The Commissioners’ Cup Series is a 21-game series to be played among the conferences throughout the 2004-2005 season. Each conference participates in seven designated contests, playing three home games, three away, and one at a neutral site. The conference which accumulates the most points through its seven games will be presented with the Commissioners’ Cup at its conference championship weekend.

RPI scored three power play goals beating the same Northeastern squad last week, and their power play continued to click against the Army as they put three goals past goalie Treye Kettwick with the extra man.

Things weren’t easy for the Engineers early, however. The Black Knights outworked RPI for much of the first period, winning battles for the puck and controlling the play for extended spells. Army’s work paid off just four minutes into the game, when freshman Robb Ross scored on a rebound, stuffing it past Andrew Martin, who was getting his second start of the season in goal for RPI.

RPI found some solace at the end of the period, when Cody Wojdyla tied the game with three minutes left in the first. He was assisted by C.J. Hanafin and Mark Yurkewecz.

And they came out firing in the second. With the help of a carryover penalty to Army’s Nick Cahill for obstruction-holding, RPI’s puck-cycling—specifically Kevin Croxton and Nick Economakos—found Kirk MacDonald in the slot. MacDonald, who has been on a tear of late, ripped a shot past Kettwick to give Rensselaer the only goal it would need—but not the only it would get.

Oren Eizenman doubled the lead just three minutes later, also on the power play. Scott Romfo’s point shot rebounded right to Eizenman, who buried it, tallying his first marker of the year. Chris Hussey assisted on the goal.

RPI’s domination of the game continued into the third, as they clamped down on Army defensively, and kept their offensive pressure intense. MacDonald personified that intensity, battling his way to a second goal. He took a Keith MCWilliams pass and went top-shelf for the 4-1 lead.

Eizenman also notched his second goal of the game from an awkward angle on the power play midway through the third with Matt McNeely and Brad Farynuk assisting. Army took four consecutive penalties late in the third, including two full minutes of 5-on-3 for the Engineers, thusly killing any chance of a comeback. Martin finished the game with 17 saves, Kettwick had 26.

MacDonald was also named ECACHL player of the week for his efforts, including four goals and an assist for a +3 in two road games. RPI also received six votes in the USCHO.com national poll, nine in the USA Today poll, and is ranked 20th in INCH’s Power Rankings.