a long ECAC Hockey season.
Three stars
My three stars of the game:
1) Chase Polacek, RPI — two goals, including game-winner, and one assist.
2) Mario Valery-Trabucco, Union — had a goal, and had some great chances in the third period.
3) Jerry D'Amigo, RPI — had two assists.
That's all from Messa Rink. I'll post video from the postgame press conferences later.
If you have any comments, post them below, or e-mail them to me at schott@dailygazette.com.
Good Night! Good Hockey!
