It was a tremendous opportunity for the Engineers, as Rensselaer had not won a men’s hockey tournament since 2001-2002, indicating that no current player was on the roster the last time the Engineers were tournament victors. So, eager for a tournament win, the Engineers hit the ice.

The Colgate Raiders, however, were hungry too. A strong team top to bottom, the Raiders returned two-thirds of their offensive output from last season—led by All-American candidate Tyler Burton—and are proudly in possession of three straight 20-win seasons. Furthermore, the Raiders are brandishing an experienced defensive unit that last season allowed just 2.38 goals per game while consisting almost entirely of rookies. This season’s matured defense, coupled with All-American candidate Mark Dekanich in net, gives the Raiders an ability to win low-scoring games and greatly improves their chances in overtime. Clearly, the Engineers would have their hands full.

Both teams came out relatively slow in the first period, but a flurry of Raider penalties put the Engineers in good position to score early and often. However, they were unable to capitalize and the momentum gradually shifted to the Raiders. Following a loudly protested interference penalty on Rensselaer’s junior forward Jake Morissette, Colgate made good on its power play. After a hard outside shot, the puck came loose, was kicked around in traffic, and became lost in sophomore Engineer goalkeeper Mathias Lange’s blind spot. Raider Tom Riley’s stick quickly found the puck and buried it inside the net for the first score of the night with little over a minute to play in the first period.

In the second period, the Engineers came back out onto the ice trailing 1-0, but quickly erased the deficit on a great outside shot by senior Oren Eizenman, assisted by classmate Kevin Broad and sophomore Seth Klerer. The shot may have caught the Raiders off-guard, but more likely it was the top corner precision of the shot that equalized the game.

Following the goal, which came with only 31 seconds off the clock, the game’s intensity jumped up a notch. The second period was noticeably more aggressive as both teams continued to suffer penalties, 11 total in the period, and there was a definite increase in both hits and skating speed. Aside from Eizenman’s goal, the second period was marked by ferocious defensive work on behalf of the Engineers. The defense fought off five power plays and stopped nearly as many shots with its sticks and limbs as did goalkeeper Lange, who was also stellar in the second period, stopping nine shots.

The intensity that erupted in the second period would carry over into the third, as both teams maintained their hard-nosed play. Tough defense and hard hits went unchecked, however, as the officials who had been quick to the whistle up to this point were largely silent and more permissive. The third period was considerably smoother, and this may be the reason the Engineers were able to string together the winning combination.

With just under a minute left in the third period, the scored tied one apiece, and the crowd just finishing its customary and ever-passionate reminder of Clarkson’s ineptitude, junior Tyler Eaves broke into the open and ripped a hard shot towards Dekanich. The shot was blocked but the puck came loose, much like the situation that had allowed Colgate’s first and only goal back in the first period. This time, it was junior Dan Peace who was there to finish the job and send the Engineers and their fans into wild celebration. Assists were awarded to both Eaves and Broad who had initially connected with Eaves in the winning attack.

There still remained 48.9 seconds on the clock, and Colgate did mount a threatening attack in those waning seconds, but ultimately did not score and the victory was RPI’s. Following the game, the Governor’s Cup was presented to the Engineers, who then saluted the crowd of over 3,000 at the Pepsi Arena.

Peace, who earned the right to dress through a week of quality practice, found himself in the crucial situation and simply executed. Head Coach Seth Appert called Peace “a great teammate,” and “a very intelligent hockey player,” recognizing his intensity and enthusiasm despite not being a regular starter. Peace called the goal, “the highlight of my career at RPI,” and expressed his desire for continued success.